Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 3 · Lecture 72
LECTƲRE LXXII.
PHILIP. 3 Verſe 20.21.
From whence alſo wee looke for the Sauiour, euen the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who ſhall change our vile body, &c.
FRom whence.] This is the ſecond Chriſtian profeſſion which the Apoſtle maketh in behalfe of himſelfe, and ſuch others as walked as he did; and it is of their expectation of Chriſt his ſecond comming to ſaue them. Which alſo yeelde…h a reaſon why they hauehave their conuerſation in hea…en Our conuerſation, ſaith the Apoſtle, is in heauen. And why ſo? From heauen we certainly looke and wait for the appearing of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, when hee ſhall come as a ſwi… Iudge againſt all them that hauehave made their bellie their Go… but as our Sauiour to giuegive vntounto vsus an inheritance among the… that are ſaued: therefore our ſoule-conuerſation is in heaue… where now Chriſt is, and whence he ſhall come in that day t… ſaue vsus. In that the Apoſtle ſaith, from whence, hee noteth th… place whence Chriſt his ſecond comming ſhall be, and conſequently the place where now he is according to his humanitie… for there now he is whence at that day hee ſhall come, ſittin… now in glory at the right hand of the throne of God in heauen, whence hee ſhall alſo come in glory to iudge both th… quicke and the dead. Againe, in that he ſaith, from whence alſ… wee looke for the Sauiour, he ſignifieth their patient expectation and waiting for the appearing of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, when he ſhall appeare the ſecond time without ſinne vntounto ſaluation … for Chriſt being then already deſcended from the boſome o… his Father, and hauing offered vp himſelfe without ſpot vntounto God to take away the ſinnes of ſuch his choſen children a… through faith in his bloud hauehave their conſciences purged from dead workes to ſerue the liuing God; now they waited and looked for the promiſe of his ſecond comming, when he ſhould come in the clouds to be glorified in his Saints, but to render vengeance vntounto them that know not God, nor obey the Goſpell of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Againe, in that he ſaith, from whence alſo wee looke for the Sauiour, euen the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, he noteth the perſon of him whoſe ſecond comming from heauen in the clouds they waited and looked for; which is the Lord Ieſus Chriſt the Sauiour. The Lord, who is to be feared, hauing all ſoueraigne power giuen vntounto him in heauen and in earth. The Lord Ieſus, who is to be feared and loued, hauing laid downe his life for vsus to ſaue vsus from our ſinnes, and to free vsus from condemnation the due deſert of our ſinne. The Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who is to be feared, loued, and reuerenced, hauing as our Prieſt reconciled vsus vntounto God, and as our Prophet inſtructed vsus in the will of God. VntoUnto all which the Apoſtle addeth this, that further he calleth him the S…uiour, for that then in his ſecond comming he ſhould not only ſaue them and free them from ſinne and condemnation, which he did at his firſt comming in his humilitie, but ſhou…d …ue them and free them from death and corruption, and …ring them into the full poſſeſſion of that inheritance pur…haſed in heauen for them. So that yee ſee the generall point …ere ſpoken of is Chriſt his ſecond comming in glory: the …articular points are, the place whence the ſecond comming …hall be, the patient expectation and waiting of the faithfull …or the ſecond comming, and the perſon of him that ſhall …ome in this ſecond comming which the faithfull ſo looke …or. Now let vsus ſee what notes and obſeruations wee may ga…her hence, whereof to make ſome further vſe and inſtruction …or our ſelues.
The firſt thing which I note is the Apoſtles Chriſtian pro…eſſion which he maketh in the behalfe of himſelfe, and ſuch others as walked ſo as he did touching the place whence they waited for the appearing of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. They loo…ed for the comming of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt from heauen, …here they had ſet their affections, where they had their ſoule-conuerſation. Hence then I obſerue a ground of that point of an article of our faith, wherein we beleeue that Chriſt ſhall come from heauen with glory to iudge both the quicke and the dead. Whereunto alſo the Scriptures giuegive witneſſe often elſewhere; as where the Angels told the Apoſtles, ſaying,Act. 1.11. This Ieſus which is taken vp from you into heauen, ſhall ſo come as yee hauehave ſeene him goe into heauen: and againe, where the Apoſtle ſaith, that the Lord ſhall deſcend from heauen with a ſhout, 1 The. 4.16and with the voice of the Archangell, and with the trumpet of God: and againe where our Sauiour himſelfe tels his diſciples,Mat. 24.30 that the ſonne of man ſhall come in the clouds of heauen with power and great glory. But what needeth further proofe of this point? It is a thing which wee all beleeue and confeſſe, that Chriſt being aſcended into heauen where he ſitteth at the right hand of the throne of God, ſhall come againe from heauen in his appointed time with power and great glory, ſo that eueryevery eye ſhall ſee him, yea euen they which pierced him thorow, and ſhall render vntounto eueryevery man according to that he hath done, whether it be good or euill. The vſes which we are to make hereof are theſe.
Firſt, to beware of ſuch falſe teachers as tell vsus that the body of Chriſt is not only in heauen, but in earth alſo, in eueryevery Kingdome, in eueryevery City, in eueryevery pariſh, in eueryevery loafe, i… eueryevery peece of bread and cup of wine where the ſacrament i… receiued. For doe wee looke that he ſhall come from heauen the ſecond time with power and great glorie? And ſhall we… not thinke that now he is there whence then hee ſhall come? True it is that Chriſt as hee is God is not in heauen alone, o… limited vntounto any place, but filleth all places, being infinite and incomprehenſible. But as he is man, ſo is he there alone whence hee ſhall appeare the ſecond time vntounto ſaluation: for ſo it is written,Act. 3.21. that the heauens muſt containe him vntill the time that all things bee reſtored. And wat elſe is it but to deſtroy the nature of a true body, to ſay that it may bee in diuers places at one time? Let this for this time ſuffice vsus: Wee looke for Chriſt as he is man from heauen, therefore as hee is man he is in heauen: the heauen muſt containe him till all things be reſtored, therefore he is alone in heauen: hee hath a true body, therefore hee cannot be in diuers places at once. Beware therefore of ſuch deceiuers, that yee giuegive no place vntounto their errour, and truſt perfectly that Chriſt ſitteth at the right hand of the throne of the maieſtie in heauen, hauing no corporall preſence elſewhere, and that from thence hee ſhall come to render vengeance vntounto the wicked, and to be glorified in his Saints.
Secondly, this ſhould teach vsus to beware of ſuch mockers as walke after their luſts, and ſay, Where is the promiſe of his comming? The holy Ghoſt hath ſaid it, that he ſhall come from heauen the ſecond time with power and great glory. And hath hee ſaid it,Act. 1.7. and ſhall it not come to paſſe? It is not for vsus to know the times and the ſeaſons which the Father hath put in his owne power. Mat. 24.36Nay Chriſt himſelfe ſaith, Of that day and houre when he ſhall come know th no man, no not the Angels in heauen, but God only. Nay Chriſt himſelfe as he is man knoweth it not. Wee know perfectly,1 Theſ. 5 2. which is enough for vsus to know, that the day of the Lord ſhall come euen as a theefe in the night. Now if the good man of the houſe knew at what watch the theefe would come, Matth. 24 43.he would ſurely watch for that time, but would be very ſecure for other times. It is enough therefore for vsus to know that he ſhall come. And this, that we know that he ſhall come, but know not the time when, ſhould exerciſe our faith and patience, bridle our curioſitie, and containe vsus in the feare of God, in godlineſſe, and in all watchfulneſſe at all times, leſt hee come vponupon vsus at vnwares, and finde vsus without oile in our lampes, either beating our fellow-ſeruants, or eating and drinking with the drunken, or running after noiſome luſts, and the fooliſh cares of this life. The Lord is not ſlacke concerning his promiſe, as ſome men count ſlackneſſe, but is patient towards vsus,2 Pet. 3 9. Heb. 10.37 and would hauehave all men to come to repentance. Yet a very little while, ſaith the Apoſtle, and he that ſhall come will come, and will not tarrie. Beware therefore of ſuch mockers as in ſcorne and deriſion ſay, Where is the promiſe of his comming? Watch yee and pray continually, that yee may be counted worthy to eſcape all the things that ſhall come to paſſe vponupon ſuch mockers, and that ye may ſtand before the ſonne of man.
The third vſe which we are to make hereof, and whereat our Apoſtle eſpecially aimeth, is, that hence we ſhould learne to hauehave our conuerſation in heauen. For doe wee looke that the Sauiour ſhall come the ſecond time from heauen? Great reaſon then that wee ſhould hauehave our conuerſation in heauen, that in heart, minde, and ſoule, wee ſhould aſcend thither, that our faith, hope, and louelove ſhould be rooted there, that our thoughts, deſires, and affections ſhould be ſettled there. Had Daniel reaſon to open his windowes towards Ieruſalem, Dan. 6.10.and to pray towards it three times a day, becauſe of Gods promiſe vntounto his people when they ſhould pray toward that Temple? And is there not farre greater reaſon for vsus that wee ſhould alwayes lift vp our hearts vntounto the Lord, and hauehave our ſoule-conuerſation in heauen, from whence wee doe looke for our bleſſed Sauiour? The children of light herein may learne a leſſon of the children of this world, and of the children of darkneſſe: for where is the merchants minde but where his goods are, and where he hopes for commoditie? where is the husbandmans heart but on his harueſt, and where hee lookes for the fruit of his labours? Where are the affections of the voluptuous or ambitious man ſet, but where the things are which their ſoule moſt deſireth? Where elſe then ſhould the Chriſtian mans conuerſation be but in heauen, from whenc… we looke for the Sauiour, euen the Lord Ieſus Chriſt? Let v… not then with Ruben, and Gad, and halfe the Tribe of Manaſſeh deſire to tarie on this ſide Iordan without the Land of promiſe, but let vsus go into the heauenly Canaan, and dwe…l there, and walke as Citizens of the heauenly Ieruſalem. If we count that we hauehave our treaſure in heauen, let vsus alſo hauehave our hearts in heauen. Otherwiſe wee ſhew plainly that wee hauehave not our treaſure in heauen.Mat. 6 21. For, as our Sauiour tells vsus, where our treaſure is, there will our hearts be alſo. There Chriſt is, thence we looke for the Sauiour, therefore euen while wee are at home in the body, let vsus hauehave our ſoule-conuerſation there in heauen where he dwelleth, and whence wee looke for him.
The ſecond thing which I note is in the perſon of the Apoſtle, and others like vntounto himſelfe. For here ye ſee that the Apoſtle in behalfe of himſelfe, and ſuch others as walked ſo as he did profeſſeth that they looked for the Sauiour, euen the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, which their expectation plainly argued the feruent deſire, and earneſt longing which they had for the appearing of Chriſt the ſecond time vntounto ſaluation. Whence I obſerue the gladſome expectation of the faithfull children of God for the ſecond comming of Chriſt, when hee ſhall come in the cloudes of heauen to iudge both the quicke and the dead. They looke and waite for it, their ſoules long after it,Rom. 8.19. and with lift vp hearts and voices they crie, and ſay, How long Lord holy, and true, come Lord Ieſus, come quickly. It is ſaid in the Epiſtle to the Romanes that the feruent deſire of the creature waiteth when the ſonnes of God ſhall be reuealed. The word ſignifieth an earneſt waiting of the creature, ſuch as is the waiting of them that are ſet in a watch-tower to deſcrie, when the ſonnes of God ſhall be reuealed; i. when it ſhall be manifeſtly knowne, not onelyonly vntounto themſelues by faith, but vntounto men and Angels that they are the ſonnes of God.1 Ioh. 3.2. For, as Iohn ſpeaketh, Now we are the ſonnes of God, but yet it doth not appeare what we ſhall be; and we know that when hee ſhall appeare, we ſhall be like him: for we ſhall ſee him as he is. And, as our Apoſtle ſpeaketh,Coloſ. 3.3. when Chriſt which is our life appeareth then ſhall we alſo appeare with him in glory. For then ſhall hee change our vile body that it may be faſhioned like vntounto his glorious body. So that the time for which the creature waiteth is the ſecond comming of Chriſt. Doth then the creature, euen the heauen and the earth which God created in the beginning waite with ſuch a feruent deſire that they ſit as it were in a watch-tower continually beholding when Chriſt ſhall appeare the ſecond time vntounto ſaluation? How great then and gladſome may we imagine the expectation of the faithfull children of God to be for the ſecond comming of Chriſt, when they ſhall not onelyonly be renued, as the creature, but hauehave a full complement of euerlaſting bleſſedneſſe? And therefore the Apoſtle addeth, and not onelyonly the creature, but we alſo, Rom. 8.23.yea we much more which hauehave receiued the firſt fruits of the ſpirit, euen we doe ſigh in our ſelues waiting for the adoption, euen the redemption of our body; i. waiting for the conſummation of our adoption and redemption, when we ſhall fully poſſeſſe our inheritance with the Saints in heauen. This the Apoſtle commended in the Corinthians that they waited for the appearing of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt.1 Cor. 1.7. 1 Theſ. 1.10 And likewiſe in the Theſſalonians that they looked for the ſonne of the liuing and true God from heauen. And this is a thing which ſhould be commended in vsus all.Tit. 2.12.13. For the grace of God which bringeth ſaluation vntounto all men hath appeared, and teacheth vsus that wee ſhould denie vngodlineſſe, &c. looking for the bleſſed hope and appearing of the glory of the almightie God, and of our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt. Againe, we, I ſay, much more, becauſe the creature onelyonly waiteth that it may not afterwards be ſubiect vntounto corruption, or vanitie, but the faithfull that they may alſo iudge the wicked, and reigne with him for euer and euer. Neither onelyonly doth this compariſon with the expectation of the creature, ſhew what the expectation of the faithfull is for the ſecond comming of Chriſt; but much more will it appeare if wee ſhall compare it with the long wiſhed, & moſt deſired firſt comming of Chriſt in the fleſh to deſtroy ſinne in the fleſh. Wee read how greatly the Patriarches, and Prophets, and holy Saints of God in the old Teſtament deſired, and longed for that ſeede of the woman, that ſtarre of Iacob, that Prince of peace, that righteous branch, that Emmanuel. Our bleſſed Sauiour himſelfe teſtifieth of Abraham that hee reioyced to ſee his day,Ioh 8 56. i the time wherein he came in the ſimilitude of ſinnefull fleſh, and he ſaw it ſaith he, namely with the eye of faith, and was glad And in another place he tells his Diſciples that many Prophets, Luc. 10.24.and Kings had deſired to ſee thoſe things which they ſaw and had not ſeene them, to heare thoſe things which they heard and had not heard them. And that good old Simeon notably expreſſed his great deſire which he had to ſee Chriſt in the fleſh, when taking him in his armes he praiſed God and ſaid,Luc. 2.29.30.31. Lord now letteſt thou thy ſeruant depart in peace according to thy word: for mine eies hauehave ſeene thy ſaluation &c. Was his firſt comming ſo much expected and deſired by them then, and ſhall we thinke that his ſecond comming is not much more deſired by the faithfull now? It was ioyful no doubt to ſee him come in the fleſh; but ſhall it not be much more ioyfull to ſee him come in glorie? It was ioyfull to the ſhepheards, and to the wiſe-men of the Eaſt to ſee the babe with Mary his mother, and Ioſeph: but ſhall it not be much more ioyfull to ſee him attended vponupon with tenne thouſands of Saints and Angels? Ioyfull, to hauehave the earneſt of our ſaluation; but ſhall not the inheritance of it be much more ioyfull? Ioyfull, to hauehave the ſting of death, and the victorie of the graue taken away; but ſhall not the vtter exemption from death and corruption bee much more ioyfull? Then ſhall the ſheepe be gathered into the fold neuer to be in danger of the wolfe, or of wandering: then ſhall the corne be gathered into the barne neuer to be ſhaken with the winde, or mingled with the chaffe againe: then ſhall there be a perpetuall Sabboth and no worke day after it; an euerlaſting Iubile when all bondage ſhall ceaſe: then ſhall all teares be wiped from all eies, no more ſorrow, nor crying, nor paine ſhall be, but peace, and gladneſſe, and ioy, ſuch as eye hath not ſeene, nor e…re heard, nor hath entred into the heart of man. This is the expectation of the faithfull, which maketh them to looke and long for the bleſſed appearing of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And now ſee the reaſon why the faithfull looke and long for the appearing of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Now they are pilgrimes, then they ſhall come to an abiding citie: now they are compaſſed with ſorrowes, then ſhall all teares be wiped from their eies: now they are in continuall fight, then ſhall eueryevery enemie be ſubdued vntounto them: now they are abſent in body from Chriſt, then ſhall they follow the Lambe whetherſoeuer he goeth: now they know, and louelove, and belieue in part, then that which is in part ſhall be aboliſhed: now they walke by faith, then ſhall they walke before the throne, and before the Lambe for euermore: then ſhall be the day of their glorification, the day of their redemption, the day of their ſaluation, the day of their abſolute conſummation of all bleſſednes. This is the cauſe why their mindes are euer running, their thoughts euer muſing, their eies euer looking, their ſoules euer longing after the ſecond comming of Chriſt Ieſus in glorie. And for this cauſe they euen reach after it, crying with the ſoules vnderunder the altar, How long Lord, holy, and true.
But as for the wicked and vngodly of the earth it is not ſo with them. They doe feare and tremble at the remembrance of it. If they do but heare of it their countenance is changed, their thoughts are troubled, ſo that the ioynts of their loynes are looſed, and their knees ſmite one againſt another, as wee read of Belſhazzar, Dan. 5.6.when he ſaw the palme of the hand that wrote vponupon the wall. Yea ſo farre are they from looking and longing after that day, that either they wiſh it might not be at all, or elſe that it might be deferred. And no maruell. For then ſhall the Lord come as a ſwift iudge againſt them, in flaming fire, rendring vengeance vntounto them which ſhall bee puniſhed with euerlaſting perdition from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power: then ſhall the wrath of the Lord ſo fiercely perſecute them that they ſhall crie vntounto the mountaines and rockes, fall on vsus, and hide vsus from the preſence of him that ſitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lambe, for the great day of his wrath is come, and who may ſtand? then ſhall they heare that fearefull ſentence pronounced againſt them, depart from me ye curſed into euerlaſting fire, which is prepared for the Deuill and his Angells: and then ſhall they be caſt into the lake of fire and brimſtone where they ſhall be tormented euen day and night for euermore, not for 1000. or 100000. yeare, but for euermore. This is the cauſe why they feare and tremble at eueryevery mention of that day: and for this cauſe they wiſh they might neuer ſee it.
Examine then your ſelues, men and brethren, how yee ſtand affected towards the appearing of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt at that day, whether ye looke and long for it, or yee tremble and feare at the mention of it.Eſa. 3.18 Bleſſed are all they that waite for the Lord, ſaith the Prophet, for vntounto them that looke for him ſhall he appeare, Heb. 9.28.as ſaith the Apoſtle, the ſecond time vntounto ſaluation. Is the meſſage then of Chriſt his ſecond comming gladſome vntounto you? Is the remembrance of it ioyfull vntounto you? It is a ſure token vntounto you that ye belong vntounto Chriſt Ieſus, and it is a notable fruite and effect of your faith and hope in Chriſt Ieſus. It may be that ſome of you looking more vponupon your ſelues and your owne ſinnes then vponupon Chriſt and the bowels of his mercies, and being more ſharpe and ſeuere toward your ſelues then quick-ſighted to looke toward Chriſt Ieſus, may feele ſome appalling in your ſelues, or at leaſt not that cheerefulneſſe in expectation that ſhould be. But let not your harts be troubled nor feare. Ye looke not only vponupon your ſinnes, or ſo on Chriſt as only a ſeuere iudge, and ſo deſpaire in your ſelues, and vtterly abhorre his comming, but yee looke for him, though not without hope, yet without that cheerefulnes which ye ought. In this weakneſſe the Lord will perfit his praiſe, and vntounto theſe beginnings hee will giuegive a good iſſue. Only let my counſell be acceptable vntounto you: turne away your eies from your ſelues, and caſt them vponupon Chriſt Ieſus. He ſhall be your iudge that is your Sauiour. He hath bidde you looke vp, and lift vp your heads, for your redemption draweth neere:Joh. 5.24. And he hath ſaid it, that hee that belieueth in him hath euerlaſting life, and ſhall not come into condemnation, but hath paſſed from death vntounto life. Tit. 2.13.Waite therefore patiently and cheerefully for the Lord for the grace of God which bringeth ſaluation to all &c.
The third and laſt thing which heere I note, is in the perſon of him whom the Apoſtle ſaith that they looke for from heauen, which is the Lord Ieſus Chriſt the Sauiour. Wherein I obſerue a reaſon both why wee ſhould walke in this like as citizens of the heauenly Ieruſalem, hauing our conuerſation in heauen, and why wee ſhould looke and long for the ſecond comming vntounto iudgement. For why ſhould it ſeeme ſtrange vntounto any man that liuing here in the body wee ſhould hauehave our ſoule-conuerſation in heauen? Is not our Lord and King mightie in power to ſaue and defend vsus, and to reuenge vsus of our enemies in heauen? Is not our Ieſus, who not by the workes of righteouſneſſe which we had done, but according to his merciemercy hath ſaued vsus by the waſhing of the new birth, and the renuing of the holy Ghoſt, in heauen? Is not our Chriſt the Mediator of the new Teſtament, that hath reconciled vsus vntounto God, maketh continuall interceſſion for vsus, and teacheth vsus outwardly by his word, and inwardly by his ſpirit, in heauen? Is not our Sauiour who in that day ſhall make vp the full complement of our ſaluation, in heauen? where then ſhould our conuerſation be but in heauen? where ſhould the body be, but where the head is? where ſhould the ſpouſe be, but where the bridegroome is? not one of vsus all but we are ſtung with fierie Serpents, curſed ſinnes, and noyſome luſts which fight againſt the ſoule. If wee will be healed and liue we muſt looke vp vntounto the braſen Serpent lift vp for that purpoſe. In heauen is our braſen Serpent euen the Lord Ieſus Chriſt. We muſt therefore while we are in the body lift vp our eies vntounto him, and hauehave our ſoule-conuerſation in heauen, if now we will be healed of our infirmities, and if when we remoue out of the body we will dwell with the Lord. And as this ſhould bee a ſufficient reaſon to moue vsus to hauehave our whole conuerſation in heauen, ſo ſhould it alſo moue vsus to looke and long for the ſecond comming vntounto iudgement. For ſhall our Lord and King come, which ſhall tread downe …he Deuill and all enemies vnderunder his feete, and leading captiuitie captiue ſhall make vsus to triumph in the heauenly places? Shall our Ieſus come then to be our iudge that firſt came to ſaue his people from their ſinnes? Shall our Chriſt come, that offered himſelfe vponupon the croſſe for vsus, and opened his fathers will vntounto vsus? Shall our Sauiour come to ſaue vsus from death and corruption by glory, which firſt ſaued vsus from ſinne and condemnation by grace? What cauſe then hauehave wee to hearken vntounto the counſell of Iames, Iam. 5.7.exhorting to bee patient vntounto the comming of the Lord, yea what cauſe to crie with the ſoules vnderunder the Altar,Apoc. 6.10.22.20. How long Lord, holy, and true, doſt thou not iudge and auenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth? Yea to crie with Iohn, Come Lord Ieſus, come quickely. VntoUnto this which hath beene taught the example of our brother lying here before vsus may, as I heare, be a good prouocation. My ſelfe knew him not, and therefore I can ſay the leſſe of him. But by the report of them that knew him hee was very ſtudious, and for his time had profited well in the knowledge of ſuch Arts as he applied himſelfe vntounto. He was alſo, as I heare, religiouſly affected, and godly minded, hauing in good meaſure while hee was in the body his conuerſation in heauen. And in the time of his ſickneſſe willingly ſubmitted himſelfe vntounto the will of his God, as one that looked for the bleſſed hope, and appearing of the Sauiour, euen the Lord Ieſus Chriſt in whom his ſoule reioyced, and in the merits of whoſe death and paſſion his heart was comforted. The Lord grant that wee may all liue in his feare, and die in his fauour.