The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 190

Vere. 12-17.- Wnat particularly we are to put on. How we are addressed. "Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved." The Colossinn Christians had been elected by God out of a state of heathenism. By arrangements over which they hacl exercised no control, the gospel had been brought to them and had been the means of their conversion. As elected by God, they were consecro.ted to God and ~ere in the e11joyment of the Divine love. The Colossian Christians were not except10nal. We ha,·e been elected by God out of the ungodly state of our own hearts and out of the ungodly influences tliat more or less prevail in a semi-Christian state of society.. ~'hus brono-ht into a true Christian state, and in that. sto.te devoted to God, and the recipients ,,f ~ny tokens of the Divine favour, it becomes us to feel the force of it in reference to our duty. I. 'l'rrE CHRISTIAN FOP.MB oF LOVE. The concluding representation is that all are bound together by love. 1. "A heart of compassion." In the ?rigi~al there is indicated the supposed seat of the sympathetic feelings. In heathemsm 1t was rather a heart of cruelty that was worn. 'l'he weak were down-tr9dden and neglected._ The soCtening influence of Chri,tianity appeo.rs in our hospitals _and asylums, ~~ our a bborrence of oppression, in the missiono.ry enterprise. '£here 1s a fine sens1 b1h ty to the miseries of others in those who have felt the Divine cornpnssions toward them. Especially are we to feel the sorrows of our fellow-Christians. 2. "Kindness." We rnay show kiudness where there is nothing to draw forth compassion. Under all circumstances are we to be kinO', There is nothing which we can wear outwardly to be compared with kindness. "Kind hearts are more than coronets." Kindness is tho disposition to think about others. It adds greatly to the joy of their existence to let err. III. l-2G,.1 I'IIE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 187