Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 4 · Lecture 82
LECTVRE LXXXII.
PHILIP. 4. Verſe 6.
Be nothing carefull, but in all things let your requeſts be ſhewed vntounto God in prayer and ſupplication, with giuing of thankes.
WE hauehave heard diuers exhortations of the Apoſtle vntounto the Philippians. His laſt exhortation vntounto them in the former verſe, was, that their moderate, and gentle, and patient mind might be knowne vntounto all men. The reaſon, becauſe the Lord is at hand, not onelyonly according to the preſence of his Deitie & glorious maieſtie, which filleth heauen and earth,Ier. 23.24. but at hand by his continuall watchfull prouidence ouer them to heare and helpe them, to ſaue and defend them, and at hand by his ſecond comming in the fleſh vntounto iudgement, to wipe all teares from their eyes, and to recompence tribulation to all that trouble them.
Be nothing carefull. In theſe words we hauehave another exhortation vntounto the Philippians; wherein the Apoſtle diſſwadeth one thing, perſwadeth another thing, and noteth the conſequence or effect which will follow vponupon both. The thing which he diſſwadeth, is, too great carefulneſſe for the things of this life, and for the euent of ſuch things as commonly we take in hand and hauehave to deale withall, in theſe words, Be nothing carefull. Where the word vſed by the Apoſtle, ſignifieth oftentimes a diffident carefulnes, ſuch as diſtracteth the mind ſundrie wayes, and almoſt eateth vp a man; ſuch as is the couetous mans carefulnes, whoſe mind runneth ſo ſtill vponupon his matters, as that not daring either to depend vponupon God, or the faithfulneſſe of any man for the euent of them, his turmoiled thoughts are alwayes buſied about them. Which carefulnes being an euill carefulnes, the Apoſtle diſſwadeth it, ſaying, be nothing carefull, that is, let it be farre from you to be troubled with ſuch worldly and diſtruſtfull carefulneſſe for any thing in this life, or for the euent of any thing that you hauehave to deale withall. The thing which he perſwadeth, is, in all things to flie vntounto God by prayer, as depending wholly vponupon him, and committing all their wayes vntounto him. So that as he would not hauehave them too carefull about any thing, ſo he would not hauehave them careleſſe in any thing, but in all things to flie vntounto God, powring out ſuch prayers vntounto him as may be accepted with him. Where firſt note the antitheſis, in that the Apoſtle ſaith, Be carefull for nothing, but in all things, &c. Secondly note the diſtribution of prayer into his diuers kinds, Let your requeſts, or ſuites, or petitions, there is the generall; be ſhewed vntounto God in prayer, and ſupplication, with giuing of thanks; prayer, ſupplication and thankſgiuing, theſe be the kinds or particulars comprehended vnderunder the generall. By requeſts therefore is meant generally whatſoeuer prayer is made vntounto God for the obtaining of that which is good, or auoiding of that which is euil. By prayer is meant ſuch prayer as we powre out vntounto God for bleſſings corporall or ſpirituall, temporall or eternall. By ſupplication is meant ſuch prayer as we make vntounto God for preſeruing vsus from euils corporall or ſpirituall, temporall or eternall. By giuing of thankes is meant a thankfull praiſing of God for benefits beſtowed vponupon vsus, or for our deliuerance from euils. And all theſe are commonly in all the prayers of the faithfull, as wherein both they giuegive thankes vntounto God for bleſſings receiued, and preſeruation from euils; and alſo pray vntounto God for the things which are good, and to be deliuered from the things which are euill. Thirdly, note this that the Apoſtle ſaith, Let your requeſts be ſhewed vntounto God, or be made knowne vntounto God; not as if their requeſts, or any thing elſe were not knowne vntounto God; but the meaning is, either that their requeſts ſhould be knowne by an approuing knowledge vntounto God, ſo that they ſhould be accepted with him; or that their requeſts ſhould be knowne, not vntounto men, as their patient mind was to be knowne, but vntounto God. The thing then which he perſwadeth in effect is this, in all things whatſoeuer to depend vponupon God, and to flie vntounto him by prayer, both powring out acceptable prayers vntounto him for obtaining of good things and deliuerance from euill things, and giuing him thankes for bleſſings in good things and delirance from euill. The conſequence or effect which will follow vponupon both, the thing diſſwaded and the thing perſwaded, the Apoſtle noteth in the next verſe, And the peace, &c. So that theſe words deuide themſelues into theſe three branches: firſt a dehortation from a thing which is euill, in theſe words, Be nothing carefull; ſecondly, an exhortation vntounto a thing which is good, in theſe words, But in all things, thirdly, a conſequent or effect which will follow vponupon flying the euill and following the good, in theſe words, And the peace. &c. Now let vsus ſee whit we may gather hence for our vſe.
The firſt thing which I note, is the Apoſtles dehortation, wherein he diſſwadeth the Philippians from all worldly and diſtruſtfull carefulnes for any thing in this life, or the euent of any thing that they hauehave to deale withall. Whence I obſerue a fault which we are by all meanes to take heed of and to flie, namely, too too great carefulnes for the things of this life. We may not in any wiſe ſo trouble our ſelues with turmoiling thoughts and cares for the things of this life, or the euent of any thing we hauehave to deale withall, as if we durſt not depend vponupon God, or the faithfulneſſe of any man, vnleſſe our owne cares alſo were continually employed about them. Carefulnes and diligence in all our labours is requiſite and neceſſarie, but worldly and diſtruſtfull carefulneſſe for any thing is wretched and vngodly. For the better conceiuing therfore of this note, we are to vnderſtand that there are three ſorts of carefulnes: one godly and neceſſarie; another worldly and wicked; and a third mixt of both, neither ſimply godly, nor ſimply wicked, but mixt of both. A godly carefulnes it is when we giuegive all diligence to do the workes of our callings with all faithfulnes, doing that which we ſhould, and commending the euent vntounto God. And ſo farre is it off, that this ſhould be miſliked or forbidden here or elſewhere, that it is eueryevery where commanded, and by example in the godly commended vntounto vsus. He that ruleth, ſaith the Apoſtle, let him do it with diligence. Rom. 12.8. Eph. 4.3.And againe: Walke worthy of the vocation whereunto ye are called, endeuouring to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And to this purpoſe is that of the Apoſtle, where he ſaith, If there be any that prouideth not for his owne, 1. Tim. 5 8.and namely for them of his houſhold, he denieth the faith, and is worſe then an infidel: and that, Studie to ſhew thy ſelfe approued vntounto God, 2. Tim. 3.15.a workman that needeth not to be aſhamed. And as in theſe and many other like places, this carefulnes is commanded, ſo is it oft commended vntounto vsus in the example of the godly. The Apoſtle witneſſeth this carefulneſſe to hauehave bene in himſelfe, where he ſaith, that he had the care of all the Churches;2. Cor. 11.28. Coloſ. 2.1. 1. Theſſ. 2.2. that he had great fighting, or as ſome tranſlate, great care for the Coloſſians; that he ſpake the Goſpell of God vntounto the Theſſalonians with much ſtriuing, or care, as ſome tranſlate. And the ſame Apoſtle commendeth this carefulnes in Timothy towards the Philippians, who faithfully cared for their matters;Philip. 2.20. in Epaphras towards the Coloſſians, who in his prayers was always careful for them;Col. 4.12. 2. Cor. 7.11. and in the Corinthians, in whom their godly ſorrow had wrought great care. And generally this care is ſo neceſſarily requiſite in the Prince for his people, in the Paſtor for his flocke, in the houſholder for his houſhold, and in eueryevery man for himſelfe, that either he muſt be thus carefull, faithfully to do the d…ties of his calling, whatſoeuer it be, and to leaue the ſucceſſe of his labours whatſoeuer vntounto the Lord, or elſe he cannot be godly.
Another carefulneſſe there is, neither ſimply good, nor ſimply euill, but mixt of both, namely when we are carefull to do the duties of our calling, and withall trouble our ſelues too much about the euent of things, which we ſhould leaue wholly to the Lord. And this carefulnes is good ſo farre as it makes vsus carefull to do the duties of our calling. But in that hereby we trouble our ſelues too much about the euent of our labours and ſucceſſe of our buſineſſe, it is euill. For this is to be left vntounto the Lord, according to that of the Prophet,Pſal. 37.5. Commit thy way vntounto the Lord, and truſt in him, and he ſhall bring it to paſſe. We are to do that we ought by the dutie of our place and calling, and the Lord he muſt giuegive the increaſe, the bleſſing, and the euent, and we muſt pray and wait for it from him. Otherwiſe howſoeuer our carefulneſſe be about that we ought, yet is it euill, becauſe it is more employed thereabout then it ought.
A third carefulnes there is, which is worldly, and ariſeth of diſtruſt in God, which is when men are too too much carefull of the things of this life, and of the euent of the things they hauehave to deale withall, as that the thought thereof troubleth them day and night, cauſeth their ſleepe to depart from their eyes, and euen eateth them vp aliue. This is the carefulneſſe which the Apoſtle here forbiddeth, not the firſt, nor the ſecond, but ſo much as it is linked in with this laſt about the euent of things. So that as I ſaid before, we may not in any wiſe ſo trouble our ſelues with turmoyling thoughts and cares for the things of this life, or the euent of any thing we hauehave to deale withall, as if we durſt not depend vponupon God, or the faithfulnes of any man, vnleſſe our owne cares alſo be continually employed about them. This alſo our bleſſed Sauiour forbiddeth,Mat. 6.25. where he ſaith, Be not carefull for your life, what ye ſhall eate, or what ye ſhall drinke, nor yet for your bodie what ye ſhall put on. 1. Pet. 5.7.And the Apoſtle Peter likewiſe, where he ſaith, Caſt all your care on him. Pſal. 55.22.And the Prophet alſo, where he ſaith, Caſt thy burden, or thy care vponupon the Lord, and he ſhall nouriſh thee. As if the Prophet and the Apoſtle ſhould hauehave ſaid: Be ye nothing carefull, but if there be any thing that troubles you, any thing which may cauſe you to care, caſt it off your ſelfe, and caſt it vponupon the Lord. Which carefulneſſe if it were onelyonly thus forbidden by the holy Ghoſt, it ſhould be ſufficient either for the not entertaining, or for the diſlodging of ſuch a gueſt being entertained. But beſides that it is forbidden, there are many other reaſons alſo why this ouermuch carefulnes ſhould vtterly be abandoned from among the ſonnes of God. For firſt, whence ariſeth this euill among the ſonnes of men of ouermuch carking and caring for the things of this life? Is it not from our ignorance or diſtruſt of Gods prouidence and care ouer vsus? Yes ſurely, either we know not that he can and will, or elſe we doubt whether he can and will prouide for vsus and ours when age, or pouertie, or ſickneſſe, or famine, or impriſonment, or baniſhment, or the like ſhall befall vsus. And therefore we ſcratch and ſcrape together all that euer we can, leſt when either ſome of thoſe things ſhall ſurpriſe vsus, or the charge of family and children ſhall grow vponupon vsus, we ſhould periſh in the needfull time of trouble. And hereupon it is that our bleſſed Sauiour ſets vsus vntounto the fowles of the heauen, that by them we may be taught in the prouidence and care of God ouer vsus. Behold (ſaith he) the fowles of the heauen; Mat. 6.26.for they ſow not, neither reape, nor carrie into the barnes, yet your heauenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye much better then they? As if he ſhould hauehave ſaid: Gods prouidence and care watcheth ouer the fowles of the heauen to feed them, which yet are far meaner and baſer creatures then your ſelues; how ſhould ye then ſeeing this, either not know, or doubt of Gods prouidence & care ouer you? They ſow not, nor reape, nor carrie into the barnes, and yet God feedeth them; how ſhould ye then ſeeing this, when ye hauehave plowed and ſowen, commit the reſt vntounto the Lord, and without farther carking or caring, to truſt ſurely that he will feed you? Thus we ſee how our bleſſed Sauiour to beate downe our immoderate carefulnes, inſtructeth vsus in Gods prouidence ouer vsus, and thereby ſheweth plainly that the root whence this vnmeaſurable carefulnes ſpringeth, is ignorance or diſtruſt in Gods prouidence ouer vsus. Secondly, to what vſe or profite is our ouermuch carking and caring for the things of this life? Is it not in vain, and to no vſe at all? The Prophet tels vsus ſo, where he ſaith,Pſal. 127.2. It is in vaine for you to riſe vp early, and to lie downe late, and to eate the bread of carefulnes: as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, Early riſing to worke and labor, going late to bed from worke, all the care that we can take is in vaine and to no purpoſe, except the Lord giuegive a bleſſing vntounto it. To which purpoſe alſo is that of our bleſſed Sauiour, where he ſaith, Which of you by taking care, Mat. 6.27.is able to adde one cubite vntounto his ſtature? as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, As it is in vaine for him that is of a low ſtature to trouble his thoughts about the adding of any thing vntounto his ſtature, becauſe when he hath takē as much care that way as he can, yet he cannot adde one cubit, or one hand breadth, or one inch vntounto his ſtature; ſo is it in vain for any man to vex himſelf & trouble his thoughts about the gathering of riches, or the euent of his labours, becauſe when he hath taken as much care as he can, yet not by his care are his riches increaſed, but by the Lord his bleſſing, who maketh poore and maketh rich;1. Sam. 2.7. nor by his care doth his corne grow, his ſhips returne from farre countries, or his labours proſper in any thing, but by the Lord onelyonly, who giueth increaſe, and a bleſſing vntounto eueryevery thing at his pleaſure. And albeit it may be, that ſome couetous miſers and wretches of the world, may by fraud and guile, or how elſe ſoeuer ſcrape and ſcratch more riches together then they ſhould, yet riches ſo gotten, are rather the beginning of pouertie then of riches. For,Eccleſ. 5.12. as the Preacher ſaith, Riches ſo gottē are reſerued and heaped vp to the owners thereof for their euill. For either they are as a fretting canker vntounto the reſt, to bring the owners thereof vntounto pouertie, or elſe they are gathered for him that wil ſcatter them. So that to be ouermuch carefull, is altogether in vaine and vnprofitable. And thirdly, as it is vaine and vnprofitable, ſo is it alſo pernicious and hurtfull. For whiles our thoughts are running vp and downe vponupon this or that matter, whiles we are troubled with cares here or there, while the things of this life, and the euent of things we deale withall runnes in our heads, and toſſeth vsus to and fro as billowes in the ſea, we are not onelyonly diſpoſſeſt of eueryevery good thought, & eueryevery good care, but if any good thought or care be ſuggeſted vntounto vsus, it is quite choked by theſe worldly cares of this life. This is clearely proued by that in the parable of the ſeed, where it is ſaid,Mar. 4.18.19. that they that receiue the ſeed among the thornes, are ſuch as heare the word, but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulneſſe of riches, and the luſts of other things enter in and choke the word and it is vnfruitfull: the cares of this world choke the word. Great reaſon then ye ſee, why we ſhould abandon this ouermuch carefulneſſe, becauſe it is forbidden by the holy Ghoſt, becauſe it ſpringeth from the ignorance or diſtruſt of Gods prouidence, becauſe it is in vaine and vnprofitable, and becauſe it is pernicious and hurtfull. Adde alſo hereunto, that the day hath enough with his owne griefe, Matth. 6.34.as our Sauiour telleth vsus: as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, The care that euerie day brings with it, is enough to trouble our ſelues withall, though we do not increaſe our preſent griefe by the carefulneſſe of this, how we may liue in time to come.
This then may teach vsus to moderate our cares, that they be not exceſſiue and vnmeaſurable. The prohibition of ſuch carefulneſſe is ſtrait, the cauſe of it is euill, the vſe of it is none, the hurt of it is great. Let vsus not therefore ſuffer our ſelues to be turmoiled with ſuch cares. Let ſuch cares be left vntounto the couetous worldling which hath made the wedge of gold his god, which ſtill cryeth, GiueGive, giuegive, and neuer ſaith he hath enough, but the more he hath, the more he craueth. Let him (for ſo he will) torme…t himſelfe with ſuch cares, let his thoughts be troubled o… his bed about ioyning houſe to houſe, and laying ground to ground, about his ſhips at ſea, his marchandize at home, his ſheepe and oxen in the field; let his ſleepe depart from his eyes about his ſales and bargaines, his gaines and loſſes, his debts and improuements; let him be diſtracted with cares as with wilde horſes, about the euent of his buſineſſe, the ſucceſſe of his labours, the maintenance of wife and familie: Let all his dayes be ſorrowes, and his trauell griefe, and let his heart take no reſt in the night. For this is iuſt the caſe of him that immoderately ſcrapes and ſcratches, carkes and cares, perhaps for an vnthrift, perhaps for a ſtranger, perhaps for an enemy. He eates vp, and waſts and conſumes himſelfe with care, and oftentimes enioyes no pleaſure of that he hath. But let ſuch care be farre from vsus, and if ſuch cares hauehave ſurpriſed any of vsus, let vsus ſhake them off, and following the counſell of our Apoſtle, let vsus be carefull for nothing.
What then! ſhould we be idle, and careleſſe, and let the world runne as it liſteth? ſhould we do nothing, care for nothing, but leaue all things, as they ſay, to Fortune, and let euerie thing be as it be may, and fall out as it can? Not ſo. We are not to be idle: no ſuch thing ſpoken of in our Apoſtle; but we are to labour and worke eueryevery man in his calling. We are to care; for not eueryevery care is forbidden here in our Apoſtle; but we are not to be ouermuch careful for any thing, ſo as the worldling careth, and killeth himſelfe with care. We are not when we hauehave done what we can and ought, to caſt all care away, and to leaue all things, as they ſay, to the hazard, to fall out as they can; but the euent and ſucceſſe to leaue vntounto God, always depending vponupon him, and flying vntounto him by prayer, and ſupplication, and giuing of tha…kes in all things, in proſperitie and aduerſitie, praying for good things, praying againſt euill things, giuing of thankes for bleſſings receiued, and caſting all our care vponupon God who careth for vsus: for to this purpoſe I take this which followeth in our Apoſtle to be ſpoken, when he ſaith, but in all, &c.
Whence I obſerue, that carefulneſſe for the things of this life is ſo to be abandoned, that yet we caſt our care vponupon the Lord, doing that we ought, but alwayes depending vponupon him for the euent and ſucceſſe, and flying vntounto him in all things by prayer, and ſupplication, and giuing of thankes. Man goeth forth to his worke, Pſal. 104.23. Iob. 5.7.and to his labour vntill the euening, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh, and therein he doth well: for man is borne vntounto labour and trauell as the ſparkes flie vpward, euer ſince it was ſaid vntounto Adam; Geneſis 3.19.In the ſweate of thy face ſhalt thou eate thy bread. So that the Apoſtle maketh it a rule, that He that will not worke, 2. Theſſ. 3.10ſhall not eate. But our care for a bleſſing vponupon our labours, for the ſucceſſe and euent of our labours, that muſt be committed vntounto the Lord, that muſt be layd on him. So the Prophet willeth,Pſal. 37.5. where he ſaith. Commit thy wayes vntounto the Lord, and truſt in him, and he ſhall bring it to paſſe. And againe,55.22. Caſt thy burthen vponupon the Lord, and he ſhall nouriſh thee, he will not ſuffer the righteous to fall for euer. If there be any thing that troubleth thee, or that thou wanteſt, commit all the care thereof vntounto the Lord, and ſtay thy ſelfe vponupon his prouidence, and vndoubtedly thou ſhalt not want. So our bleſſed Sauiour,Matth. 6.30. If God ſo clothe the graſſe of the field which is to day, and to morrow is caſt into the ouen, ſhall he not do much more vntounto you, O ye of little faith? What muſt be the concluſion but this, Caſt therefore your care vponupon him? And ſo the Apoſtle Peter willes vsus, Caſt all your care on God, for he careth for you. 1. Pet. 5.7.This then muſt be our care, to do that we ought, and then to commit the bleſſing of all vntounto the Lord. We may not careleſly fling off all care of our matters, but we muſt carefully commend them vntounto God, and depend vponupon him for his bleſſing vponupon them, and ſucceſſe vntounto them. In all things we muſt hauehave this care, by humble and hearty prayer to flie vntounto the Lord, to pray vntounto him for the obtaining of ſuch good things as we want, to pray vntounto him for deliuerance from euills, eyther now preſently vponupon vsus, or which we feare may fall vponupon vsus, and to giuegive him thankes for ſuch bleſſings as in the riches of his mercies he hath vouchſafed vntounto vsus. This care God requireth of vsus, and this care the godly hauehave alwayes had, as might largely hauehave bene proued, if time had giuen leaue; and this is the Chriſtian and godly care which now I commend vntounto you, faithfully to do the dueties of your calling, committing your wayes vntounto the Lord, depending vponupon his prouidence alwayes, and in all things flying vntounto him by humble and hearty prayer, with giuing of thankes.
Let this then firſt teach vsus, not to be idle, or careleſſe in matters: for this is not the thing forbidden, to labour, or to do the workes of our calling, but to be too too carefull about that we do, or hauehave to do: and though we may not be too too carefull about that we do, or hauehave to do, yet may we not be careleſſe, or ſay as the maner of ſome is, let the world wag as it liſt, care ſhall neither kill me, nor touch me. This careleſneſſe beſeemeth not the children of God, but is a note of retchleſſe perſons, ſuch as not onelyonly caſt all care away, but alſo all honeſtie, godlineſſe, and goodneſſe. As therefore too much carefulneſſe, ſo let this careleſneſſe be farre from euerie one of vsus.
Secondly, let this teach vsus ſo to labour and do all that we hauehave to do, as that ſtill we depend vponupon the Lord his prouidence and care ouer vsus, and in all things flie vntounto him by praier, and ſupplication, with giuing of thankes. It is he that muſt bleſſe our labours, and giuegive a good end vntounto our buſineſſe. We onelyonly can do that we ought to do, and then commend both it and our ſelues vntounto the Lord, in humble and heartie prayer. Which if it were ſo well thought of as it ſhould be, many of politike complots and deuices might very well be ſpared: for we plot, and deuiſe, and caſt, and winde vp and downe about this matter and that matter, as if we by our maine wit would bring that to paſſe, which the Lord otherwiſe either could not, or would not. Well, the beſt plot that I can tell you of is this, faithfully do ye that which ye ought to do, pray vntounto the Lord for his bleſſing vponupon it, and ſo commit it vntounto him, that he may do in it what he will, and what ſeemeth beſt vntounto him. This I am ſure is the beſt plot, becauſe the moſt Chriſtian. Let this therefore be our Chriſtian policie: let vsus feare the Lord, and walke in his wayes; let vsus do the duties of our calling, whatſoeuer we hauehave to do, let vsus labour therein as we ought, and let vsus pray vntounto the Lord for his bleſſing vponupon it, let vsus commit it vntounto him, and then let him do as he will.