Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 1 · Lecture 21
LECTƲRE XXI.
PHILIP. 1. Verſe 27.
OnelyOnly let your conuerſation bee as it becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt, that whether I come and ſee you, or elſe be abſent, I may heare of your matters that yee continue in one ſpirit, and in one minde, fighting together through the faith of the Goſpell.
HI…herto wee hauehave heard the Apoſtle his Exordium, and his Narration: Now that which followeth, both in this chapter, and in the reſt of this Epiſtle, is for the moſt part matter of exhortation. A little in the third chapter hee furniſheth them with matter of doctrine againſt certaine falſe Teachers, which were crept in amongſt them. But becauſe they were well grounde… the truth by his miniſterie and Apoſtleſhip, the ſpe… thing wherein the reſt of this Epiſtle is ſpent, is exhorta… vntounto a Chriſtian life. In this remainder of this chapter, … the Apoſtle ſetteth downe that generall exhortation vn… Chriſtian life, which is indeed the great and maine exhortation, whereof all the reſt are but branches: and ſecondly … inſiſteth particularly in ſome of thoſe things wherein th… life whereunto he exhorteth conſiſteth. His generall exhortation, is generally vntounto ſuch a life and conuerſation amongſt men, as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt, that i…, conformed vntounto the doctrine of the Goſpell of Chriſt, that profeſſion and conuerſation may goe hand in hand together, in theſe words, OnelyOnly let your conuerſation be, &c. The particulars wherein ſuch a life conſiſteth, and which here a… mentioned, are three: The firſt, conſtancie in holding and defending the truth of Chriſt, by the power of the ſpirit ſignified in theſe words, that yee ſtand in one ſpirit, that is, … one truth of the Goſpell by one ſpirit. The ſecond is vn… nimitie and agreement to ſtand and fight together for th… truth, through the faith of the Goſpell, ſignified in the… words, and in one minde fighting together, &c. And the thi… is patience in ſufferings and wrongs by aduerſaries, ſignified by way of dehortation, in theſe words, And in nothing feare, &c. Where theſe three are, there the life is in a good degree ſuch as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt. That which i… inſerted in theſe words, that whether I come, &c. is to perſwade them vntounto ſuch a life, without all reſpect of his comming againe vntounto them, that whether hee come and ſee them, or be abſent and heare of them, their life bee ſuch a… becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt. In that which followeth are ſet downe motiues to perſwade the exhortation, eſpecially patience in ſufferings and wrongs, whereof hereafter. Thus much for the generall order and meaning of thoſe words.
Now for the further and more particular opening of the meaning of theſe words, this that the Apoſtle in the beginning of his exhortation ſaith, Only let your conuerſation, &c. it may either bee referred vntounto that whereof the Apoſtle ſpake immediately before, and ſo hauehave this meaning, I ſay I ſhall abide and continue yet with you, for your furtherance, and ioy, and reioycing for mee: yet whatſoeuer become of mee, only looke yee to your conuerſation, that it bee ſuch as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt: Or elſe it may bee referred vntounto all that went before, and ſo hauehave this meaning; God hath done great things for you, he hath cauſed his Goſpell to be preached vntounto you, and brought you vntounto the fellowſhip of the Goſpell: he hath begunne a good worke in you, and it is not to be doubted but that he will performe it vntill the day of Chriſt: he hath made you to abound in louelove, in knowledge, and in all iudgement: hee hath turned my bands to the furthering of the Goſpell for your comfort, and he hath appointed to deliuer me out of bands, and to reſtore mee againe vntounto you, for the furtherance and ioy of your faith, and that yee may the more abundantly reioyce in Ieſus Chriſt for mee. Only bee not yee wanting vntounto that which becommeth you, but let your conuerſation be ſuch as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt. VntoUnto whetherſoeuer it be referred, yee ſee what the meaning is. Now where it is ſaid in the words following, Let your conuerſation be, the word vſed in the originall,foreign. implieth that they were Citizens of a Citie which is aboue, and enforceth this conſtruction; Only yee, as Citizens of an heauenly Ieruſalem, carry your ſelues, how? as it becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt, that is, ſo that your life be framed after the doctrine of the Goſpell, and be anſwerable to your profeſſion. But what? Would it ſerue to make a ſhew of ſuch a conuerſation for a time, becauſe he was to come againe vntounto them, that when he came vntounto them, all might be well, howſoeuer their hypocriſie afterwards brake out? No, in no ſort: and therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, Let your conuerſation be as it becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt. What? becauſe I am to come againe vntounto you, that yee may deceiue mee only by an hypocriticall ſhew? Nay, but that whether I come and ſee duplicate page duplicate page you, or be abſent and onelyonly heare of you, I may heare and ſee that in ſinceritie and truth which I deſire. Yea but how ſhould they order their conuerſation ſo, that it might bee ſuch as became the Goſpell of Chriſt? Namely if they ordered it ſo, that if he came he might ſee, and if hee were abſent he might heare, 1. that they continued, or ſtoodfaſt, for ſo the word ſignifieth,foreign like vntounto good ſouldiers which yeeld no ground, but keepe their ſtanding, that, I ſay, they ſtood faſt in one ſpirit, that is, that they abode conſtant in one truth of Chriſt by one ſpirit whereinto they had all drunke. 2. That with ioint minds and one accord amongſt themſelues, they fought together for the truth of Chriſt againſt the aduerſaries of the Goſpell, not with carnall weapons, but with the faith of the Goſpell, with the ſhield of faith to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked, which here he calleth the faith of the Goſpell, becauſe it commeth by the hearing of the Goſpell preached. And 3. that in nothing they feared their aduerſaries, but couragiouſly encountred them, and patiently endured all wrongs offered by them. If the Apoſtle might heare that thus they ſtood conſtant in the truth, not caſt downe by their aduerſaries, that thus with one accord they fought together, and threw down their aduerſaries, that thus couragiouſly they encountred their aduerſaries in nothing fearing them, this might in part ſhew that their conuerſation were ſuch as became the Goſpell of Chriſt. This I take to bee the true meaning of theſe words thus farre. Now, let vsus ſee what obſeruations we may gather hence for our farther, vſe and inſtruction.
The firſt thing which here I note, is the Apoſtles exhortation vntounto the Philippians in general, that they ſhould lead ſuch a life, that their conuerſation ſhould be ſuch as became the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus; that as they profeſſed the Goſpell of Chriſt, ſo they ſhould lead a life agreeable to the Goſpell of Chriſt. Whence I obſerue that ſo many as profeſſe the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus ought to labour by all meanes to lead a life agreeable to the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus. Which thing our Apoſtle alſo ſheweth in many other exhortations which he maketh to the like purpoſe, as when he exhorteth the Theſſalonians to walke worthy of God who had called them vntounto his kingdome and glory.1 Theſ. 2 12. Where the Apoſtles meaning is, that as God had vouchſafed them this merciemercy to call them vntounto his kingdome and glory, ſo they were to walke worthy of him, framing their liues as neere as they could vntounto his life, who was the engrauen form of his perſon. So that being called by God vntounto his kingdome and glory by the preaching of the Goſpell, we are to labour to walke worthy of God in all godlineſſe and righteouſneſſe. So likewiſe he exhorteth the Epheſians to walke worthy of the vocation whereunto they were called. Where againe the Apoſtles meaning is, that as they were called to be Saints in Chriſt Ieſus, ſo they ſhould walke worthy of that calling, euen as became Saints in Chriſt Ieſus.Eph. 4.1. So that being Saints by calling we are to labour to be Saints in life and conuerſation. As then is our calling; as is our profeſſion, ſo are we to labor to lead a life agreeable to our calling, agreeable to our profeſſion, and profeſſing the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus to lead a life agreeable to the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus. And why? The reaſons are very cleare. As 1. that the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus be not euill ſpoken of;Tit. 2.5. euen as young women are taught to be diſcreete, chaſte, keeping at home, good and ſubiect to their Husbands, that the word of God be not euill ſpoken of. For what readier way to cauſe the profane and wicked to blaſpheme the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt, then when the Profeſſors of the Goſpell liue not according to the Goſpell?Rom. 2.21.22.23.24. Thou that preacheſt a man ſhould not ſteale, doſt thou ſteale, ſaith our Apoſtle? thou that ſaiſt a man ſhould not commit adulterie, doſt thou commit adulterie? thou that abhorreſt Idols, committeſt thou ſacriledge? thou that glorieſt in the law, through breaking the Law diſhonoureſt thou God? for the name of God is blaſpheamed among the Gentiles through you. And if it may be ſaid vntounto vsus, thou that profeſſeſt the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt, doeſt thou lead a life which becommeth not the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt, ſhall not the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt be blaſphemed and euill ſpoken of among the profane Atheiſts, and miſcreants of this ſinfull world through vsus? yes ſurely, they ſhall ſay vntounto vsus as the Gentiles did to the children of Iſraell which poluted Gods name among them,EZ. 36.20. Theſe are the people of the Lord, theſe are the Profeſſors of the Goſpell, theſe be the fruits of their holy profeſſion, and of the Goſpell amongst them. 2. They that profeſſe the Goſpell of Chriſt, are to labour to liue agreeably thereunto, that they may adorne the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus in all thing, and winne others by their holy conuerſation vntounto righteouſneſſe and holineſſe,Tit. 2.10. euen as ſeruants are taught to ſhew all good faithfulneſſe that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things; and as Peter exhorteth ſaying,1 Pet. 2.2 hauehave your conuerſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that they which ſpeake euill of you as of euill doers, may by your good workes which they ſhall ſee glorifie God in the day of viſitation. For when they that feare not the Lord ſhall ſee our good workes, then ſhall they be brought to glorifie God our father which is in heauen; when they ſhall ſee that as our profeſſion is holy, ſo our life alſo is holy, then ſhall they beginne to ſuſpect their owne wayes, and to turne vntounto the Lord: as that place of Peter maketh plaine, where he exhorteth the wiues to be ſubiect to their huſbands; 1 Pet. 3.1.and why? that euen they which obey not the word, may without the word be wonne by the conuerſation of the wiues. Whence it plainely appeareth that by the holy conuerſation of them that are religious and godly, be they men or women, they that hauehave no good will vntounto the word are oftentimes wonne vntounto the obedience of the word. 3. They that profeſſe the Goſpell, are to labour to liue as becommeth the Goſpel, becauſe of the commandement,Mat. 5.16. Let your light ſo ſhine before men that they may ſee your good workes, and glorifie your father which is in heauen: becauſe of the promiſe, as many as walke according to this rule of the Goſpell, peace ſhall be vponupon them, and merciemercy, Gal. 6.16.and vponupon the Iſrael of God: becauſe it becommeth citizens of heauen to hauehave their conuerſation in heauen, and them that are called to the knowledge of God to walke as the children of God; and becauſe it is the leſſon which their profeſſion ſhould teach them, as the Apoſtle witneſſeth ſaying,Tit 2.11.12. the grace of God which bringeth ſaluation to all men hath appeared, and teacheth vsus that wee ſhould denie vngodlineſſe and worldly luſts, and that we ſhould liue ſoberly, and righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world, looking for the bleſſed hope &c. In one word, ſo onelyonly the Goſpell is the glad tidings of thei… ſaluation vntounto the Profeſſors of the Goſpell, if their conuerſation be as it becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt; and therefore they are to labour that their conuerſation be ſuch as becommeth their profeſſion.
This then may ſerue for a iuſt reproofe of many carnall Goſpellers in our day. For many Goſpellers there are by profeſſion, but not many that lead ſuch a life as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt: many there are that profeſſe they know God, not many that ſhew forth the fruite thereof in an holy conuerſation: ſuch as our Apoſtle ſpeaketh of where he ſaith, they profeſſe that they know God, Tit. 1.16.but by workes they denie him, and are abominable and diſobedient, and vntounto eueryevery good worke reprobate. So that it may be ſaid of Goſpellers as one ſaid of Doctours, many Doctours, few Doctours, many in name, few in deed; ſo many Goſpellers, few Goſpellers, many in name, and few in deed, many in profeſſion, few in practiſe, many in word, few in worke, many in tale, few in life and conuerſation. For is it not ſaid of many that make a very great profeſſion of the Goſpell and of religion, that they are hard men, vnmercifull men, men that grinde the faces of the poore, and ſell the needie for ſhoes, as the Prophet ſpeaketh? Are there not many ſuch that are noted to be Vſurers, Oppreſſors, Extortioners, and the like? Is it not ſaid of many ſuch that they are as ready to portion, and to couenant for their dues with their Paſtor as any men? that they are as ready to turne their Tenants a graſing as any men? that they are as ready to ioyne houſe to houſe, to lay field to field, and to encloſe all vntounto themſelues as any men? Is it not ſaid that the complaint of the poore, and fatherles, and widow is taken vp as much againſt them as againſt any men? I would it were not ſaid in Gath, & noiſed in the ſecrets of Aſhkelon: I wiſh the prophane Atheiſt, the ſuperſtitious Papiſt, and the couetous worldling could not iuſtly twite vsus with it. Alas, beloued, do we not ſee and conſider that thus we make our God to be blaſphemed, our profeſſion to bee ſlandered, and the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus to be euill ſpoken of for our ſakes? Doe we not ſee and conſider that Atheiſt, and Papiſt, and eueryevery earthly minded man makes his vantage of theſe things, and thinkes his owne waies well patronaged by our waies? Doe wee not ſee and conſider, that by ſuch our life and conuerſation the froward and obſtinate are hardened, the weake are offended, and the edge and courage of many much cooled and abated? If ſuch ſpots and ſtaines in our life did only touch our ſelues, yet were we to looke vntounto them, becauſe without holineſſe of life no man ſhall ſee the Lord. But when men ſeeing that we make a good profeſſion,Heb. 12.14 and yet liue nothing accordingly thereunto, thereupon take occaſion to ſpeake euill of our profeſſion, of our religion, of the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus, how carefull ought we to be of our life and conuerſation? Woe to the world, ſaith our bleſſed Sauiour, becauſe of offences: it muſt needes be that offences ſhall come,Mat. 18.7. but wo be to that man by whom the offence commeth. And ſurely if by our life not anſwerable to our profeſſion wee ſhall bring a ſlaunder vponupon our religion, our profeſſion, vponupon the Goſpell, if by our life ſome ſhall be weakened, others hardened, the edge of others abated, and others turned out of the good way, then woe ſhall be vntounto vsus becauſe of ſuch offence in our life.
I doubt not but ſuch as obſerue theſe things in vsus, and fill their mouthes with talking of them, both are guiltie of as crying ſinnes themſelues, and moſt iniuriouſly taxe many of vsus of theſe things, But the more ready they are to obſerue, and to taxe without a cauſe, the more carefull wee are to be that they hauehave no iuſt cauſe of taxing. Let vsus therefore, beloued, as we profeſſe the Goſpell of Chriſt, ſo labour to liue as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt. As the Goſpell teacheth vsus to be holy, ſo let vsus be holy in all manner of conuerſation: as the Goſpell teacheth vsus to walke in the light, ſo let vsus walke in the light, and hauehave nothing to do with the vnfruitfull workes of darkneſſe: as the Goſpell teacheth vsus to louelove God, and one another, ſo let vsus louelove God aboue all things, and our neighbour as our ſelfe: as the Goſpell is the Goſpell of peace, ſo let vsus be at peace with all men: as the Goſpell is true, ſo let vsus ſpeake the truth eueryevery man vntounto his neighbour, and lie not one vntounto another, &c. Otherwiſe wee walke not as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt. In a word, let vsus not be hearers or profeſſors of the word onelyonly, but doers alſo of the ſame, leaſt wee deceiue our ſelues.
Againe, as this note may ſerue for the iuſt reproofe of ſuch as profeſſe well, but liue not ſo well, ſo may it alſo ſerue for a iuſt defence againſt the vniuſt ſlaunder of our aduerſaries, who beare the world in hand that holineſſe of life is a matter that we neuer vrge, that wee make no great reckoning of. Your ſelues hauehave heard and can witnes how often ſince this very exerciſe hath begunne you hauehave beene vrged to runne forward in the race of righteouſneſſe, and to make an end of your ſaluation with feare and trembling, to labour to be blameleſſe, and pure, and the ſonnes of God in the middeſt of a naughtie and crooked nation, to hauehave your conuerſation in heauen, to communicate vntounto the neceſſities of the poore and diſtreſſed Saints, to abound in louelove, in knowledge, and in all iudgement, to be filled with the fruits of righteouſneſſe, and to ſtriue to be pure, and without offence vntill the day of Chriſt. And now ye heare, that if ye hauehave fellowſhip in the Goſpell your conuerſation is to bee as it becommeth of Chriſt. Know them therefore to be of their father the Deuill who was a liar from the beginning, and is the father thereof. And ſuffer not your ſelues to bee deceiued by them, who when they cannot otherwiſe preuaile againſt the truth fall to ſlaunder the profeſſors of the truth. And let this ſuffice to bee noted from the Apoſtles generall exhortation, whence ye ſee that ſuch as profeſſe the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt ſhould labour by all meanes to lead ſuch a life as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt.
But what? will it ſerue the turne for a time in the preſence or company of ſuch and ſuch perſons, to make a ſhew of ſuch a life and conuerſation, as hypocrites doe, which doe all that they doe to pleaſe men? No: and therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, Let your conuerſation bee as it becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt, that whether I come and ſee you, or elſe be abſent, and onelyonly heare of you, I may heart and ſee that in ſinceritie and truth which I deſire. Whence I obſerue, that the life and conuerſation of ſuch as profeſſe the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt, is to be framed not after the will of man, but after the will of God; not to pleaſe men, but to pleaſe the Lord, that whether man be preſent or abſent, their life bee ſuch as it ought to be.Gal. 1.10. If I ſhould pleaſe men (ſaith the Apoſtle) I were not the ſeruant of Chriſt. The Apoſtle ſpeaketh it of preaching the doctrine of the Goſpell, that if he ſhould apply himſelfe to the humors of men, and preach things pleaſing vntounto them, he ſhould not pleaſe God which tryeth the heart. But it may alſo very well be applyed vntounto the life and conuerſation of men, that if we ſhall only frame our liues vntounto mens likings, and for the time only ſeeke to pleaſe them, our life ſhall not be ſuch as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt. And therefore the Lord himſelfe ſharply reproued it in Ezechiels hearers, where he ſaith.EZek 33.31 My people ſit before thee, and heare thy wordes, but they will not doe them: for with their mouthes they make ieaſts, & their heart goeth after their couetouſnes. Where ye ſee the Lord taxeth Ezechiels hearers to bee ſuch, as when hee preached vntounto them, ſate as his people, and hearkened vntounto their Prophet, & carried themſelues well in his preſence; but in their hearts ranne after their couetouſneſſe, and out of his preſence made but a mocke of all that he ſpake vntounto them. And this was one of the ſinnes wherefore the Lord threatned to lay the land deſolate and waſte.
Let this then teach vsus to beware of hypocriſie. It is not for vsus to come vntounto this place, here to kneele vsus downe on our knees, to knocke our breaſts, to lift vp our eyes vntounto Heauen, to ſit, and hearken vntounto the Preacher, and when wee goe hence to make a mocke at the things that were ſpoken, or to forget them, or notwithſtanding, whatſoeuer ſhew of godlineſſe we made in the Church, in our houſes to returne vntounto our vomite. For what elſe is this but here to play the hypocrites, and here to make a ſhew of godlineſſe, the power whereof at home we denie? And what is vntounto hypocrites but a woe? In the ordering therefore of our life let vsus not depend vponupon mans preſence or abſence, but in a religious feare of the Lord, let eueryevery one of vsus ſo walke as becommeth vsus, knowing that whether man ſee vsus, or ſee vsus not, yet God ſeeth vsus, and conſidereth all our waies. It is the preſence and pleaſure of the Lord, that wee are to looke vntounto. Let our life therefore, and our conuerſation be as in his preſence, and ſuch as may pleaſe him, howſoeuer wee pleaſe or diſpleaſe men. And let this ſuffice to bee noted touching the qualitie of ſuch a conuerſion as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt. Whence ye ſee, that it is not to bee hypocriticall, or framed after mens liking, for the time to pleaſe them, but to be led in the feare of the Lord to pleaſe him.
But how may we ſo order our conuerſation, that it may be ſuch as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt? That the Apoſtle now ſheweth in the next place, as namely, if we continue in one ſpirit, if we ſight together in one mind through the faith of the Goſpell, & if we feare our aduerſaries in nothing. If we continue in one ſpirit, that is, if we ſtand faſt, and abide conſtant in one truth of Chriſt, by one ſpirit wherinto we are all baptized. Whence I obſerue one ſpeciall part of a conuerſation, agreeable to the Goſpell of Chriſt, and that is, conſtant abiding in the truth. If we ſtand faſt, and abide conſtant in the truth, this is one note that our conuerſation is ſuch as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus.Iohn 8.31. If ye continue in my word, ſaith our Sauiour, yee are verily my Diſciples: as if hee ſhould hauehave ſaid, if ye ſtand faſt againſt all aſſaults whatſoeuer, and quit your ſelues like men, and abide conſtant in the truth which I hauehave taught you, ſo ye ſhew your ſelues to be my Diſciples, and to walke worthie of me. So that to continue and abide conſtant in the truth ſhewes vsus to be Chriſt his Diſciples, and ſheweth our conuerſation to be ſuch as becommeth the Goſpell. Whereupon it is that wee are ſo often exhorted to continue in the grace of God, to continue in the faith, to abide conſtant in the truth, to ſtand faſt, and ſhrinke not.
Beware then, beloued, of reuolting from the truth, wherin ye hauehave byn taught in Chriſt Ieſus, of being caried about with eueryevery winde of doctrine, by the deceit of men, and with craftineſſe, whereby they lye in waite to deceiue: of yeelding, and giuing ground vntounto the aduerſaries of the truth. He that continueth vntounto the end, he ſhall be ſaued. But if ye ſtart aſide like a broken Bowe, ſurely yee walke not as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt. Looke to it then, that ye continue in the things which ye hauehave learned, and that yee fall not away from the hope of your profeſſion.
Another thing alſo hence I obſerue, which is, that to continue and abide conſtant in the the truth, is wholly the gift of the holy Ghoſt. It is not by our owne wiſdome, power, and ſtrength; but onelyonly by the power of the holy ſpirit that we ſtand faſt, without which we can no more ſtand in the truth, then can our bodies ſtand without our ſoule and ſpirit.
Both therefore let vsus beware, that we grieue not the holy ſpirit by our euill deeds, or by our euill words; and let vsus alwaies powre out feruent prayers vntounto him, that hee will vouchſafe euer to abide with vsus, to ſtrengthen vsus, to abide in the truth.
It followeth, And in one minde, &c.] Whence, I obſerue another ſpeciall note of a conuerſation agreeable to the Goſpell of Chriſt, and that is, vnity and concord, and louelove amongſt our ſelues. If we be knit together in one minde, ſo that as wee are one bodie in Chriſt Ieſus, ſo wee bee of one heart, and one ſoule, dwelling together as brethren in vnity, louelove, & good agreement, this is a good token, that our conuerſation is ſuch as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt.Ioh. 13.35. By this ſhall all men know (ſaith our Sauiour) that yee are my Diſciples, if yee louelove one another. A good note that we are Chriſt his Diſciples, and that we walke as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt, if we liue in louelove and concord one with another, if we be of one minde together.
Let vsus beware then how we nouriſh hatreds, malice, ſtrife, & contention in our ſelues one againſt another. For theſe things doe ſo diſtract vsus from another, as that being thus affected one towards another, we doe not walke as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt; or rather we are iniurious vntounto the Goſpell of Chriſt. For thus it commeth to paſſe, that the Goſpell which wee profeſſe is euill ſpoken of. Let vsus therefore be knit together in one mind, and beware of eueryevery thing that may diſtract and diſmember vsus.
Another thing hence I obſerue, which is, that this Chriſtian concorde muſt be to fight together, againſt ſuch aduerſaries as fight againſt the truth, be they heretiques and ſchiſmatiques that fight againſt it and vsus with lyes, ſlanders, cauils, falſe doctrines, and the like: or be they tyrants that fight againſt it and vsus, with fire, ſword, impriſonment, baniſhment, confiſcation of our goods, or the like. Wee are not onelyonly to ſtand ſtoutly and conſtantly for the truth againſt them, without being throwen downe by them, but being knit together one with another, in one minde we are ioyntly and with one accord to fight together for the truth againſt them, as good Souldiers to throw them downe, that when we hauehave finiſhed our courſe, we may ſay with our Apoſtle, That we hauehave fought a good fight. 2 Tim. 4.7.Otherwiſe we walke not as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt.
Let them then looke to this, that either for eaſe and idleneſſe, or for feare of diſpleaſure ſome way, or vponupon any other carnall reaſon whatſoeuer, will rather betray the truth then they will fight for it. And ſeeing none is crowned but hee that ſtriueth lawfully, let vsus fight together here, that there we may be crowned.
But how are we to fight for the truth againſt the deuill, and all his inſtruments the aduerſaries thereof. Some by praying, ſome by preaching, ſome by writing, ſome by patiently ſuſtaining for the truths ſake; and all of vsus, as hence I obſerue, by the faith of the Goſpell. Reſiſt the deuill (ſaith the Apoſtle) and he will flie from you. Reſiſt him, and fight againſt him:1 Ioh. 5.4. how? by faith; For this is the victorie that ouercommeth the world, and the Prince thereof, euen our faith. And therefore the Apoſtles exhortation is, Aboue all, take the ſhield of faith, Eph. 6.16.wherewith you may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. This is the armour wherewith we muſt all of vsus fight.
By an in…ernall faith then wrought in vsus by the Goſpell, let vsus all of vsus fight againſt Satan for the truth, and by an externall confeſſion of the faith againſt all tyrants, heretiques, and ſchiſmatiques whatſoeuer. Let vsus hold faſt the myſterie of faith in a good conſcience againſt all the enemies of the truth, and let vsus boldly alwaies make confeſſion of our faith, both in word by writing, preaching, diſputing, profeſſing, & indeed by ioyning our ſelues to the profeſſor… of the truth, & conſtantly & patiently abiding for the truth.