u Some render it «nog whom, but alas / they lived amonZ ſuch difobedient ones ſtill, therefore we do better render 1t 77 which, i.e. ſins or vices, the now believing Colofſizns, w had heretofore praQtiſe:!, and exerciſed ; and had not only been in- &tted with the venom of them, in deſcending from polluted Parents, x but were Servants to them, Kom. 6.17, 19. whiles in a ſenſual courſe of life they were carried away with them, x Cor. 12, 2. before their converiton, when they did live and reign in their mortal Bodies, ch, 1. 2t, & V. 7. I Cor. C. 1, Eph. *. 3, 11, 12. & $. 8.
$ But now you alſo put off all theſe y, anger z,
wrath a, malice b, blaſphemy c, filthy communica-
tion out of your mouth d.
» Having minded them of their former condition under Pa- ganiſm in a ſtate of ſin, while they ſerved various ſenſual lufts, he doth here in their preſent circumſtances under Chriltianity, in a ftate of grace, fhew them that now they protelſed to walk as Children of light, Rom. 13. 12. Eph. 5. $. with 1 Th:fſ. 5. 5,8. they were more ſtrongly oblig'd to lay aſide thoſe inordinate aftetions which were more ſpiritual, Eph, 4. 22, ſome of which he doth inftance in, viz, 3. Anger, whereby he doth not mean the paſſion it ſelf, Eph, 4. 26, with 31. but the inordinacy of it, being a vindiQtive appetite to, hurt another unjuftly for ſome affront conceived to be given or occaſion'd by him. a Wrath, indignation, Kom. 2. 8, a ſudden haſty and vehement commotion of the offended mind apprehending an Injury, when it ſhews it ſelf in the countenance in a manner and meaſure unbecoming a Chri- ſtian, as in them who with rage thruſt Chrift out of the City, Luke 4.28, 29. with Eph. 4.31. b Malice, is. connoting both the evil habit and the vitious att 3 now though this word be took oftentimes more generally, for that miſchievous vitioſity and venom which runs through all the paſſions of the Soul, reach- ing toall ſins, 1 Cor. 5. 8. & 14, 20, yet here it ſeems to be taken more ſpecially for a ſecret malignity of rooted anger and continued wrath, remembring injuries, meditating revenge, and watching for an occaſion to- vent it, being much what the ſame with that which the Apoſtle in a parallel Epiſtle calls bitternels, Ephef. 4. 31. compared with other places, Gen. 45. Rom. 1. 29. Tit, 3.3. 1 Pet. 2. 1, c Affeer he had urged the laying aſide of heart evils as the cauſe, he moves to the laying aſide thoſe of the Tongue, viz, Blaſphzmy, which in a like place we render evil ſpeaking, Eph. 4. 3I. the original word according to the notation of it doth ſignifie the hurt of any one's good name; which when it reſpe&ts God we do more ſtridtly call Blaſphemy. When it reſpe&s our Neighbour though more Jargely it be ſo, or defamation, Rom. 3.8. 1 Cor. 4.13, Tit, 3. 2. yet more firialy, if jt be done ſecretly, it is detrattion or back-biting ; more openly reviling or ſlandering, Mat. 15, 19. Mark 7. 22, 1 Tim, 6. 4, d Obſcene diſcourſe, diſhoneſt talk ſhould not come into the Chriftian's mouth, ch, 4. 6. ſee on Eph, 4. 29, & 5. 4. wanton lewd and unclean Speeches ſhould not proceed from a Chriſtians Tongue, 1 Cor. 15.33. |
9 Lie not one to another e, ſeeing that ye have
Put off the old Man with his deeds f.
e Here he puts them upon laying aſide that vice which vi- olates the ninth Commandment, being oppoſite to truth in word and work, ſee Epheſ; 4. 25, where he doth more fully urge the putting away lying, from the ſame Argument that fol- lows here, A lie being no other than that voluntary expreſſion by word or deed which accords not with the conception of the mind and. heart, on purpoſe to deceive thoſe with whom we do converſe, Con- trary to the principles of a new Creature, becauſe God, after whoſe Image he is renewed, hates it more than any vice, fith it 3s contrary to truth, and proceeds from the father of lies, Pſal. I5, 2. RX 5, 6, Prov, 12, 22. Fohn. $8. 44, Kev. 21.8, 27. they who in converſation do moſtly Stomach to be told of it, are moſt ordinarily guilty of it. But the Apoſtle requires Chriſti- ans indeed to put away all fraud and fallacy in commerce with Men and one another (as well] as converſe with God) that there may be in a!l due circumftances a juft repreſentation of that without, which is conceived within, Eph, 4. 15, Fam. 3. 14. f The Apoſtle ſubjoins bis Reaſon from the Parts of Regenera- tion or SanQification, viz, (1) Mortification, which he real- ſumes under an elegant metaphor (intimating his ſolicitude to have the foregoing and the like vices to be wholly laid aſide, as much as was poſſible in this life) borrowed from the putting off old and worn Garments whichdid as it were crawl with vermine : intimating that if the old Man, as the cauſe, were put off with loathing, then thoſe inordinate afteftions and actions which did proceed from it, would alſo be removed ; ſee on Rom, 6. 6, 11. with Epheſ. 4. 22. if that which was born of the fleſh and con- trary to the ſpirit, Fobn 3. 6. with Gal. 5, 17. then inordinate affections and luſts, Gal. 5. 24,
10 And have put on the new mang, which is re- newed in knowledge b, after the image of him that created him 7.
g (2) Vivification or Renovation this he connexeth with the former, continuing the metaphor, as in natural generation the expulſion of the old form is attended with the intraduttion of the new, ſo in ſpiritual Regeneration, having put off the old Alam, they had put on the new, i.e. Chriſt, not only ſacramen- tally, ch, 2. 12, 13-G4l. 3. 27, but really, beiag new Crea- tures in Chrift Jelus, 2 Cor. 5. 17. Eph. 2. 16. rnewed in the nner man, - Kom. 7. 22. 2 Cor. 4. 16. {ce on Eph, 3. 16. & 4. 24. and endowed with a new frame of heart and a new ſpirit, Exe. Il, 19, Feb? 3. 5,6, new qualities and affetions, þ The un- derſtanding, being, ſavingly enlighten'd, and the will powerfully inclined by the victorious working of the ſpirit, Eph. 1. 18, 19, 20, ſee on Epb. 4. 23. with Phil. 2.13. 2 Theſſ, 2. 13,14. and brought to more than a ſpeculative, even to a lively and effe&ual knowledge, 1 Fobn 2. 3, i Agreeable to the impreſs of him that had new framed or created them in Chriſt Jeſus, 1 Cor, 1 6
VOL, 1. :
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COLOSSIANS. Chap. II: 4
49. 1 Pet, , 15, 16. by the renewing of the Holy Ghoſt, Tt, Wt! Vt
3.5. foras the natural Image of God conſifted in knowledge |
and righteoutneſs; fo it was requifite that the ſpiritual Imaze ; ut