AN EXPOSICIon in Englishe vpon the Epistle of S. Paule to the Colossians wherin the letter is purely declared with many good exhortacions to flee vice and to take vertue as shall appere clerely to the faithfull reader throughout all this Epistle written by Lancelot Ridley of Cantorbury Anno salutis humanae M.D.XLVIII CVM PRIVILEGIO AD IMPRIMENDVM SOLVM ¶ The preface to the Reader GRace mercie and peace from GOD oure father of heauē bee vnto all thē that loueth GOD and his worde and bee true setters furth promoters of Gods holy Gospell Amen Because the worde of God is the spirituall foode of our soule Matth. iiii and as necessary for the soule to feede it as corporall food is to fede the body ye more necessarie because it feedeth the soule a more plenteous thyng then is the body and geueth life eternall with GOD the father whereas the foode of the body feedeth the body for a short time and bryngeth not eternall life with God the father And this spirituall foode for the mooste part lieth hid in the letter of holy scripture vnknowen to many that readeth scripture because thei dooe not vnderstande that thyng thei reade although thei doo vnderstande Englishe and the scripture in many plain places yet there bee in the holy scriptures many darke places and hard sentences to be vnderstād whiche requireth more help then the bare texte in Englishe either by diligente searchyng oute the true trāslacion of that place out of that toungue that it was first written in that is out of the Hebrew or the Greke tongue in the whiche the holy scriptures was first written either by cōparyng of one place of holy Scripture with another and expoundyng one place by another or by diligent obseruyng the circumstances and sentences goyng before and commyng after or by helpe of some learned aucthor or godly learned man in holy scriptures to whom more knowlege was geuen of GOD bothe by great studie and also by humble praier made in faith for the same to God the aucthor of all wisedome and diuine knowlege by whiche meanes the misteries of holy scripture bee knowen and shewed to man of God That the spirituall foode of this Epistle to the Collossians should not be hid but parte of it made more opē and plain to the simple not learned in the Latin toungue I as one of the least in learnyng quid em̄ musca cum Elephantis haue sette furthe this rude exposiciō in this Epistle of sainct Paule to the Collossians as it hath pleased God to geue me grace and knowledge as I did before in the Epistle of sācte Paule to the Ephesians and to the Philippiās studiyng alway to profite all menne if I could and to hurt no man as knoweth God the iudge of consciēce and of all secrete thoughtes And to excite other better learned then I and of more health of body then I haue to applie their studie wit to set furth in English some part of holy scripture that the symple people might be moued more to read the holy scriptures and take more profite of theim then thei doo now by readyng onely of the letter and not vnderstāding the true meanyng of that thei read but rather ready to take it amisse then after the true sence of the holy ghost so by taking the scriptures amisse commeth greate error and heresies euil and preposterous iudgemētes false trustes and vain hopes and all for lacke of true knowlege of holy scriptures as Christe saied to the Sadduces Mat. xxii Erratis ignorantes scripturas you erre not knowyng the scriptures So ignoraunce hath been and yet is the cause of many errors and heresies and that men runne into dampnaciō iudgyng euill good and good euil swete soure and soure swete lighte darkenes and darkenes light to whō the Prophete Esai did threate woo euerlastyng saiyng Esaie .v. Woo bee to theim that call good euil euill good lighte darkenes and darkenes lighte c. So ignoraunce is yet the cause of these euils although the Bible bee in Englishe suffered to euery man and woman to reade at their pleasures to honor GOD to edifie theimselfes and other with all ye commaūded to bee reade euery daie at Matins Masse and Euensong yet there remaineth great ignoraunce corrupt iudgementes blindzeales not after the knowlege of God and will remayne still excepte I bee deceiued and excepte the holy scriptures bee made more plainer to the lay people vnlearned by some commentarie exposicion or annotacion that the laie people maie vnderstande the holy scriptures better and knowe the wil and pleasure of GOD by theim opened and plainly declared Therefore let ignoraunce the mother of al errors and heresies supersticion and Idolatrie bee clerely putte a waie by knoweledge of Gods holy sacred word truely opened and declared by some exposicion made by sobre sadde and discrete learned men that of holy scriptures truly expounded nothyng maie bee gathered but spirituall foode to feede the soule or elles I feare greatly that many will gather poyson for meate and errors for truth interpretyng the holy scriptures after their awne mynde and affecciō and not accordyng to the mynde of the holy ghoste by whom it was written But now I truste that all ignoraūce Idolatrie and supersticion and blynde zeale shall fall awaie by litle and litle the causes of them take awaie and the true knowlege of Gods woorde had and such Godly Homilies shewyng so muche Godly wisedome and true knowlege of necessary verities for our saluacion as was neuer shewed before our daies to the people of this realme for the whiche glory is to be geuen to GOD laude and praise to the kynges Maiestie and to his mooste prudent and honorable counsaill that so tendereth the health and the saluacion of the people of this realme that thei would haue al Idolatrie supersticion and feined religion takē awaie and Christes true honor and glory set furthe and grounded that all men mighte honor and worshippe God truly with that honor that he would be honored appoynted not of manne but of God in his holy scriptures geuen to vs to knowe God to loue God and to feare God to know our duetie to God and to our neighbor and to do it in deede the better accordyng to the will and pleasure of God to whom with the sonne and the holy ghoste be all honor and glory nowe and euer AMEN ¶ The argument of the Epistle THE Apostle after his Christiā salutaciō geueth GOD thankes for these Colossians that thei were come to the true knowlege of Christ by the word of God preached to them by Epaphras and had receiued faith hope and charitie as their workes declared he praieth to God for their increacemēt in spiritual knowlege and Godly liuing shewyng the benefites of Christ the hed of the Churche to theim and to all men willyng theim to stand sure groūded vpon Christ the sure foundaciō and that thei would not shrynke from Christ and his doctryne
some will aske a question whether we should do good deedes for hope of eternall life or no To this question maie be made answer thus that we must do good workes appoynted vs of GOD to do principally for God and for his loue because we are his creatures made to do good woorkes and to walke in them lookyng for that rewarde that he hath bothe frely promised will frely geue accordyng to his promise to all thē that with a sure faith and constaunt hope do perseuer and continue in the wayes of the Lorde kepyng his commaundementes Secondely for the rewardes sake promsed vs of God we must do good workes so that in all oure workes we muste moste chiefly and aboue all thynges looke to the will pleasure loue and glory of GOD. Thirdely to our profite glorie or life to come wee muste so in all our workes loke for the glory of God that skarce once wee should remembre oure profit or glory to come for if we seke more our awne profite and glory then the glory of God we bee but mercemarii hirelynges vnworthy that glory immortall life in the worlde to come with Christ whiche glory cānot bee bought by woorkes of vs but we muste come to it onely of the free gifte of God and of his mercie and grace Roma vi Of the whiche before you harde by the true word of the Gospel whiche is come to you as to all the worlde and as it fructifieth throughout the whole worlde so it doeth emonges you since that daie you heard and haue knowen the grace of God by the truthe And as you haue learned of Epaphras our welbeloued seruaunt whiche is for you a faithfull minister of Christ which shewed to vs youre loue in the spirite The Apostle shewed before their mercifulnes to the poore sainctes and faithfull in Christ for hope of reward layed vp for them in heauen now he sheweth how thei gotte that hope that it was by the true preachyng of the Gospell whiche Epaphras preached vnto thē Learne here how hope of heauenly rewarde and life commeth that it commeth by preachyng of the Gospell of Christe whiche is called here the true woorde of the Gospell and the truthe it self If hope of heauenly rewarde commeth by the preaching of the Gospell as it dooeth in deede then what hope of heauenly rewarde can thei haue where as the word of the Gospel is not peached or what hope of heauenly life haue thei that will not here the worde of God preached That contempneth and despiseth it and estemeth it no better then a foolishe tale of Robyn Hoode Guye of Warwicke or Beuis of Hampton surely no hope at al. Learne here also how necessary a thyng for our saluaciō is the preachig of Gods worde that without it seldom be geuen faithe hope or charitie For faithe commeth by hearyng hearyng by the word of God Roma x. And hope commeth by the true woorde of the Gospell as here is shewed and Charitie spryngeth out of true faithe and sure hope The Apostle garnisheth the Gospell with his due laude and cōmendacion callyng it the true woorde that deceiueth no man the truthe it self that none should doubt of it but that euery man that loueth the truth should be glad to here the Gospell preached or taught because it is the truth and putteth away all falsed lies errors and heresies 2 And as it fructifieth throughout the whole worlde so it doeth emōges you He saith the Gospell to fructyfye and encrease throughout all the whole world as emōges thē that thei should more reioyse and be glad as all good menne reioyseth when the Gospell gooeth forwardes and fructifieth and euill men be sory that the Gospell is purely and sincerely preached receiued and beleued but thei geue thankes to God for it Here we learne to be our office to bee glad to here the Gospell of God to bee preached sincerely and to geue God thankes for it 3 Sence that daie you harde and haue knowen the grace of God by the truthe He sheweth how long the Gospell hath fructefied emōges them euen sence that daie thei heard the grace of God and knewe it by the true preachyng of the Gospell And here we maie lerne diuerse good lessons First that faithe is sure and firme that commeth by the worde of truthe Secondly that the sincere preachyng of the gospell not to bee vain or frustrate although it is not knowen how it dooth fructifie and in whō at the first to hym that preacheth yet it goeth not away in vain as the Prophet Esaie saieth Thirdely the benefites or the grace of God bee knowen by the pure preachyng of the Gospell of truth and not of mē or of a multitude of men that call theimselfes the church when it maie be doubted of whether thei bee any membre of the churche or no seyng their workes be so contrary to Christes true Churche Fourthely learne that the grace of GOD and his benefites is surely knowen by the truth of gods word And here it semeth that saincte Paule would haue vs to learne and know Christ and the grace of God by no other thyng but by the truth and to iudge euery thyng by the truthe of Goddes holy worde for the holy ghost is the moste surest declarer of hymself Learne also that Christ and the grace of GOD and Gods benefites is there vnknowen where as the woorde of God is not preached and how can God be loued feared or dread where as he is not knowen Or howe can there be any health or eternall saluacion where as is no loue feare ne dread of God And if it bee life eternall as it is in deede witnes sainct Ihon. xvii to knowe GOD the father and his sonne Iesus Christe then it muste nedes followe that it is death not to knowe God the father and his sonne Iesus Christ and Gods benefites to vs for Christes sake these benefites be vnknowen where as the worde of God is not taught therfore se how necessarie it is for oure saluaciō to haue the worde of God plenteously preached and truly taught that God might be knowē loued feared and dread and his wil and pleasure fulfilled of al men Finally learne here how farr be thei from health life and saluacion that will not here the worde of God but contempneth to here it ye dispiseth it and the true preachers of it slaunders backebites persecutes and as muche as in them lieth goeth aboute to let hinder and vtterly to stoppe and quenche the word of God and to bryng to deathe the faithfull ministers of Gods holy worde the necessarie foode of our soule and yet of the ignoraunt it is thought poyson and death of the soule God turne the hartes of suche and make theim his seruauntes 4 And as you haue learned of Epaphras our welbeloued seruaunt whiche is for you a faithful seruaunt of Christ Now he sheweth who it was that firste preached the gospel to these Colossians not Paule hymself but
reproued all suche as will be fauorers of Gods worde as long as hope of fauor pleasure profite or commoditie doo come by the word of God and when that hope is gone thei shrynke from the Gospell are ashamed of it leaue it and forsake it followyng men the world and their belies ye and al the knowlege thei haue by the Gospell thei turne it to a carnall libertie and to a worldly commoditie makyng the Gospell to bee as a cloke to their coueteousnes pompe pleasure insaceable myndes to gette riches landes and possessions and to make themselfes riche in worldly possessions and suche there is many nowe adaies as Christ saieth Math. xiii Multi ad tempus credunt in tempore tentationis recedūt Many for a time doth beleue but in tyme of temptacion thei shrynke from faith from God but these be not thei that bee blameles and without faute in Gods sight but thei bee worthy blame and bee spotted with many vices and synnes shall not escape punishemente excepte thei repent and amende and be constaunt in faithe Here is two thynges required of vs that wee should be without blame or spotte in Gods sight the one is that we should bee constaunt in faithe the second not to shrinke from the hope of these heauenly treasures promised by the Gospell preached to all creatures vnder heauen See the mightie power of GOD that made his worde to bee preached throughout all the worlde in the spite of all enemies to the Gospell and magre to their tethe and therefore the Apostle was not ashamed to call hymself not a lorde but a Minister of the Gospell called of God And here he reproueth those bishoppes or hye prelates that will be called lordes and yet thei be no ministers of the Gospell of Christe seldom or neuer preached Christes Gospell Now I ioy in my sufferynges for you and fulfill that whiche are behynde of the affliccions of Christ in my fleshe for his body sake whiche is the Churche of the whiche Churche I am made a Minister accordyng to the ordinaunce of GOD whiche is geuen to me emonges you to fulfil the worde of God A mistery hid from the worlde and from generacions but now shewed opēly to his sainctes to whom God would make it knowen The Apostle because he shewed before that the Gospel was preached throughout al the world and that he was a minister of it by the ordinaunce of God now he sheweth that he suffered many affliccions for it and for the health of them to whom he preached it and that he was not sory for his afflicciōs but rather did reioyse in theim for the Gospelles sake and for the health of other saiyng now I reioyse in my sufferyng and suffre mine affliccions gladly for the Gospelles sake and for you Colossiās and other of the Gentiles knowyng by that meanes God woorketh your saluaciō And in these wordes Paule maketh answere to carnall men that would obiecte to hym after this maner If this doctryne that thou preachest be true and come of God frō heauen of the whiche commeth life and eternall felicitie as thou saiest how can it bee that these that be preachers setters furth of it bee moste miserable of all men leaste estemed or regarded cast in fetters and in prison bee called heretiques lollers deceiuers of the people sedicious mē and suffre some times shameful death for his doctryne sake To these carnall men saincte Paule maketh here answere saiyng that he suffereth slaunder checkes and rebukes imprisonment and fetters not for his sinnes or euill dooynges but for the Gospelles sake and for their sakes to whom it was preached which came to healthe by the Gospell preached and therefore it was no shame to suffre for the Gospell but rather commendable that these affliccions was not hurtefull to thē that suffered vniustely but to thē that afflicted other thei were dampnable and that God suffered euill men so to afflict the good that the iudgemēt to the euill should bee the more greater and that the good should by muche tribulacions enter into ioy blisse after the example of Christ that the euill should be confounded seyng thei could by no affliccions hynder or lette the word of God to be preached or to hynder it or lette it that it should sprede abrode increase for the more the euil goth about by affliccions persecucion or death to stop the worde of God the more it goeth forwardes by that meanes God will not haue his woorde altogether stopped and hid and oft tymes it chaunceth that by euil men the worde of God is promoted and setforwardes by that meanes by the whiche euill men went about to hynder it example in Christes death and in the death of many other for Christes Gospel sake 2 I fulfill that whiche are behind of the affliccions of Christ in my fleshe for his body sake This place hath of some euill men been wrested oute of tune and from his true sence to the greate contumely of Christes bloud as thei would saie that Christes bloud was not a full satisfaccion for our redēpciō forgeuenes of our synnes but that to it some thyng lacked whiche by our woorke deede merite or affliccions should bee fulfilled and satisfied as thei should saie that Christes passion was not sufficient to take awaie the synnes of the whole worlde and as Christe had not fully satisfied for the sinnes of all men whiche thyng to thinke or saie is greate blasphemie to Christ and to his holy bloud God forbid that any any man should thinke so or say it For Christ by his death once for all hath fully and perfitely satisfied for the synnes of al mē and by one oblacion made them perfite that shal be holy Hebr. x. He entred once into the holy place called sancta sanctorum found eternall redempcion Hebre. iiii Wherfore this is an vndoubted truthe euer to bee beleued of all christiās that Christe by his passiō and death hath taken awaie all the synnes of the worlde without our workes deedes or merites for he nedeth not our woorkes merites or affliccions to purge man frō synne as saincte Ihon saith i. Ihon .i. The bloud of Christe hath purged vs from all our synnes and Ihon in the Reuelacion he hath wasshed vs from oure synnes in his bloud Of these scriptures it is certain that thei bee iniurious to the bloude of Christe and blasphemers of Christ that thynke our workes or affliccions to purge vs from our synnes or to satisfy for synnes for these bee offices onely perteinyng to Christe alone And for our afflicciōs thei bee not worthie the glory that shall bee shewed to the electe of God Roma viii What blasphemie canne bee more to Christes bloude then to thinke that oure litle nothyng can make perfite that Christ left vnperfite or can satisfy or fulfil that Christ hath not fulfilled and fully satisfied without our woorkes merites dedes or satisfacciō What can we doo that could pacifie Gods Ire
it was Epaphras a disciple of Paules and a true minister of Christe in the sincere preachyng of Christes Gospel and this Epaphras returnyng agayne to Paule in prison for the Gospelles sake shewed to Paule of the faith hope and of the charitie of these Colossians for the whiche thynges Paule commēdeth thē not that thei should bee proude but that thei should increase daily more and more in these holy vertues and giftes with thākes to God Nā uirtus laudata crescit Vertue commendeth increases Learne here what seruauntes or chapilaines should Bishoppes haue aboute thē surely suche as this Epaphras was to Paule one that loued his Master in al goodnes and Godlines and for the truth sake a man that loued God and his woorde that was glad when he hard the worde of God to bee purely preached abrode and to bryng furth Godly fruites as faithe hope and charitie and of greate gladnes shewed these fruictes to other that other mighte glorifie God and geue thankes to GOD for the Gospell preached to make other to followe these Colossiās in faithe hope and charitie and in other Godly vertues I feare me that all Bishoppes and noble men hath not alwaie suche seruaūtes or chapilaines about them and with theim that be fauorers and louers of Gods holy word but rather enemies and aduersaries to it ye haters of it slaunderers liers and euill reporters of faithfull ministers of Gods woorde reportyng suche euil vpō preachers as the preachers neuer did speake nor thoughte ye parauenture suche thynges as true preachers hath and dooth euer abhorre and detest Ye parauenture suche thynges as the preachers hath spoken again and forbiddyng to be doen spoke or thought and such euill toungues liyng to please their Maisters by their false liyng hath broughte many good and faithfull preachers to bee had in hatered and euil estemed of many Bishoppes and noble men whiche of ignoraunce hath persecuted ye parauenture put to death faithfull ministers of Christes Gospell whose innocēt bloud shed for Christes Gospel sake God will punishe excepte thei repent and amende and to cal to God for mercy and grace Therefore lette bishoppes and al noble men and noble women bee not hastie of credence to report euill or preachers and monishe their seruaūtes to beware what thei reporte of preachers and that thei reporte no other thyng of them then that thei can proue by honest menne as thei would haue their masters fauor or profites by their Maisters then should euill reportes and false slaūders cease of true preachers of Goddes woorde then should faithefull Ministers of Christes Gospell bee knowen frō the false ministers and true preachers fauored and estemed of men as thei bee worthie then should God bee the more glorified his word better trusted and beleued God better knowē and loued and so come into health to eternall saluacion by Christ whereas now the contrary doen and suffred many worketh their awne and euerlasting death and dampnacion persecutyng Christes faithfull Ministers thynkyng parauenture then to do a sacrifice pleasaunt to God whē thei do persecute Christe in his membres as Paule did before he was conuerted as it is written Actes ix Philip. iii. I praie God thei maye be cōuerted with Paule to plaie Paules parte that thei maie be preachers teachers and setters furth of Gods holy woorde as earnest as euer holy sainct Paule was and seke Gods glory and the saluacion of other as Paule did Therfore and we sēce the daie wee harde haue not ceassed do praye for you to desire that you might bee fulfilled with the knowlege of his will in all sapience and wisedome spirituall vnderstandyng that ye mighte walke worthelye pleasyng God in all thynges fructifiyngi al good workes and increasing in the knowlege of God strengthened with all strēgth after the power of the glory of hym to all tollerance and pacience with ioye geuyng thankes to the father Nowe the Apostle goeth forward in his praier he had begō and saieth that he geueth thankes to God and hath not ceased to praie to God for theim that thei might be fulfilled with all godly wisedō spiritual knowlege that thei might walke worthily pleasyng God and bryng furthe all good workes increasyng in the knowlege of God In this praier the Apostle teacheth vs one to praie for another and to geue thākes to God for his benefites geuen to men and specially for faith hope and charitie as here Paule did Secondly here we maie learne not to ceasse from praier to God for other Thirdely this place teaceth vs what wee should desire to other aboue al thynges surely this thyng that thei mighte haue knowlege of God and of his benefites whiche is so necessary that no man can bee saued without it Fourthly hereis shewed for what ende and purpose Godly wisedō is necessary that it is ordeined for this ende that men should walke worthily accordyng to their vocacion euery man in his state and degre that he is called vnto of God Alway studiyng to please God and not hymself the worlde or the fleshe the multitude of the people but God alwaye For he that seketh to please men high or lowe hymself or the worlde he cannot please God Non potest quisquā duobus dominis seruire No man can please twoo Masters of cōtrary affecciōs and myndes Finally Godly wisedome is ordinated that men should fructifie in all good workes that is doo all good workes whiche thyng thei cānot do till thei be taught which are the good woorkes that pleaseth God how thei should do thē and for whose sake for what ende good workes should be dooen This place reproueth al thē that bee sory that there is so muche knowlege of gods holy worde had emonges the people as is saiyng it was a merie worlde when euery manne woman or child could not prate of Gods word and sence that time there was neuer no mery world curssyng and banning and wisshyng to the Deuill suche as brought in this newe learnyng as thei call it so by theimselfes you maie see and by their awne wordes it is plain thei cal gods woorde newe learnyng and the preachers and setters furth of it heretiques worthy fire and a fagotte to burne them saiyng thei would go .xx. mile bare foote to burne suche heretiques so by ignoraunce thei speake worke their awne dampnaciō And as Christe saied to the Sadduces Math. xxii So maie men saie to them erratis ignorantes scripturas you erre and fal into errors and heresies deceiuyng your selfes and other because you are ignoraunte of the holy scriptures althoughe you call other heretiques and deceiuers yet you bee the heretiques in deede and deceiuers of the people worthy that punishement that you wisshe to other excepte you repent and amende and reforme your iudgementes wordes and deedes and call to God for mercy and grace and seke for better more truer knowlege in Gods veritie and truthe and haue a better mynde to it and to