Exposition of Philippians 3, Part 35
VERS. 14. For the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus.
I Presse forth. Its a word of vehemencie, signifying to set forth his utmost bent and indeavour, both of the inward man and of the outward and all is to heaven, so as a Christians ayme is alwayes to Ierusalem, his lookes is that way, his tongue speakes the language thereof, his carriage will tell he seekes another Citie, Heb. 11. But for these words, observe there is first a price. Secondly, its a price of a calling. Thirdly, this calling is high. Fourthly, this calling we have here in part.
Concerning this word price, its a metaphor taken from the reward of victory, gotten in some exercise.Doctrine. God hereby brings heaven downe to us. Because wee cannot goe to it, he insinuates into our affections by pleasing things, and teaches faith by sense.
Vse.And therefore, we must not rest in these borrowed words, but ever know that the thing that is described, goes beyond the description by any earthly similitude.
Doct.From the thing observe, that God hath reserved a happie estate for such Christians as are elected to runne in this race, that are fitted to it, and that are preserved to it.
Vse. 2.And this should teach us, to magnifie Gods goodnesse: that whereas by nature, death with his pale horse, and hell should follow us, now the course is altered; a holy life in Gods commandements is given to us here, and then glory shall be heaped upon us. God hath begotten us to a lively hope, but hath passed by the Angels, and left them without hope of recoverie.
Doctr.Secondly observe, this happie price is to bee given, after running: God keepes this order, to exercise his graces in us, that we might bee a meanes to gaine others, and that wee might value happinesse the more. If we did not suffer here, we could not taste heaven so sweetly after labour, sleepe and rest is sweet. And its fitting that we should be followers of Christ, to fill up the measure of his sufferings; hee did first runne, and then was crowned, and this order we must keepe, if we meane ever to be with him.
And let us bee comforted herein, Vse.though the race be long and painfull, yet there is an end: it will not continue for ever, and with the end, there comes a price. The world runnes in a mase here and there, they have their reward, and their happinesse will end soone, but a Christians happinesse will never end.
In the next place observe,Doctr. that it is expedient and usefull to have an eye to this price… : it made Paul, and it will make us runne cheerfully, and God tells us of it, to the end wee may fixe the eyes of our mindes upon it, Colos. 3.23. Whatsoever we doe, doe it heartily, as to the Lord, knowing of the Lord we shall receive the reward of the inheritance.
But some may say,Quest. if it bee an inheritance to us, how is it then propounded as a price to us?
I answer,Answ. its both a reward, and an inheritance, its an inheritance because its given to adopted sonnes, its a reward after labour, not for labour; so as running is the way to a crown, not the cause of it.
Quest.But the Papists say, we have it by faith, why then is it a price or reward? why or how can it be a price or reward, and yet ours by beleefe?
Answ.I answer, incouragement and this price are not given to workes, as workes, but as workes by faith, for by it wee runne and overcome all trials and troubles: reward is due to perseverance, but perseverance cannot bee without faith.
But for the matter in hand; I say its expedient to looke to the price; that we be not carried away with temptations on the right hand, or on the left, and therefore let us not looke on them. Moses eye was so fixed on this price, as he set light by all the pleasures of this life; the eye of faith in a Christian, is stronger than that of sense, yet let us take these cautions. First, that we know ourselves sonnes, and that wee come to this price by inheritance. And secondly, that we love not God so much for his goodnesse to us, as for that goodnesse which is in him: for a Christian aymes first at Gods glorie, then at his owne good; and so hee loves God for being goodnesse it selfe, then for being good to him. And yet a Christian in order, comes first to see Gods goodnesse to him, and therefore loves him, and then he arises higher to the love of God, even for that he is goodnesse, and thenceforth admires and adores his fulnesse, for else to love God because God loves us, is mercenarie.
Wee are therefore to thinke of this happie estate: Vse. 1.and as children, though at the first wee know not what belongs to inheritances and rewards, yet the elder wee grow in Christianitie, the more let us search into these things, and see what is laid up for us. It is an unvaluable price that will free us from all evill, of companie of enemies, of Sathans anoyances, of hinderances, of sinne, from all occasions without us, and inclinations within us, from sicknesse of body and troubles of minde: its a Saboth after sixe dayes worke. It is beyond all earthly crownes, the runners have envie not one another, nay they helpe and further one another, and are glad of one anothers forwardnesse: all are heires, all happie, all shall be crowned, and with an incorruptible crowne, an inheritance that fadeth not, but is undefiled; and such an one as is kept for us, 1 Pet. 1.4. Its not like the crownes of leaves that soone fade; no, we shall ever bee in the presence of the sonne of Righteousnesse, where we shall have a continuall spring.
But to proceed in the next place, this is a price of calling, we must be called to it: who can take a calling on him, unlesse God calles him? and who can be inabled but those that hee inables? This calling of his, is the beginning of his golden chaine of salvation, hee calles us from a cursed estate, to a happy communion; from death and bondage under the devill, to be Kings and Princes. And this is done by outward meanes, and inward worke of the spirit, this calling is a powerfull calling, inabling them to come that are called.
And hereby we may try, whether wee have any title to heaven or not;
1, Signe.For first, if wee be effectually called, it supposeth we are chosen, called and singled out from others of the world: and therefore all swearers, and those that are given to drunkennesse and profanenesse, they are not called nor singled, they remaine as they were, for this singling out, is the first part of the execution of Gods decree of election. And whom God calles, he qualifies, Princes they may call men to places, but they cannot qualifie them. But God when he calles Saul to be a King, hee gives him a Kings heart, so if we be called to this heavenly kingdome, we shall have holy and Kingly hearts and mindes given us.
2. Signe.Secondly, mens tongues will shew what calling they are of, in their discourse. A Christian will remember he is a Christian, and will walke worthy of his calling, and with Nehemiah hee will reason, shall such a man as I doe thus? speake thus? thinke such vile sinfull thoughts? and those that are not of this carriage, shew no great religion in them. And just it is with God, to give such over to a great measure in sinne.
3. Signe.Thirdly, this calling is to glorie; and therefore he that is called, he will thinke of heaven, and magnifie and admire Gods goodnesse to him, what thing is man Lord, that thou shouldst bee mindfull of him? and therefore those that admire the pompe and glory of this world, its a signe their calling is worldly, and that they are called by the world.
Fourthly;4. Signe. if a man be called by God, hee shall finde a spirituall answering within himselfe to Gods call. If God say, thou art my sonne, the heart answereth, thou art my God. Behold I come quickly, (saith Christ) even so come Lord Iesus, saith the Christian heart. And therefore a rebellious disposition, shewes that Gods spirit is not there.
Thirdly, this calling of ours is a high calling: its from heaven, to heaven; its from a heavenly spirit, by spirituall meanes to Christ in heaven, to Saints, to spirituall imployments and priviledges.
Hence therefore wee may learne who are the greatest men: sensuall men thinke those in outward place the greatest men of all other▪ alas they are nothing to a Prince of heaven, hee is a spouse to Christ, shall judge all the world, and triumph over Sathan. All other callings end in the dust with our bodies; Kings shall rise as Pesants, and it may bee in a worse estate than many of the meanest, there is no difference in death. All other callings are by men, from men, to men, to earthly purposes; let us make therefore a difference, and know whence our calling is, that we may be thankfull, and whether it is, that we may be joyfull.
Vse 2.We may also in the next place hence gather, who are of the highest spirits? its a Christian and onelyonly he, he overlookes all these base things, his way, his minde, is ever upwards, and with Paul, he thinkes …ll drosse and dung that is here. It is the disposition of the world to minde high matters, here in religion are the true aspiring thoughts; as if men will be covetous of honour, here's the right honour and these are the honourable persons. Who honour me, I will honour, (saith God) onelyonly a Christian is partaker of his desire, other men desire high matters, God knowes to what end, but they leave them in the dust; but when a Christian dyes, hee is then partaker of his desires in fulnesse.
Quest.But it will be questioned, does a Christian ever know he is called?.
Answ.I answer, sometimes a Christian staggers a little, either being not an experienced Christian, or through sight of corruptions and temptations: but setting these aside, a Christian knowes his calling, and will live by his rules, for it is not onelyonly a calling, but it workes a dis…position; and therefore if we finde it not, attend we on the meanes of the Gospell, which is called the Kingdome of heaven, and it will bring us into a good estate, and shew us our estate also, which being once made knowne to us, wee may assure our selves it will remaine with us for ever, which also may bee gathered from this, that its a high calling, for nothing can breake any one linke of that chaine made by God, and demonstrated in the 8. of the Rom.
But to proceed, this is the calling of God▪ for by nature we are dead, and it can bee none but God that revives the dead; God together with the voice of his Ministers, sends his quickening spirit, giving eares to heare, and understandings to understand.
Againe, wee are not onelyonly dead, but in thraldome under the devill: it must needs bee one that is stronger than this strong man, that must dispossesse us of him. This calling is Gods calling in Christ, and that is first as our head: God lookes on us as we are in him, and he elects us as in Chri…t. For from eternitie he appointed so many to be members of Christ, as he meant to save: we are called, and justified in Christ, he must be ours, before his obedience be ours: we are sanctified in Christ, we mu… be in him as branches in the vine, partaking in the quickning sap and juyce of his grace, and when we are glorified, we must be glorified as being of his members. Then wee are called by Christ, who is the Authour of this holy calling: and lastly, we are called through Christ as our mediatour; and thus chiefly is it meant here, not through workes, as the Papists will have it: no, Christ is the author and finisher of our faith, in him are we crown…d, as the body i… said to bee crowned when the head is; let us therefore che…ish this communion with Christ, by all meanes, for thereby wee shall communicate with him of his fulnesse.