Exposition of Philippians 3, Part 40 – Part 41
VERS. 17. Brethren be followers together of mee.
THese words containe another exhortation, with a friendly compellation, which I passe over, having heretofore had often occasion to speake of it: the exhortation is to imitation of the Apostle, follow me. And because I cannot ever be with you, therefore follow those among you, that walke as I doe.
Whence wee lear…, that together with the rules of religion, wee must propound Gods graces in us, as examples for others to imitate: and this arises not from pride, but from confidence of truth and holinesse in our owne hearts, and conversations, and religion maketh this a vertue and dutie, without which it were boasting: and so it doth make many things (of themselves not seemely) very fitting. Davids dance was in worldly esteeme counted but folly, yet having respect to Gods glory is commendable; and therefore we must not be captious, when we see such things in others, that men ordinarily count indiscretion, but mark their ground, and by it esteeme of them, and accordingly follow such. Bee yee followers of mee, saith St. Paul, that is, observe what my doctrine is, and what I doe and acknowledge, follow and imitate me. The Apostles doctrine consists chiefly of three heads; whereof the first, concerneth our naturall condition, as Rom. 1, 2, 3. chapters, and Ephes. 2. And the second, concerneth our remedy by Christ Iesus, God and man being King, Priest, and Prophet, as in the Heb. And the third, the māner how Christ is become ours by imputation, and is laid hold on by faith, which is given to us by God, who being unchangeable and true, we persevere in this rule and course of obedience, by the mercies of God, though with many combatings and strivings, even to fulnesse of glorie. The Apostles example see in part in this chapter, in holinesse of life, and death … sinne, and esteeme of the goods of this world as base. In the Acts see his paines in the Ministerie, his calling, his heavenly and holy mind in the next verse.
And therefore, let us reade these often, and consider them: they are an excellent glasse, that will transforme us into an holy forme and fashion; many things there are in him that are extraordinarie, and not immitable, he wrought in another calling for his living, he was an Apostle, had extraordinarie gifts by revelation, and indeed not so much by studie, as the Miniters of the Gospell now, to whom God gives guifts, but in the faithfull and painfull use of the meanes, and therefore are they not bound to imitate the Apostle in this thing, as in other things which he did as an Apostle.
But to proceed to particulars;Wherein imitation consists. imitation implyes foure things:
First, a doing that which another doth.
Second, a doing it in the same manner.
Third, a doing thereof grounded upon the same affections: not as in a stage play, where hee that acteth the person of a King, is often a varlet, but it implies such an imitation as is in a childe, that indeavoureth to be like the father in disposition, as well of minde as of bodie.
Fourth, it implies a doing, studio imitandi, with an earnest desire to be like him, for he that doth that which God commands, and not as expressing his desire of imitation, he is no follower, and therefore in all our actions wee ought to desire to be like God, and indeavour to expresse in action, what we desire, and to this end wee are to search for examples and patternes in the Scripture, for those that are more excellent; for the most excellent in all kindes, are the best rules for others: and because in many things we offend all, let us follow the examples of men no further than they follow Christ, 1 Cor. 11.1. And it was one end of Christs incarnation, that he might bee an example unto us. As I your Lord and Master have washed your feet, so yee ought to wash one anothers feet, Why examples are laid downe in Scripture.and learne of me, for I am meek.
Hence we may gather, the ground why we have not only rules in Scripture to live by, duplicate page duplicate page but also examples. For first, they shew that the things commanded are possible to bee done. Then they shew us the way and meanes more plainly, how to doe them. Thirdly, they shew how gracefull & acceptable they are when they are done. So as the Scriptures are not penned altogether in a commanding fashion, but have mingled sweet alluring examples: for there are foure wayes of teaching; rule, reason, similitudes, and examples. The two former injoynes, but workes not on the affections, similitudes are but slight, onelyonly examples conformes us in a most sweet alluring manner.
Vse. 1.And therefore wee ought to be exemplarie, as to follow others, and especially those that are above other: they should be burning and shining lights, as starres giving light to passengers in the darknesse of this world; to this end observe some meanes. And
1. Dir.First, reverence not onelyonly the eye of God, but of weake Christians, Maxima debetur puero reverentia. We are to be awfull of our carriage, that we may give no ill example to them: and to this end we are to know that wee shall give account for those sinnes, that wee either cause or suffer others to fall into, if wee may hinder them; give therefore no offence or scandall to the little ones.
2. Dir.Secondly, Labour to denie our selves in liberties: especially when we are in the presence of such as will take scandall, and to this end labour for the grace of love, which will cause us to indure much, and put up many things which we count injuries.
Thirdly,3. Dir. in our carriage wee are so to demeane our selves, that wee shew wee value, esteeme, and respect those with whom wee converse: for else our actions being visible to others, they will seeme to be done out of a selfe respect, and so will not affect or worke on them. Grace will teach us to honour the meanest, as those that may bee deerely beloved of God, who also may excell us in many excellent qualities, and in some kinde of grace may also goe beyond us.
Secondly,Vse. 2. if wee be bound to give good example, then woe to the world for offences; what shall become of those who wound and vexe continually the hearts of those with whom they converse? Many are in hell, propter alienum peccatum. In the eyes of God, who knowes the heart and intentions, sinne is committed before it be acted: and therefore its all one, whether thou committest it or not. But its not thus before men, for when it is committed it turnes to scandall, and opens the enemies mouthes, and grieves the spirit of God in his children, the Prophets complaine hereof, and wee may observe God correct his children most, to keepe them from scand…lizing others, and that others may beware of scandall: so Davids sinne was pardoned, yet because hee gave scandall the childe died.
Vse 3.Thirdly, as wee must give good example, so wee must indeavour to take good from others example: and to this end;
First, wee must eye them, and prie into their actions; for this end hath God left us a continuall succession of examples.
Secondly, we must eye them not to observe their weaknesses, to uncover their shame; for this is a poysonous disposition, proceeding even from the divell: neyther are wee to observe them, thereby to take libertie, to the flesh from their ill example; but wee are to eye them as we view glasses, to deck and adorn our selves by them, and to compose our selves in a good course.
Thirdly, in imitation we are to observe the best, and the best of the best, and not to compare our selves with those that are inferiour to us: for he that thinks himself good by comparison, he is not good, as a runner will not conclude he runnes swiftly, beeause he hath outrunne a lame man. And therefore St. Paul sayes else where, Brethren follow mee, as I follow Christ: propounding to himselfe the most excellent patterne of all, Christ Iesus. Contrariwise he blames the Corinthians, because they measured themselves by themselves, 2 Cor. 10.12.
Fourthly, wee must learne truthes before wee practice, for the best have their blemishes: so that wee must learne to know how to avoid them. The Papists urge us with the succession and universalitie of their Church. No say we, it is the doctrine that must trie the Church, whether it be true or false; for men are Mensura mensurata, its the doctrine is Mensura mensurans, the measure measuring, whereby our actions ought to be squared and framed aright. The Papists urge us with an implicite faith. Alas, what example? what imitation can there be, when they know not what to imitate? they know not what the Church beleeves, and and yet they must beleeve as the Church beleeveth.
Fifthly, wee must labour to have soft hearts, sanctified with grace and molified, for a stonie hard heart will receive no impression, and to this end are wee to use the meanes, to imbrace the word, to receive the Sacraments, and to pray that God would open our eyes, and soften our stonie hearts.
Sixthly, wee are to looke to everie one that hath any good thing worthy of imitation: as those that delight in gardens, where they heare of any choise flowers, they will have a slip for their owne garden: thus it should bee with us, where we see any flower of any grace, get that and place it in our owne gardens; in every Christian there is something immitable, and something that may further us: and therefore this Apostle longed to see the Romans, that hee might be comforted by their faith, 1 Rom. 12. It is with the Church as with the firmament, ever some are rising and some are fitting, let us looke to the starres of our time, and walke by their light. Its not enough that wee can commend the Martyrs, for that is ordinarie, as it was with the Iewes in Matth. 23.29. though they builded the sepulchres of the Prophets, if they had beene alive, together with them, they would have persecuted them, and therefore Christ saith, they killed the Prophets. And the ground of it is, bec…use its a dishonour to God, not to take notice of his goodnesse and glorious graces in others, and therefore if the starres doe praise him, surely these starres must much more set forth his glorie, that being of themselves sinfull wretched men, by his power are made glorious lights for others to walke by.
And in the seventh place, in things whereof there is no certaine rule to direct us, wee ought to imitate the example and custome of the most holy and sober sort. As in apparell much question is what sort, what fashion is most to be imitated, let the most sober and moderate of thine owne ranke be guide unto thee. Its singularitie to differ from such, with a desire to be noted, and it savours of pride, and such shall be condemned by their examples, even as Noah condemned the old world.
Vse.For use of all this, learne hence what is the best succession, that is the best and surest note of succession, which is both in doctrine and example; locall succession is nothing, they are the children of Abraham, that doe the workes of Abraham; they are Iewes which are Iewes inwardly in the spirit: the Papists they cry out against us we have no succession; but it is they have no succession, their doctrine every where crosses the doctrine of the ancient Church of Rome, their practice is without president, what president have they for rebellion? for their equivocation? and the like; they follow indeed, but as corruption doth generation.
VERS. 18. For many walke, of whom I have told you often.
THese wo…s containe, a reason of Pauls exhortation; and from the connexion wee may observe, that where truth is, error is: where wheat is, there are tares; walke as I doe, for there are many with whom yee converse, that walke as enemies to the crosse of Christ. Our enemies tell us, because of our errors wee are not the true Church, they may better conclude contrarily, that because we have some few errors, therefore there is a true Church amongst us, where truth is there will be opposers; and therefore we are not to be scandalized hereat: the skill and courage of a Christian, is seen most where truth is in danger, as the goodnesse of a Pilate is seene specially in a tempest.
The Papists will not have the Word read in the vulgar tongue. why? because they say many errors will thence arise, while the common people understand it not. They may as well argue, because there is much deceipt, therefore I will not buy nor sell. St. Paul was of another minde, he would preach at Ephesus, for a great dore and effectuall was opened, though he knew there were many adversaries. 1 Cor. 16.9.
In the next place, observe he saith many there were, meaning of the better and more eminent sort, that is of teachers: a pitifull thing, that in the golden times of the Church, the chiefe leaders of the Church should be mislead, and therefore we are not to wonder that we should finde it thus, and therefor… wee must not bee scandalized by the multitude, one Micaiah is better than 400. false Prophets, and therefore we must not number the followers, but weigh them aright,
To proceed; he saith there are many, he nameth none in particular, yet no doubt but noted scandalous persons, may and ought to bee particularly named, that others may take notice and heed of them; yet this must bee warily done. The Apostle curses the Copper-smith, but onelyonly names Demas. Those that are weake, must be gently touched, those that are obstinate and scandalous, must bee plainely made knowne, and this draweth some of our writers particularly to lay open the vices and falshoods of those that are obdurate, and therefore we must not take scandall thereat, it arising from a zealous care of Gods Church, not of malice.
In the next place, he saith he told them often, the Apostle was affectionately bent for their good▪ and therefore to write the same things often to them, it was not greevous to him, seeing to them it was safe; for the nature of man is very dull in conceiving of things that belong to salvation, and their memories are but brittle. If therefore we doe often inculcate and lay open the danger of that whorish Religion, long since condemned, it must be well taken in these times, especially wherein men are so secure, daring to venter on any thing, yea to goe to their Masses, upon pretence of their strength, that they c…n come away without being defiled.