Colossians 3:12

Our apostle having now finished his exhortation to the practice of that great duty of mortification of sin, called here,. putting off the old man, comes next to mention several graces and virtues, which he exhorts them to be found in the practice of; and this he styles,. putting on the new man; teaching us hereby, that. negative holiness, is not sufficient to salvation; it is not enough that we cease to do evil, but we must learn to do wll;. man may go to hell for not doing good, as well as for doing wickedly.

Observe farther, The particular graces and virtues which they are exhorted to put on.

1. Bowels of mercy and kindness; that is,. tender pity towards, and an inward sympathy with, those that are in misery; and this expressed in outward acts of succour and relief, according to our ability.

There is. natural pity which man can hardly put off, it is seated in the very nature of man; and accordingly, unmercifulness is. sin against the light of nature, as well as against the law of God:

But there is, besides this,. spiritual pity, which flows from sure love, and that. divine love; now, this is more an act of grace than of nature; this the apostle here exhorts the Colossians to, Put on bowels of mercy; they who have put on, and are clothed with, garments of holiness, will also put on bowls of mercy as. garment.

2. Humbleness of mind; whereby. man, sensible of God's goodness, and his own infirmities, hath an humble apprehension, and. modest estimation of himself: The more holiness anyh person has the more humility he has; humility is. certain evidence of our holiness, because it is. great part of our holiness.

3. Meekness and long-suffering, which moderate anger, and enable us to put up affronts and injuries. This is. spirit and temper divine, and truly Christ-like; none so abused and affronted as he; but, being reviled, he blessed, and committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. When another hurts thee by unjust provocation, why shouldst thou hurt thyself by sinful passion? Christ was. Lamb for meekness; it doth not become any of his followers to be like lions for fierceness.

4. Forebearance, and mutual forgiveness; Forbearing one another and forgiving one another. No Christians are so perfect, but they are liable to offend one another; he must have no friends, that will have. friend with no faults, and consequently they stand in need of forgiveness from each other.

Learn hence, 1. That Christians are obliged, by the laws of their holy religion, to forbear and forgive one another.

2. They are obliged to imitate Christ in this duty of forgiveness; Christ forgives us universally, freely, sincerely, so as never more to upbraid us with the fault he has forgiven us; such. forgiveness are we to exercise towards our brother. As Christ forgave you; so also do ye.

Observe lastly, The argument which St. Paul makes use of to press the Colossians to the practice of the forementioned duties, and that is drawn from their election and vocation; Put on as the elect of God, bowels of mercy. You that had the favour to be chosen of God out of the heathen world, to be his church and people, and are now holy and beloved of God, let the sense of this divine favour oblige you to humility and meekness, to long suffering and mutual forgiveness, yea, to the love and practice of universal holiness.