Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 4 · Lecture 76
LECTƲRE LXXVI.
PHILIP. 4.
Verſe 2. I pray Euodias and beſeech Syntyche, that they be of one accord in the Lord.
3. Yea I beſeech thee faithfull yoke-fellow, &c.
NOw follow certaine particular exhortations vntounto particular and priuate perſons, touching ſome diſcord fallen out amongſt them. In the ſecond verſe his requeſt is vntounto Euodias and Syntyche, that they would be of one accord in the Lord. What Euodias and Syntyche were it is not certaine, neither are they mentioned elſewhere in the Scripture. Like it is by this place, that they were two women of good note, and ſuch as had much ſtood with Paul at his firſt planting of the Church at Philippi. But now it ſeems they were at oddes, whether the one with the other, or both with the reſt of the Church; and whether about matters of faith and religion, or about ordinary matters of common life, it is not certaine. This we ſee, the Apoſtle would gladly compoſe, the ſtrife, and therefore he exhorteth them to be of one accord in the Lord, that is, of one mind and one iudgement in the things of the Lord, betwixt themſelues and with the Church. If we vnderſtand that they differed in matters of faith and religion; or if we vnderſtand the words in generall, of what diſſenſions ſoeuer, then the exhortation is, that laying aſide all debates and diſſenſions, they would be of one accord in the Lord, that is, they would dwell together in ſuch vnitie as is pleaſing to the Lord. I pray Euodias, and beſeech Syntyche, &c. It followeth.
Yea, and I beſeech thee, &c. In this verſe the Apoſtles exhortation or requeſt is vntounto his faithfull yoke-fellow, that he would be a meanes to compoſe the ſtrifes of Euodias and Syntyche, with this reaſon implied, becauſe they were women which had laboured with him when he preached the Goſpell at Philippi, nor with him onelyonly, but with Clement alſo, and with diuers others which labored with him in the ſame work, whoſe names are written in the booke of life. What this faithfull yoke-fellow was whom he maketh this requeſt vntounto, it is not certaine. Much diſputation there is who it ſhould be. Like it is that it was ſome ſpeciall man that preached the Goſpell purely and ſincerely there with him at Philippi. Him he requeſteth to helpe thoſe women, namely Euodias and Syntyche: How to helpe them? Namely to order their matters, and to compoſe their ſtrifes whatſoeuer they were. And why ſhould he do ſo? That which the Apoſtle addeth, ſeemeth to be added as a reaſon to moue his faithful yokefellow to help them, and to compoſe their ſtrifes: for they laboured with him in the Goſpell, that is, when the Goſpell was firſt preached by him at Philippi, they laboured, yea and euen ſtroue, for ſo the word ſignifieth, putting themſelues in hazard for the hearing of the Goſpell preached, and for the defence of the Goſpell. For in the Acts mention is made of women, among whom was Lydia, that came together to a place beſides the riuer,Act. 16.13. not daring as it may ſeeme, to hauehave their aſſemblies in the citie of Philippi, and there heard the word at Pauls mouth. Theſe two women, it may ſeeme, were two of them, of whom the Apoſtle for that cauſe ſaith, that they labored and ſtroue with him in the Goſpell, he being willing to preach, and they deſirous to heare, when there was great danger for both, and they ſtanding much in his defence when he was much contradicted. Neither doth he commend them to hauehave laboured with him alone in the Goſpel, but with Clement alſo, and with other his fellow-labourers, which laboured with him in the worke when the Goſpel was firſt preached at Philippi. Who this Clement was, it is not certaine, as neither who theſe his fellow-labourers were. Silas, it is like by that place in the Acts, was one. Miniſters of the Goſpell they were, which ioyned their labours with Paul, to the gathering of the Church at Philippi, whoſe names though they were not written by him in this Epiſtle, yet he ſaith, that they were written in the book of life. Whereby he meaneth, that their life was as certainly ſealed vp with God, as if their names had bene written vp in a booke to that purpoſe. For the ſpeech is borrowed from the maner of them that bill the names of them in a booke, whom they hauehave choſen into their ſeruice, whom then they know to be theirs, becauſe they hauehave their names billed in a booke. So God knoweth who are his as certainly as if their names were written in a booke, and their life is as ſurely ſealed with him, as if their names were regiſtred to that purpoſe. The ſumme then of the Apoſtles reaſon, is this: theſe women for their labour with him and other his fellow-labourers in the Goſpel, were worthy that he ſhould do this for them, and therefore he requeſts his faithful yoke-fellow that he would help them, & compoſe the ſtrifes which were either betwixt themſelues, or betwixt them and the Church there. And let this ſuffice to be ſpoken touching the ſcope of theſe particular exhortations, and the meaning of the words in them both. Now let vsus ſee what notes we may gather hence for our further vſe.
Firſt then in the perſon of Paul, I note his holy care, not onelyonly to inſtruct and exhort the whole Church of Philippi in generall, but likewiſe priuately ſuch particular perſons as he heard it was needfull to inſtruct and exhort. For here we ſee how after his generall exhortation vntounto the Philippians, he commeth vntounto particular exhortations to priuate perſons, Whence I obſerue a holy dutie of a good Miniſter, which is, not only publikly to teach and exhort, and comfort his whole congregation in the Church, but alſo priuatly to labour with particular perſons ſo as ſhall be needfull for them. If they need inſtruction, to inſtruct them; exhortation, to exhort them conſolation to comfort them; correction, to reproue them; peace-making, to compoſe their ſtrifes; and eueryevery way to labour with them as it ſhall appeare to be needfull for them. Examples hereof we hauehave in generall in all the Apoſtles, of whom it is ſaid,Act. 5.42. that they ceaſſed not to teach and preach Ieſus Chriſt dayly in the Temple, and from houſe to houſe. Ye ſee likewiſe not onelyonly Iohns generall Epiſtle, but his priuate Epiſtles alſo, one vntounto a certaine Ladie, and another vntounto one Gaius; in either of which, as he thought it needfull, he comforted them, and exhorted them, and admoniſhed them. And this our Apoſtle ye may ſee how he taught both openly and throughout eueryevery houſe: how he reproued ſins not onelyonly in generall,Act. 20.20. 1. Cor. 5.1. 2. Tim. 2.17.4.10.14.but in particular noted the ſinnes of the inceſtuous perſon, of Hy…enaeus and Philetus, of Demas, of Alexander the copper-ſmith, &c: how he dealt with Philemon in particular for Oneſimus: how he comforted and admoniſhed Timothy and Titus in particular. And what elſe meaneth that of the Apoſtle, where he chargeth to be inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon? 2. Tim. 4.2.but that the Miniſter of the Goſpell ſhould at all times and in all places, publikely and priuately, generally and particularly, take eueryevery occaſion to profite Gods people, whether it be by teaching, by improuing, by rebuking, by exhorting, or how elſe ſoeuer it ſhall ſeeme needfull or profitable. For if we may but pull one brand out of the fire, if we may but conuert one ſinner from going aſtray out of his way, if we may but inſtruct one man in righteouſnes vntounto ſaluation, euen by priuate and particular dealing with him, we ſhall not loſe our reward, but euen he ſhall be our crowne of reioycing in the preſence of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt at his coming.
I wiſh they would at length remember this dutie, who hauing their conſciences ſeared with an hote iron, vouchſafe not either publikely or priuately to teach, or exhort, or admoniſh the flock of God which dependeth on them. As publike with all, ſo priuate dealing with particulars will be ſeene to be needfull, if any man do but with halfe an eye looke into the ſtate of the people eueryevery where. The ignorance in ſome, the wickedneſſe in others, the iarres amongſt others in eueryevery place, ſhew plainly how needfull it is, vntounto publike teaching to adde alſo particular admonitions and exhortations. But they that cannot be drawne vntounto the one, namely to teach their people in their aſſemblies, it is hardly to be hoped that they will deale with men in particular on the way, or at the plough-taile, or at the anuil, or at the ſhop-boord, how needfull ſoeuer it be. This place ſerueth not much to ſpeake vntounto them, and therefore I let them alone.
Secondly, in the perſon of Paul, I note his godly care to compoſe the ſtrifes of theſe two godly women Euodias and Syntyche. For there being a iarre either betweene themſelues about ſome priuate matters, or betweene them & the Church about ſome matter of religion, both himſelfe exhorteth them to be of one accord in the Lord, and alſo he dealeth with his faithfull yoke-fellow to helpe to order their matters, and to compoſe their ſtrifes, commending them as worthy that he ſhould do this for them. Whence I obſerue a very commendable qualitie, as in the Miniſter of Chriſt, ſo in eueryevery good Chriſtian, which is, both by themſelues and by all the meanes that they can make, to take vp ſuch quarrels as fall out among their brethren. It is regiſtred vntounto the euerlaſting commendation of Cloë, 1. Cor. 1.11.and her houſe, that when great diſſenſions and contentions broke out in the Church of Corinth, they being very deſirous to hauehave them ſtayed, and yet not able to ſtay them, aduertiſed Paul thereof, that he in his wiſedome might take ſome courſe to ſtay them. And our Apoſtle giues it for a precept vntounto Timothy, 2. Tim. 2.23.to put away fooliſh and vnlearned queſtions, knowing that they ingender ſtrife. Where the meaning in generall is, that he muſt be ſo carefull to ſtay all ſtrife, that he muſt be carefull to take away eueryevery thing which may be any occaſion of ſtrife. And our Sauiour pronounceth a bleſſing vponupon them that make peace among their brethren, ſaying, Bleſſed are the peace-makers, Mat. 5 9.for they ſhall be called the children of God. For God being the God of peace, the more that we hauehave peace amongſt our ſelues, and the more that we ſtudie and labour to make peace among others, the more like we are vntounto God, and the more we ſhew our ſelues to be the children of God. So that we ſee, that to make peace and end ſtrifes, is very commendable both with God and men.
This then firſt may teach vsus to beware how we do ſow ſtrife and diſſenſion betwixt man and man. For looke how commendable a thing it is to make peace and end ſtrifes; ſo intollerable and odious a thing it is to blow the bellowes of diſcord amongſt brethren and neighbours: and as they that make peace, do thereby ſhew themſelues to be the children of God, with whom dwelleth peace; ſo thoſe ſeditious fire-brands that delight to ſtirre vp ſtrife among their brethren, and to ſet men by the eares together, ſhew plainly that they are the ſonnes of that wicked one who cannot abide that brethren ſhould dwel together in vnitie.Prou. 6.16.17 18 Theſe ſix things (ſaith Salomon) doth the Lord hate, yea his ſoule abhorreth ſeuen, The haughtie eyes, a lying tongue, hands that ſhed innocent bloud, an heart that imagineth wicked enterpriſes, 19feete that be ſwift in running to miſchiefe, a falſe witneſſe that ſpeaketh lies, and him that raiſeth vp contentions among brethren. All theſe ſeuen things the Lord hateth, yea his ſoule abhorreth the ſeuenth as plaine murder. For what is murder if this be not, to rend in ſunder the members of the ſame bodie, by ſowing debates and diuiſions amongſt them; and ſo by braules, and iarres, and quarrelling, to kill both the ſoule and the bodie?Prou. 17.14. The beginning of contention, ſaith the ſame Salomon, is as one that openeth the waters: ſo that he that bloweth the bellowes of contention, and openeth the way vntounto ſtrife amongſt neighbours, is as he that by pulling vp a ſluce, letteth in the waters vponupon a countrey, and ſo drowneth the whole countrey: which alſo ſheweth that ſuch make-bates are murtherers.
Let them looke vntounto this, which either by priuie whiſperings, or open detractions, or any falſe ſuggeſtion whatſoeuer, either ſeeke to make variance where there is none, or where they perceiue ſome litle diſlike, there adde fire vntounto heate, and ſet them as farre at oddes as they can. Of what root ſoeuer they be that are ſuch, they are the ſonnes of Belial, and no leſſe then murderers.Prou. 22.10. And therefore as Salomon giueth aduice touching the ſcorner, the like do I touching ſuch a contentious man; Caſt out the ſcorner, ſaith he; Caſt out the make-bate, ſay I, and ſtrife ſhall go out; caſt out the make-bate out of companie, countrey, commonwealth, citie, houſe where thou dwelleſt, ſo contention and reproch ſhall ceaſſe. The truth euer will abide the light, and feareth not to ſpeake with any man in the gate: but theſe are commonly whiſperers, and louelove rather to ſpeake in the care then on the houſe top. Suſpect them therefore by their priuie whiſpering, and when once thou knoweſt them, for euer afterwards be thou ware of them.
Secondly, this ſhould teach vsus, not onelyonly to ſtudie to liue in peace our ſelues with all men, but farther, when others are at oddes,Heb. 12.14. to make peace betweene them. Follow peace with all men, ſaith the Apoſtle to the Hebrewes. And the Apoſtle to the Romanes,Rom. 12.18. If it be poſſible, as much as in you is, hauehave peace with all men. And ſurely a moſt bleſſed thing it is to ſee men to be of one accord in the Lord: witneſſe the Pſalmiſt, where he ſaith, Behold how good and ioyfull a thing it is, Pſal. 133.1.brethren to dwell together in vnitie. But the ſeruants of God are not onelyonly to be peaceable themſelues, but when either there are open iarres, or inclination thereunto, they ſhould labour by all meanes both by themſelues and others to ſet them at one. It was a good ſpeech of Abraham vntounto Lot, Gen. 13.8.when he ſaid vntounto him, Let there be no ſtrife, I pray thee, betweene me and thee, neither betweene mine heardmen and thine heardmen; for we be brethren. In imitation whereof, when ſtrife is, or is like to be, we are to interpoſe our ſelues, and to ſay, Let there be no ſtrife, I pray you, betweene you; for ye are brethren: ye are neigbours and friends; ye hauehave one Lord, one faith, one Baptiſme, and one hope of your vocation: be ye therefore one amongſt your ſelues: Let all bitterneſſe, and anger, and wrath, crying, and euill ſpeaking be put away from you, with all maliciouſneſſe: and be ye courteous one towards another, and tender hearted, forgiuing one another, if either hauehave a quarrell againſt other, euen as God for Chriſts ſake forgaue you. Yea and as Paul ſaid to the Corinthians for going to law one with another, ſo are we to ſay vntounto them that any way ſtriue, Why rather ſuffer ye not wrong? why rather ſuſtaine ye not harme, then fall at ſuch quarrelling one with another? Thus, I ſay, ſhould we in hatred of ſtrife, and louelove of peace, as peace-makers labour to compoſe ſtrifes, and to make peace where it is not.
But what commonly ſay wee in ſuch caſes? One ſaith, It were very well done to take vp their quarrells, and to make them friends. Another ſaith, that he loues not to meddle in other mens matters, and to make himſelfe ſome buſineſſe where happly he ſhall hauehave little thankes. Another ſports himſelfe at their contentions, and ſaith with himſelfe; So, ſo, there goes the game. Another haply ſheweth his diſlike of their iarres, and puts in a word to friend them, and then he thinkes he hath done well. But not many in ſuch caſes deale both by themſelues and by others, and labour by all meanes to take vp their quarrels, that they may be of one accord in the Lord. Well, if when wee were enemies vntounto God, and God was angrie with vsus to deſtroy vsus for euer, Chriſt Ieſus the Sonne of the euerliuing God had not come in the ſimilitude of ſinfull fleſh to make peace betweene God and vsus, what had become of vsus? If God had not ſent his Sonne, and if he had not come to reconcile vsus vntounto God, our portion had beene with the diuell and his angells in the lake that burneth with fire and brimſtone for euer. Let vsus, men and brethren, be followers of Chriſt, let vsus follow Abraham, and our Apoſtle. Let vsus not onelyonly labour to hauehave peace with God, and to be at peace one with another, but when wee ſee that any variance is, or is like to be betweene man and man, let vsus labour, as much as we can, to ſet them at one. Let vsus hate ſtrife and debate both in our ſelues and in others, and let vsus louelove peace and agreement both in our ſelues and in others. And then ſurely the God of peace ſhall be with vsus to bleſſe vsus, and to giuegive vsus his peace, which paſſeth all vnderſtanding. And let this be obſerued from the perſon of Paul.
The next thing which I note, is in the perſons of Euodias and Syntyche. Wherein firſt I note the religious affection of theſe two vertuous women; for by conference of this place with that in the Acts, it may appeare, that when the Goſpell was firſt preached at Philippi, they not onelyonly gladly embraced the Goſpell, but ſtood much for the defence of the Goſpell againſt them that perſecuted the truth of Chriſt Ieſus, and often aſſembled themſelues together with other women without the towne beſides the riuer to pray, and to heare the Word preached. Whereupon it is that the Apoſtle here ſaith, that they laboured with him in the Goſpell, nor with him onelyonly, but with Clement alſo, and with other his fellow labourers in the worke of the Miniſterie. Here then is a good patterne for all women to looke vponupon, that they be alike religiouſly affected as theſe women were, & giuegive like teſtimonie thereof as they did. There is no priuiledge vntounto them by their ſexe from this, but as all the reſt of Gods children, ſo they ſhould embrace pure religion from their hearts, exerciſe themſelues in the law of their God day and night, and ſeeke the Lord from the ground of their hearts. Yea and ſuch hath beene the merciemercy of the Lord toward this ſexe, as that women in all ages hauehave beene worthily renowned for many notable graces of Gods Spirit.1. Pet. 3.6. Sarahs obedience is ſet forth by Peter for an example for euer. The gouernment and victorie of Deborah was not inferiour to the gouernment and victorie of any of the Iudges of Iſrael.Iudg. 4. What ſhall I ſpeake of Eſters religious depending vponupon God when ſhe hazarded her ſelfe for the deliuerance of her people?Eſter 4. of the Widdowes godly depending vponupon Gods prouidence, when in the great famine ſhe relieued Eliah with ſome of that little which ſhee had?1. Reg. 17. Luke 2.37.of Annaes continuall abiding in the Temple, and ſeruing God there with faſting and praier, night and day? It ſeemeth that the firſt that embraced religion in Philippi, Acts 16.13.were women. Neither hauehave they onelyonly beene religiouſly affected, and ſuch as feared God, and walked in his wayes, but further many hauehave mainly ſtoode for the defence of the Goſpel, and hazarded their liues. Examples we hauehave in Priſcilla, vntounto whom the Apoſtle giueth this teſtimonie, that for his life ſhe laid downe her owne necke:Rom. 16.4. and likewiſe in this place of Euodias and Syntyche, of whom ye ſee the Apoſtle ſaith, that they ſtroue with him and others in the Goſpell, that it might hauehave a free paſſage, and that they might ſpeake the Word boldly. Seeing then that theſe things are written for your learning, iudge with your ſelues how religiouſly ye ought to be affected towards the truth of Chriſt Ieſus. Let their examples ſtirre vp your holy mindes, and let it not ſeeme grieuous vntounto you with holy Mary to ſit you down at Ieſus foot, and heare him preaching in his Miniſters. Nay, let it not grieue you, boldly to ſtand in the defence of the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus, and if the will of the Lord be ſo, to lay downe your liues for that truth which ye hauehave learned and receiued in Chriſt Ieſus. If ye ſhould look no further but vntounto examples of your owne ſexe, ye might hauehave ſufficient encitement hereunto. As therefore at this day ye doe, ſo go forward to receiue with meekneſſe that word which is able to ſaue your ſoules. Let the word of Chriſt dwell in you plenteouſly, and let your religious minds be knowne vntounto all men.
Secondly, in the perſons of Euodias and Syntyche, I note a breach and falling out, either betwixt themſelues, or betwixt them and the Church: For, in that he exhorteth them to be of one accord in the Lord, it is plaine that there was a breach and falling out. Whence I obſerue, that the children of God, how religiouſly affected ſoeuer they be, yet ſo long as they liue, are ſubiect vntounto their falls, and ſubiect vntounto diuers diſordered affections, as anger, diſcord, and the like. We ſee how Peter and Barnabas were drawne on vntounto ſhrewd diſſimulation for feare of the Iewes.Galat. 2.13. We ſee how the louelove of the world drew on Demas to forſake Paul for a time,2. Tim. 4.10. and to embrace it. We ſee how ſome hauehave bene almoſt ſeduced from the way of truth by falſe teachers, as it is like theſe two women were, if the breach were betweene them and the church. Againe, we ſee ſuch a heate and breach to hauehave fallen out betweene Paul and Barnabas, as that they parted companies,Acts 15.39. the one going one way, and the other way: ſo that whom Satan had often ſifted & winowed before, now a very little matter and ſmall occaſion ſet them at verie great oddes. And many ſuch falls and diſordered affections are the children of God ſubiect vntounto in this life, as might farther at large be proued. The reaſon is, becauſe though they be led by the Spirit, yet are they not wholly guided by the Spirit, but ſometimes they walke after the fleſh, and not after the Spirit.
Here then firſt, let the children of God learne to humble themſelues, and to walke before the Lord with feare and trembling. The manifold falles and diſordered affections whereunto they are ſubiect, may keepe them in a reuerent and ſonne-like awe, that they preſume not aboue that is meete; for by their falls they may ſee what ſtrength there is in themſelues to ſtand, if the Lord ſhould not ſuſtaine and vphold them. As therefore the Apoſtle exhorteth, ſo let all of vsus make an end of our ſaluation with feare and trembling, fearing but not doubting, becauſe he is faithful which hath promiſed; ſtanding in awe but ſinning not, euen ſtanding in awe, leſt we doe ſinne and diſpleaſe the Lord.
Secondly, hence we may learne, not preſently ſharply to cenſure men vponupon their breaches, or vponupon their falls; for they are no other things then do befall the children of God. Rather we are, if they be ſuch as hauehave made a good profeſſion of the truth, in ſuch caſes to helpe them, as here our Apoſtle ſpeakes: firſt, to labour to raiſe them, if they be fallen, and if they be at oddes, to ſet them at one, euen becauſe of their holy profeſſion, leſt the way of truth ſhould be euill ſpoken of: for that our Apoſtle makes the reaſon vntounto his faithfull yoke-fellow, why he would hauehave him to help theſe godly women, and to ſet them at one, euen becauſe they were ſuch as had ſtriuen with him in the Goſpell.