Exposition of Philippians 3, Part 39
VERS. 16. Let us minde the same thing.
OBserve here, that wee are not only to walke sutable to others, but wee must minde the same thing that others of our profession doe:Doct. So as this is a direction to concord, shewing that a Christian is a member of Christ as his head, and of the mysticall bodie the Church: faith ties him to Christ, love ties him to the body, so as he must walke with Christ, and also with the body, hee must looke to himselfe first, and then to the body: the ground of this union is laid downe here, to bee first an union of minde and affection, and this must bee in good, or else wee are brethren in evill. Its no marvaile the world complains of want of love, when there is no agreement in the rule of our love; when there is no agreement in the objects of our love, its not riotous fellowship, but fellowship in the gospell that unites us, let us minde this same thing, and then we shall affect one another; and because our knowledge doth not extend to every particular alike, let us agree in the maine points, and let not lesse things breake us off one from another. If wee did walke according to our measure of knowledge in those things wherein wee agree, betweene us and the Lutherans, would not bee that bitternesse of spirit that there is, all censures and distempers would cease, and its a …ault in manie Christians, though bred up well in knowledge, yet being of a harsh spirit and nature, while hee walkes not according to the same rule, and mindes not the same things in the maine as hee should doe, he growes to be bitter, as for those that would be sincere, they must indeavour to bee united in one, as they have one God, one faith, one baptisme, for a Christian loves not to goe to heaven alone; and when he is there, he knowes he shall be one with Christ, and one with the holy Saints, and therefore will indeavour to be in perfect unitie here, considering there is no good he hath, but he injoyes it as being a member of the body of Christ, he knowes its a horrible thing, that members of the same bodie should fall out one with another, and therefore what shall separate or divide us? shall infirmities? Alas, we are all sicke of this disease, veniam petimus damusque: are they too hot, we are too cold, why should we not stoope and yeeld? Christ he stooped from heaven to us. Shall errors? why the time will come, God will reveale himselfe more fully. Shall sinne? Wee know what the Apostle saith, Gal. 6.1. those that are spiri…uall must restore such with the spirit of meeknesse, wee must not cut off members for every sore. Shall injuries? Its the honour of a man to passe by such, doe wee looke Christ should forgive us, when wee will not forgive others? consider it is the practice of all holy men; Paul became all things to all men, if by any meanes hee might winne some. Peter received reproofe of him, yet fell not out with him: some there are of such a perverse spirit, as if they see in any one any infirmitie, presently they breake out into these or the like words. I will not be of that mans profession; thus forsaking all the good in the holy profession, because of some weaknesse in the professors.
If they will needs be separating, let them separate from the world, from scandalous, carelesse, riotous persons▪ else Sathan rules in division, he knowes hee is best able to deale with them that are alone, and therefore drawes Eve from Adam, and one Christian from another, and so quickly overcomes them. If in companie one fall, another may helpe him up, if hee be cold, another may warme him by exhortation and example.
Consider therefore who are best minded, and minde the best things with them: if we finde we have attained to a greater degree in grace than others, indeavour to bring them to us, the Communion of Saints is an Article of our faith, every one beleeves it, but few knowes what it meanes, and therefore no marvaile they desire it not.