and needed nothing of this kind to recommend them to God, or to secure his favor—­that “Christ had blotted out the hand writing of ordinances, and taken it away, nailing it to his cross”—­that the ceremonial law, being only “a shadow of good things to come,” was fulfilled in Christ, and no longer obligatory; and warned them to stand fast in their Christian liberty, and suffer no man to judge them respecting such things, or impose such burdens upon them.

The Gentile seducers were converts from Paganism, and no less eager to introduce the tenets and rites of their superstition.  One of the errors, which, from the particular mention made of it, they seem to have urged, was the worshipping of angels, “Let no man beguile you of your reward, in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” *

* Verse 18.

Mankind seem, at a pretty early period, generally to have given into the idea of so vast a distance between God and man, that man is unworthy to come into his presence, and can approach him acceptably only through a mediator.  But just views of a mediator were never communicated to the scattered branches of our race, or soon lost from among them.  Most of the heathens offered religious homage to departed heroes; or to those who had been revered while inhabitants of earth.  To them were their prayers addressed, that they might bear them to the God of nature, and by their influence render him propitious.

Here was the appearance of humility—­So sensible of their unworthiness that they dared not approach God in their own names, or present their own petitions—­others who had ceased to sin, and been admitted to the divine presence, must intercede for them.  But this was “a voluntary humility”—­not ordered of God—­a mere matter of human invention.

A mediator is indeed necessary for man since the fall; but man is not left to choose his mediator.  One every way suitable is provided, through whom we may have access to God:  “There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

The apostle further observes, that those who directed them to worship angels, arrogated a knowledge of matters not revealed.  God hath given no intimation of such use to be made of angels, but ordered man to approach him in the name of Christ.  Those who go to God in other ways, or depending on other intercessors, are said “not to hold the head.” * “The head of every man is Christ.” + Such people will lose their reward.  “Let no man beguile you of your reward, in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels”—­The rewards of grace are promised to obedience but not to “willful worship, or voluntary humility.”  The utmost these can hope is forgiveness.

Verse 9. + 1 Corinthians xi. 3.

When Paul assured the Colossians that they were “complete in Christ,” he had reference to the errors of all the deceivers who were laboring to seduce them.  Gentile philosophy is as useless to the Christian, as Jewish rites.  Christ hath the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him.  We’ have only to rely on divine mercy, through faith, in him, and we shall not be ashamed.