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CH. IV. 1 Wherefore, my brethren, beloved and greatly desired, my joy and crown, thus, ( my beloved, stand firmly in the Lord.

learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be brought low, and I know how to abound: always, and in all things, I am instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to want: 13 I can do all things through him who strengtheneth me. 14 However, ye have done well, that ye jointly contributed to

2 I BESEECH Euodia, and I beseech Syntyché, to be of the same mind in the Lord: 3 and I entreat thee also, true companion, help those women, who have laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with mine other fellow-labour-relieve my affliction. ers, whose names are in the 15 And, ye also know, O Philippians, that, in the begin

book of life.

as

4 Rejoice in the Lord al-ning of my preaching the gosways and again I say, Rejoice. pel, when I was departing 5 Let your mildness be known from Macedonia, no church to all men. The Lord is near. had intercourse with me, 6 Take no anxious thought for concerning giving and receivany thing; but in every thing ing, but ye only: 16 and that let your requests be made in Thessalonica ye sent, once, known to God by prayer and and also a second time, to my supplication with thanksgiv- necessity. 17 Not that I furing: 7 and the peace of God, ther desire a gift: but I further which exceedeth all compre- desire fruit which may abound hension, will keep your hearts to your account. and minds in Christ Jesus.

you, an odour of a sweet smell, an acceptable sacrifice, wellpleasing to God. 19 And.my God will supply all your wants, according to his riches in glory,

18 But I have every thing, 8 Finally brethren, whatso- and abound: I am full, having ever is true, whatsoever is received from Epaphroditus grave, whatsoever is just, what-the things which were sent from soever is pure, whatsoever is kind, whatsoever is of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things; 9 what ye have both learned, and re-in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to ceived, and heard, and seen in our God, and Father, be glory me, these things do: and the to the ages of ages. Amen. God of peace will be with you. 21 SALUTE every one who is 10 BUT I have rejoiced in holy in Christ Jesus. The breththe Lord greatly, that now at ren who are with me, salute length your care of me hath you. 22 All the saints revived; wherein ye were care-lute you; chiefly those who are ful also before, but wanted op- of Cæsar's household. 23 The portunity. 11 Not that I speak favour of [our] Lord Jesus concerning want: for I have | Christ be with you all. [Amen.]

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THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS.

СНАР. І.

1 PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colossé : favour be to you, and peace, from God our Father.

3 WE give thanks to the God [and] Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of your love to all the saints,) 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which ye have heard before in the true doctrine of the gospel; 6 which is come to you, as also in all the world; and is bring ing forth fruit, and increasing; even as it doth among you since the day ye heard of it, and knew the favour of God in truth; 7 as ye have learned [also] from Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 who hath declared also to us your love in the spirit.

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, cease not to pray for you, and to ask that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all spiritual wisdom and understanding; 10 that ye may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord so as to please him in all things, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, to all patience and endurance with joyfulness; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who hath made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

13 TO him who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his beloved Son: 14 to him in whom we have redemption, even the forgiveness of sins; 15 who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of the whole creation: 16 (for in him all things were created* that are

"That the apostle does not here intend the creation of natural substances is evident; for, 1st, He does not say that by (or in) him were created heaven and earth, but things in heaven, and things on earth: 2dly, He does not, in descending into detail, specify things themselves, viz. celestial and terrestial substances, but merely states of things, viz. thrones, dominions, etc. which are only ranks and orders of beings in the rational and moral world: 3dly, It is plain from comparing ver. 15 and ver. 18, that Christ is called the first-born of the whole creation, because he is the first who was raised from the dead to an immortal life: 4thly, The creation of natural objects, the heaven, the earth and sea, and all things therein, when they are plainly and unequivocally mentioned, is uniformally and invariably ascribed to the Father, both in the Old Testament and the New. Hence it follows, that the creation, which the apostle here ascribes to Christ, expresses that great change which was introduced into the moral world, and particularly into the relative situation of Jews and gentiles, by the dispensation of the gospel. "This

in heaven, and that are on turn fill up that which in my earth, visible or invisible, whe-flesh remaineth behind of my ther they be thrones, or domi- afflictions because of Christ, nions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created through him, and for him: 17 and he is before all things, and in him all things subsist: 18 and he is the head of the body, the church even he who is the chief, the first-born from the dead, that amongst all he might be the first.) 19 For it hath pleased the Father to inhabit all fulness in him; 20 and, through him, to reconcile all things to himself, (having made peace through the blood of his cross,) [through him,] I say, whether they be things on earth, or things in heaven.*

for the sake of his body, which is the church: 25 of which church I have been made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which hath been given me towards you, that I may fully preach the word of God, 26 even the mystery which hath been hidden from ages and from generations, but now hath been made manifest to his saints: 27 to whom God hath been willing to make known what are the glorious riches of this mystery among the gentiles; which mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 whom we preach, admonishing every man teaching [every man,] with all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ: 29 for which I also labour; and contend according to his working which powerfully worketh

21 And you, though ye were formerly aliens,† and enemies in your mind, by wicked works, yet hath he now reconciled, 22 in the body of his flesh, through death, to present you holy, and spotless, and irreproachable in his sight; 23 if ye continue | in me. grounded and stedfast in the faith, and not moved away from the hope given by the gospel which ye have heard, and which hath been proclaimed in all [the] creation which is under heaven; of which, I Paul, have been made a minister.

24 I Now rejoice in my sufferings, for you, and in my

and

CH. II. 1 FOR I would that ye knew what earnest care I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts might be comforted, they being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of their understanding, to the

is often called creation, or the new creation, and is usually ascribed to Jesus Christ; who was the great prophet and messenger of the new covenant. See Eph. i. 10; ii. 10-15; iii. 9; iv. 24; Col. ii. 10; 2 Cor. v. 17. This great change the apostle here describes under the symbol of a revolution, introduced by Christ amongst certain ranks and orders of beings, by whom, according to the Jewish demonology, borrowed from the Oriental philosophy, the affairs of states and individuals were superintended and governed. See Mr. Lindsey's Sequel, p. 477, and Wetstein in loco." Im. Ver. note.

that is, gentiles or Jews, who were first reconciled to one another, and then to God, through Christ: i. e. through the gospel of Christ. See Eph. i. 10, also Eph. ii. 14-16.

In their heathen state they were ceremonially and morally sinners. They are now ceremonially reconciled, i. e. brought to the profession of christianity that they may be morally purified.

knowledge of the mystery of God; 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 Now I say this, lest any one should deceive you by persuasive words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing, and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him; 7 rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding [therein] in thanks. giving.

working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And to you, being dead [in] your sins, and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath God given life, together with Christ, having freely pardoned all our trespasses; 14 having blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances which was against us, which was contrary to us, and taken it out of the way, and nailed it to the cross: 15 and, having spoiled principalities and powers,† he made a show of them openly, and in it triumphed over them.

16 Let no one therefore condemn you for your use of meats 8 Beware lest any one spoil or drinks, or in respect of a you through philosophy and feast, or new moon, or sabbath: empty deceit, according to the 17 which are a shadow of the tradition of men, according to things approaching; but the bothe elements of the world, and dy is of Christ. 18 Let no one not according to Christ. 9 For defraud you of your prize, in a in him dwelleth all the fulness voluntary humility of mind and of the deity* bodily: 10 and worship of angels, intruding inye are filled in him, who is the to those things which he hath head, of all principality and [not] seen, rashly puffed up by power: 11 in whom also ye his fleshly mind. 19 And not have been circumcised, with holding fast the head, from a circumcision not made by whom all the body, supplied hands, in putting off the fleshly and connected by joints and body, that is, in the circumci-bands, increaseth with the insion of Christ; 12 having been crease of God. buried with him in baptism, in 20 If ye have died with which ye were also raised with Christ from the elements of him, through faith in the mighty [the world, why, as though liv

Godhead, N. Compare Eph. iii. 19, where Christians are said to be filled with all the fulness of God. "The scholastic word godhead," says Mr. Lindsey, "is rejected, because to common readers it countenances the strange notion of a God consisting of three persons." Lindsey's Second Address, p. 283, 284. "All those blessings which proceed from the Godhead, and wherewith we are filled, dwell in Christ, truly and substantially." Pierce in loco. "By his death he put an end to the Mosaic Institution, and priesthood and all the splendid offices and rites of the temple service. See Schleusner in verb. Agx", and Rosenmuller in loco." Im. Ver. note.

ti. e. in his sufferings on the cross.

superceded the Levitical

ing in the world, are ye subject to ordinances; 21 such as, "Eat not, taste not, touch not;"* 22 (all which things are to be consumed by using them ;) according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which ordinances have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility of mind, and not sparing the body: yet are not in any honour, but serve to the satisfying of the flesh.

who created him: 11 where there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision; barbarian and Scythian; slave and free-man: but Christ is all [things,] and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and beloved, bowels of pity, kindness, humility of mind, meekness, long-suffering: 13 (forbearing one another, and freely forgiving one another, if any one have a cause of complaint against another: even as Christ freely forgave you, so also do ye :) 14 and, besides all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of Christ, preside in your hearts, to which ye have been also called in one body; and be thankful.

CH. III. 1 If then ye have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Mind the things above, not the things on the earth. 3 For ye have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, shall be mani-ye fested, then ye also will be manifested with him in glory.

16 Let the doctrine of Christ dwell in you richly: teaching and admonishing one another, in all wisdom, with psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs; singing with thankfulness in your hearts, to God. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or action, do all in the name of [the Lord] Jesus, giving thanks to God, [even] the Father, through him.

5 DEADEN therefore your members as to the things on earth; as to fornication, uncleanness, passion, wicked lusts, and inordinate desire, which is idolatry; 6 for which things the anger of God cometh on the sons of disobedience : 7 in which ye also walked formerly, when ye lived in them. 8 But now do ye also put away all 18 WIVES, Submit yourselves these; anger, wrath, malicious- to your husbands, as it is fit, ness, evil-speaking, filthy talk-in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love ing, out of your mouth.

your wives, and be not bitter 9 Lie not one to another, towards them. 20 Children, since ye have put off the old obey your parents in all things; man with his deeds; 10 and for this is well-pleasing in the have put on the new man, who Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not is renewed in knowledge, ac-your children, lest they be discording to the image of Him couraged. 22 Servants, obey,

* So Wakefield. See Parkhurst under ά#Toμαι,

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