Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 1 · Lecture 16
LECTƲRE XVI.
PHILIP. I.
Verſe 19. And by the helpe of the holy ſpirit of Ieſus Chriſt.
20. As I feruently looke for and hope, that in nothing I ſhall bee aſhamed, but that with all confidence, as alwaies, ſo now Chriſt ſhall bee magnified in my bodie, whether it bee by life, or by death.
ONe thing hence I obſerue, which is, that not for our prayers, or for the praiers of the Church for vsus, but through our praiers, and through the praiers of the Church for vsus, the Lord giueth his grace vntounto vsus. And therefore the Apoſtle ſaith,Verſ 22. I know that this ſhall turne to my ſaluation, through your prayers, not for your praier. And to Philemon, I truſt through your prayers I ſhall be giuen vntounto you: Neither doe wee euer reade that for our prayers, as for the merit and worth of them, any grace is giuen vntounto any. Neither doe I build this note vponupon this ground as if becauſe it is ſaid through, therefore it cannot be for our prasyers. For, I know that we are ſaued through Ieſus Chriſt, and yet for Ieſus Chriſt, euen for his merits ſake, ſo that the phraſe barely conſidered canot inferre the note; but hereon it is builded, taht it is ſo ſaid through, that neither euer it is, nor can be ſaid, that for our praiers any grace … giuen vntounto vsus. For not for our praiers ſake, not for the …erit and worth of our praiers doth the Lord heare vsus, and …rant vsus our requeſts, but for the promiſe ſake which of his …wne free grace he hath made vntounto our praiers. He hath …aſſed his promiſe,Mat 21.22 that whatſoeuer we ſhall aske in praier in …is name, if we beleeue, we ſhall receiue it: and he hath bidden …s aske, and we ſhall receiue, ſeeke and we ſhall finde, Mat. 7.7.knocke and …e ſhall be opened vntounto vsus. Becauſe then he hath promiſed grace vntounto our praiers, he is intreated for grace through our praiers. Aske and hauehave, firſt aske and then hauehave, and …he better beggers the greater getters. For it is not with the Lord as with vsus: we ſay a great begger would hauehave a good …ay ſaier, and vntounto whom but euen now we hauehave giuen, wee louelove not that they ſhould by and by come againe and begge of vsus. But I ſay it is not ſo with the Lord, but of the greateſt begger he is moſt intreated, and the oftner wee come a begging to him, the more welcome we are vntounto him: for he loues to be intreated, and being intreated he promiſeth to giuegive, and ſo through our praiers he giues, euen for his promiſe ſake, but not for our praiers ſake; for they when they are beſt are ſo full of imperfections, that they merit nothing but to be reiected. Seldome but we are troubled with wandring by-thoughts, often we pray for things, and againſt things without ſubmitting of our wills vntounto the Lords will; often we pray not in faith towards God; often not in louelove towards our brethren, often coldly, often hypocritically, and when not ſo, but that our praiers might iuſtly be turned into ſinne vntounto vsus? Cauſes therefore they are not, for which the Lord beſtoweth any graces vponupon vsus, but meanes onelyonly through which we receiue graces needfull for vsus for the promiſe ſake made in Chriſt Ieſus.
Farre be it therefore from vsus to ſtand vponupon the merit of our praiers, as if for our praiers ſake we deſerued any grace to be beſtowed vponupon vsus. Let vsus as we ought powre out feruent praiers vntounto the Lord in faith, and in Chriſt his name, and aſſure we our ſelues we ſhall be heard. But withall let vsus know that it is for his promiſe ſake made vntounto our praiers, and for his Chriſt his ſake which offereth vp our praiers whatſoeuer be our ſtate and place let vsus not ſlacke this ſeruice, neither let vsus preſume vponupon any merit by this ſeruice If we lift vp pure hands vntounto the Lord in his Temple, in our houſes, or in our chambers he will heare vsus, & though not for our praiers, yet through our praiers he will be intreated of vsus. Let it be enough for vsus that he will heare vsus, and let this moſt of all glad vsus that for his Chriſt his ſake, and for his promiſe ſake he will heare vsus. And let this ſuffice to be ſpoken touching the firſt meanes in particular, that through our praiers, and the praiers of the Church for vsus, all things worke together for the beſt, vntounto ſo many of vsus a… louelove God, and are in Chriſt Ieſus.
The next meanes whereof the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, is the helpe of the ſpirit of Chriſt Ieſus, whereby he ſaith, he knew that this ſhould turne vntounto his ſaluation: I know &c. Where the ſpirit is called the ſpirit of Ieſus Chriſt, as becauſe of his proceeding from the Sonne, ſo becauſe of his dwelling in him in all fullnes, as alſo becauſe Chriſt ſendeth him into our hearts, and by him worketh his will in vsus. And thus alſo, and for theſe cauſes I take it, he is called in the Epiſtle to the Romanes, Rom. 8.9.and the ſpirit of the Sonne in the Epiſtle to the Galathians. But to omit many things which might here be noted vponupon this occaſion,Gal. 4.6. that the ſpirit is called the ſpirit of Chriſt Ieſus, becauſe they are not things ſpecially here intended by the ſpirit, the principall thing to be noted is, that the Apoſtle ſaith, that he knew that this which he ſuffered by his bands, and by the practiſes of the wicked ſhould turne to his ſaluation, by the helpe of Gods ſpirit, by whom the Father and the Sonne worke in vsus, and for vsus. Whence I obſerue, the true cauſe indeed whereby the ſufferings and the wrongs of Gods children turne to their ſaluation, and that is, by the helpe of the ſpirit of Ieſus Chriſt. The Lord by his ſpirit helpeth them, and turneth their heauineſſe into ioy, and their ſufferings into the quiet fruit of righteouſnes in the heauenly places. Thou Lord, ſaith the Prophet, haſt brought my ſoule out of the graue, Pſal 30.3.11.thou haſt kept my life from …em that goe downe to the pit: thou haſt turned my heauineſſe …to ioy, and thou haſt looſed my ſackcloth, and girded me with …adnes. Where the Prophet ſheweth, that it is the Lord …hat helpeth vsus and deliuereth vsus when troubles compaſſe … about; that it is the Lord that lifts vsus vp from the gates …f death, and putteth an end vntounto all our troubles; that it … the Lord that wipeth all teares from our eyes, and turneth …ur heauineſſe into ioy. And ſo Peter, Act. 12.17.being deliuered out …f priſon through the praiers of the Church, profeſſed that …he Lord had brought him out of priſon. Through their …raiers he was deliuered, but it was the Lord that deliuered …im; their praiers were the meanes, but the Lord was the …uthor of his deliuerance. Againe, Behold, ſaith our bleſ…ed Sauiour, it ſhall come to paſſe, Apoc. 2.10.that the deuill ſhall caſt ſome …f you into priſon that yee may be tried, and yee ſhall hauehave tribu…ation ten dayes; be thou faithfull vntounto the death, and I will giuegive …hee the crowne of life. Which words were ſpoken imme…iatly to the Church of Smyrna, but ſo that they ſerue alſo …or our vſe. Wherein, the godly are both warned of perſe…ution and affliction which they are to looke for in this …ife, and perſwaded likewiſe by ſundry motiues not to …eare them. Behold it ſhall come to paſſe, that ſome of you …hall be caſt into priſon: here is the aduertiſement of ſuch …fflictions as they are to ſuffer. But the exhortation is, feare …one of thoſe things which ye ſhall ſuffer. And the motiues to perſwade vsus not to feare them, follow. As firſt, who is the contriuer of all the perſecutions and troubles which we ſuffer? Euen the diuell, the Deuill ſhall caſt you into priſon. Hee alwaies kindles the fires of perſecutions againſt the Church; as alſo it is ſaid in another place,Apoc. 12.15 that he caſts out of his mouth water after the woman, like vntounto a floud. He blowes the bellowes vntounto all the practiſes of the wicked. Secondly, what is the end wherefore we ſuffer affliction and trouble? not for any harme vntounto vsus, but that wee may bee tried, That the tryall of our faith being much more precious then gold that periſheth, though it be tryed with fire, may be found to our praiſe, 1 Pet. 1.7.and honour, and glorie, at the appearing of Ieſus Chriſt, as the Apoſtle Peter ſpeaketh. Thirdly, what is the durance of our afflictions? We ſhall hauehave tribulation ten daies, a while, a ſhort while, an euening doth heauineſſe laſt, and then ioy commeth in the morning:2 Cor. 4.17. as alſo the Apoſtle ſaith, that our afflictions are but light, and but for a moment in compariſon of that farre moſt excellent, and eternal weight of glory which ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus. Laſtly, what is the reward of our afflictions? The reward which our bleſſed Sauiour in mercy promiſeth is this, that he will giuegive vntounto vsus the crown… of life. Iam. 1.12.As alſo Iames ſaith, Bleſſed is the man that endureth tentation: for when hee is tryed, hee ſhail …eceaue the crowne of life, which the Lord hath promiſed to all that louelove him. Whatſoeuer then our afflictions be, they turne ye ſee to our ſaluation, by the helpe of the Lord. Sometimes in the day of trouble he breaketh the cords of the wicked, and deliuereth vsus: and ſometimes hee ſuffereth them that hate vsus, to hauehave their wils ouer vsus, but ſuffereth vsus not to bee tempted aboue that wee able, but giueth the iſſue with tentation, that wee may bee able to beare it. And alwaies ſo hee prouideth, that in the end he turneth our troubles to our ſaluation. He doth it, euen he alone doth it, and none but he can doe it.
A point wherein we will all of vsus ſeeme very loath, but to be throughly perſwaded. For, who is he that will not ſeeme to giuegive full aſſent vntounto that truth which hath beene deliuered, that it is the Lord that helpeth vsus in our troubles, and that he turneth them to our beſt? But tell me, I pray you, whence is it that in the day of trouble we faint and droope, and hang downe the head? Whence is it that when we are perſecuted, reuiled, ſlandered, oppreſſed, impriſoned, and hated of men, we ſinke vnderunder the burthen, and are ready to fall away from the hope of our good profeſſion? Whence is it, that in the dayes of pouertie, ſickneſſe, or other aduerſitie, wee are oppreſſed with heauineſſe, and hardly will be comforted? Is it not for that we hauehave not yet learned this leſſon, that all this ſhall turne to our ſaluation by the helpe of God? Yes ſurely, the taking out of this leſſon would rid vsus of all ſuch paſſions, when any troubles doe aſſault vsus. …r how could the things caſt vsus downe, which wee know …ould turne to our ſaluation by the helpe of God? Let vsus …w learne it, and let it teach vsus to feare none of thoſe …ngs which we doe, or ſhall ſuffer, but ſeeing by his helpe … ſhall turne to our ſaluation, let vsus abide faithfull vntounto the …th.
Againe, let this teach vsus in the day of our trouble, to lift vp …r eyes vntounto the Lord. Let others ſay, as it is in the Pro…et, I will lift vp mine eyes vntounto the hils, Pſal. 121.1.from whence commeth … helpe. That is, let others looke for helpe from the arme … fleſh; but let vsus ſay with the Prophet, Our helpe ſtandeth … the name of the Lord, which hath made both Heauen and …rth. Let others flie vntounto other meanes, and neuer looke …to the Lord when troubles doe aſſault them; but let vsus …vſe other meanes, that principally we look vntounto the Lord, …d put our whole truſt in him: For by his helpe, whatſo…er is ſaid or done againſt vsus, ſhall turne to our ſaluation. …d let this be ſpoken touching the ſecond meanes in par…ular, that by the helpe of God the ſufferings of the godly …ll turne to their ſaluation.
The next meanes whereof the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, is the …eanes according to which the Apoſtle ſaith: this by the …lpe of God, and through the Philippians, ſhould turne to … ſaluation, and that is according to his ſure hope, As I …artily looke for, &c. Where, to ſignifie the ſtrongnes and …eneſſe of his hope, he vſeth two words,foreign. both expreſſing …us much, that his hope was ſuch, that hee expected the …e thing he hoped for, as they that earneſtly looking for a …ing, ſtretch out the head to looke for it. Whence I might …ſerue what a hope the hope of the faithfull is, namely not …doubtfull and vncertain hope, but a ſtrong and ſure hope, …ereby they do as certainly aſſure themſelues of the thing …ey hope for; as they that with ſtretched neckes looke for …e thing that is by and by to follow. But the obſeruation …ence principally to be gathered, whereinto that will follow, this, that according to our hope and faith in him, ſo doth the Lord (through the prayers of the Saints) turne … ſufferings and our wrongs to our ſaluation: ſo that by t… helpe of God, and through the prayers of the Saints, … ſufferings turne to our ſaluation; but ſo that we certain… hope that by the helpe of God, through the prayers of t… Saints, our ſufferings ſhall turne to our ſaluation. I… … therefore it is required, that we certainely hope and beli… in the promiſes of the Lord, if the promiſes of the Lord … made good vntounto vsus. When two blinde men came vntounto o… bleſſed Sauiour, and prayed him that they might recea… their ſight,Mat. 9.28. he ſaid vntounto them, Belieue ye that I … able to d… this? 29and they ſaid, yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes ſ… ing, according to your faith bee it vntounto you. As here faith wa… required in theſe blinde men, that they might receaue their ſight; ſo in vsus all hope is alſo required, that wee bee p…rtakers of the Lord his promiſes. Hath the Lord promiſed that all croſſes and calamities ſhall worke together for the beſt vntounto thoſe that louelove him? And doe wee hope that the Lord will make good this his promiſe vntounto vsus? According to our hope ſo ſhall it bee vntounto vsus. If wee doubt not of th… Lord his promiſes, but hope certainly in him that hath p… miſed, then may eueryevery one of vsus in all our troubles, ſa… with the Apoſtle, I know that this ſhall turne to my ſaluation according to my certaine hope. But, if wee doubt and diſtru… the Lord, and ſay in our hearts, how can it bee? I can… conceaue it, doubtleſſe the Lord ſhall not helpe vsus, the pra… ers of the Saints ſhall not preuaile for vsus, nor ſhall our ſufferings turne to our ſaluation. And therefore wee reade, th… the faithfull had alwaies their hope ſo ſtrong that they bu… ded euen their prayers thereon; as Dauid, where hee ſaith Let mine vprightneſſe and equitie preſerue me, Pſ. 25.20.for my hope i… … thee. As if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, according to my hope, th… thou wilt preſerue the iuſt and vpright man, ſo O Lord p… ſerue me. And ſo very often in the Pſalmes, the Proph… deſireth performance of the Lord his mercies, according to his hope in him; and therein plainely ſheweth, that o… hope muſt be ſurely fixed in the Lord, if wee will be par… kers of his promiſes.
Here then againe we are armed againſt that vncomfor…ble doctrine of doubting of our ſaluation. For wee are …rtainely to hope, that according to the promiſe of the …oly Ghoſt our ſufferings and wrongs ſhall turne to our …luation, by the helpe of God through the praiers of the …ints? And are we to know that according to our hope …e promiſe of the Lord touching this thing ſhall be made …od vntounto vsus? So here we are taught. How then are we to …oubt of our ſaluation, and not otherwiſe to know it then …certainely? Hope ſay they we may to be ſaued, but cer…inely aſſure our ſelues of our ſaluation we cannot. Is then …ope any preiudice vntounto certainty? Doth not the Apoſtle …y, that hope is as an ancre of the ſoule both ſure and ſtedfaſt, Heb. 6.19.…hereby we may lay ſo ſure hold on the promiſes of God … Chriſt Ieſus, that we may certainly aſſure our ſelues of …ur ſaluation? Againe, doth not the Apoſtle ſay,Rom. 5.4. that hope …aketh not aſhamed, .i. deceiueth not him that hopeth, be…uſe as the childe of God hopeth ſo hee findeth? And …oth not our Apoſtle here in ſome ſort deſcribe hope, to be …uen a certaine and earneſt expectation of that we hope for …ccording whereunto it is certainely done vntounto vsus? And …otwithſtanding all this may wee hope, but not be ſure to …e ſaued? Indeede if our hope were onelyonly in vncertaine as …heirs is, then were we to doubt as they doe. But our hope …s certaine, being grounded on Gods promiſes, and therfore …e ſo hope that we are ſure to be ſaued. Thus then I reaſon …rom this point of hope, we may certainely hope to be ſa…ed, therefore we may aſſure our ſelues of our ſaluation.
Againe, this may teach vsus not to be ſecure vponupon the Lord …is promiſes. He promiſeth, and he performeth. What …hen? May we ſit vsus downe and ſay, as he hath promiſed …o ſhall it be done, howſoeuer matters ſtand with vsus. Nay beloued, let vsus not deceiue our ſelues. In our ſelues there muſt be ſuch graces as are required of vsus, or elſe the promiſes doe not belong vntounto vsus, nor ſhall euer doe vsus any good: yea and either he muſt giuegive thoſe graces which are required of vsus, or elſe we can neuer hauehave them. As in this place, the promiſe is that our affliction, if we belong vntounto Chriſt, ſhal… turne to our ſaluation. But how? according to our fai… and hope. Either theſe graces muſt be in vsus, or elſe th… promiſe belongeth not to vsus. And how ſhall we hauehave th… graces, vnleſſe hee which requireth them giuegive them? S… therefore in all things let vsus build vponupon the Lord his promiſes, that we looke vntounto the things required of vsus to be partakers of the promiſes. And looke what meanes he hath ordeined, for the working of thoſe things in vsus by his holy ſpirit, let vsus in all feare and reuerence vſe thoſe meanes, and pray vntounto the Lord to ſanctifie them.
Now to goe forward, what was it that the Apoſtle ſo heartily looked for and hoped? That is ſet downe 1. negatiuely. 2. affirmatiuely. 1. that in nothing hee ſhould be aſhamed. 2. that with all confidence &c. In which points ſtandeth one part of the ſaluation, whereunto he knew his ſufferings ſhould turne by and according to thoſe meanes already mentioned. For how ſhould his ſufferings turne to his ſaluation by thoſe meanes? Thus: he hoped that th… it ſhould come to paſſe, that in nothing perteining to the defence of the Goſpell he ſhould be aſhamed, but that with all confidence &c.
The firſt thing which here I note is, that the Apoſtle ſaith, that he hopeth that in nothing he ſhall be aſhamed, .i. that ſhame ſhall neuer befall him for leauing the defence of the Goſpell. Whence I obſerue, both that it is a ſhame to leaue the defence of the Goſpell, and that a godly care in this behalfe is needfull in eueryevery Chriſtian, that this ſhame may neuer befall him. Which care, and regard of which ſhame how litle it is reckoned of in theſe our daies, doth too too much appeare by the number of ſhameleſſe Apoſtataes and back ſliders, which harkning vntounto the ſerpent eat of the forbidden fruit; which opening their eares to that enchanting whore, drinke themſelues drunke with the cup of her fornications and forſake the truth of Chriſt Ieſus. But let vsus hearken to the Apoſtle,Heb. 10.23. and let vsus hold faſt the profeſſion of our hope. Doe we hope in Ieſus Chriſt? Doe we hope that in nothing touching the profeſſion of the truth of Chriſt …eſus we ſhall be aſhamed? Let vsus hold faſt this hope, and …et vsus pray, that this hope may continually be confirmed in …s, and that according to this hope we may ſtand faſt vntill …he day of Chriſt Ieſus.
The ſecond thing which I note is, that the Apoſtle ſaith, …hat hee hopeth, that with all confidence and liberty to …peake in the defence of the Goſpel, Chriſt ſhall be magni…ied and honored in his body, whether it be by life, that hee …iue and preach the Goſpell; or by death, that he be put to …eath, and ſeale the Goſpell with his bloud. Whence I ob…erue another godly care needfull in eueryevery Chriſtian, which …s that God may be glorified in him whether he liue, or die. Glorifie God, ſaith the Apoſtle, in your body, and in your ſpirit, 1 Cor. 6.20.…or they are Gods. Where the Apoſtle by way of exhorta…ion commendeth this dutie vntounto eueryevery one of vsus, that we glorifie God both in our bodies, and in our ſpirits, by con…orming our whole man in all obedience vntounto his will. And why? for both our bodies and our ſpirits they are Gods, and …hey are bought for a price by him that hath died for both, …hat wee ſhould not henceforth in either liue vntounto our ſelues, but in both vntounto his glory, which died for vsus, and …oſe againe.
And let this be enough to warne vsus to beware of diſhonoring God in our bodies, or in our ſoules, either by ſhrink…ng from a good profeſſion, or by giuing our members weapons of vnrighteouſnes, vntounto any kinde of ſin to ſerue …t in the luſts thereof. Neither let vsus be ſo beſotted, as to …hinke that we are not as well to be ſanctified in our bodies, …s in our ſoules; or that God is not as well to be glorified in our bodies, as in our ſoules, but let vsus know that we are to be ſanctified throughout, in our ſpirit, & ſoule, and body: & that God is to be glorified in our whole ſpirit, and ſoule, and body. Let this therefore be our care, that God at all be not diſhonored by vsus, but that in our whole man hee may bee honored.
The laſt thing which here I note is, how the Apoſtle was confirmed and ſtrengthned in theſe his hopes, and that was by his owne experience: for he hoped that as alwaies, … now. Whence I obſerue how the hope of a Chriſtian is nouriſhed and increaſed. It is begun and grounded vponupon Gods promiſes made in Chriſt Ieſus, but it is ſtrengthned and increaſed, by obſeruation of the Lord his goodnes toward vsus in our owne experience. So our Apoſtle alſo witneſſeth,Rom. 5.4. where he ſaith, that tribulation bringeth forth patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, .i. experience of the Lord his helpe in troubles, confirmeth and ſtrengthneth our hope in the Lord. Ye know the ſaying of Da…id: The Lord (ſaid he) that deliuered me out of the paw… of the Lion, 1 Sam 17.37.and out of the paw of the Beare, he will deliuer me out of the hand of this Philiſtim. This ſhould teach vsus to obſerue the mercies of the Lord toward vsus, and not to ſuffer them to ſlip out of our minde; and thus to reaſon with our ſelues, as alwaies the Lord hath beene good to vsus, ſo now he will.