Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 1 · Lecture 12
LECTƲRE XII.
PHILIP. I. Verſe 11.
Filled with the fruits of righteouſnes, which are by Ieſus Chriſt vntounto the glory and praiſe of God.
IT remaineth now that we come vntounto the fourth and laſt end here mentioned, wherefore the Apoſtle praied that the Philippians might abound more and more in knowledge, and in all iudgement, and that was that they might be fruitfull in all good works, ſet downe in theſe words, Filled with the fruits &. In which words I note, 1. the meaſure of good works, which the Apoſtle wiſheth to be in the Philippians, which is, preſſed downe and ſhaken together, euen that they may be filled with the fruits of righteouſneſſe. 2. The definition of good works, in that they are called the fruits of righteouſneſſe. 3. The fountaine whence, or author from whom good works, if indeed they be good works are, and that is Ieſus Chriſt. 4. The end whereunto good works, if indeed they be good works, doe tend, and that is, vntounto the glory and praiſe of God. So that beſides the maine point, which is the Apoſtles deſire that the Philippians might be full of good works, here hence wee may know all the cauſes of good works. The materiall cauſe, or matter and ſubſtance of good works is hereby known that they are called the fruits of righteouſneſſe: for this ſheweth that the very matter and ſubſtance of good works is thoſe good actions which as good fruit grow and ſpring out of the righteouſnes of God in vsus. The formall cauſe, or reaſon which cauſeth our works to be good works, is hereby likewiſe knowne that they are called the fruits of righteouſneſſe: for this ſheweth that the reaſon why our works are good works, is becauſe of their conformitie vntounto the law of God, becauſe they are done in righteouſnes according to the righteous law of God. The efficient cauſe, or author from whom good works are is hereby knowne, that it is ſaid that they are by Ieſus Chriſt: for this ſheweth that Ieſus Chriſt worketh in vsus whatſoeuer works are good & agreeable to the righteous law of God. The finall cauſe, or end of good works wherunto they are to be referred, wherfore they are to be done is hereby knowne, that it is ſaid that they are by Ieſus Chriſt vntounto the glory and praiſe of God: for this ſheweth that the end wherefore we are to abound in eueryevery good worke, is the glory and praiſe of God, that his name thereby may be glorified. Theſe are the things which theſe words ſeeme vntounto me to conteine. Now let vsus ſee what obſeruations we may gather hence for our farther vſe and inſtruction.
The firſt thing then which here I note, is the rich grace wherewith our Apoſtle would hauehave the Philippians to abound, in good works: for he praied that they might abound more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement, as for other ends before ſpoken of, ſo for this, that they might be filled with the fruits of righteouſnes, that they might abound in eueryevery good worke. My obſeruation hence is, that we are not onelyonly to doe the things that are good, and to worke the works of righteouſnes, but we are to abound in eueryevery good worke, to be filled with the fruits of righteouſnes. To doe good, and to hauehave our fruit in holines and righteouſnes, is a thing much vrged, and often commanded by the Holy Ghoſt in the ſcriptures, and it is ſo cleare a caſe that it cannot be denied or ſhifted, but that we are to do the things that are good, & to worke the works of righteouſnes. Yet ſo cūning are we to deceiue our ſelues, that if at ſometimes we hauehave done ſome things well, we thinke we hauehave obeyed the voice of the Lord herein, though we come far ſhort of being filled wth the fruits of righteouſnes. The Holy Ghoſt therfore to meet with our fooliſh wiſdom, and to cleare the point, plainely ſheweth in many places of the ſcripture, that as wee are to ſhew forth good works, ſo we are to be rich in good works; as we are to liue righteouſly in this preſent world, ſo we are to be filled with the fruits of righteouſnes, that in our whole ſpirit, ſoule, and body throughout our whole life, the fruits thereof may appeare. We ceaſe not to pray for you, ſaith the Apoſtle to the Coloſſians, Col. 1.9 10.and to deſire that yee might be filled with knowledge of his will, in all wiſdome and ſpirituall vnderſtanding, that ye might walke worthy of the Lord, and pleaſe him in all things, being fruitfull in all good works. The words are much like to theſe of our Apoſtle: wherein yee ſee he ſaith he praied for them vntounto the Lord, that they might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wiſdome and ſpirituall vnderſtanding, to the end that they might walke worthy of him, and pleaſe him in all things, and be fruitfull in all good works: giuing them, and in them vsus thereby to vnderſtand, that we are to walke worthy of the Lord, & therefore to pleaſe him in all things; that we are to pleaſe him in all things, and therefore to be fruitfull in all good works, like good trees bringing forth much fruit, vntounto the glory and praiſe of God. Againe, he that abideth in me, Joh. 15 5.ſaith our Sauiour, and I in him, the ſame bringeth forth much fruit; and herein, ſaith he, is my father glorified, 8.that ye beare much fruit. In which place our Sauiour likeneth him ſelfe vntounto the vine, and his diſciples and children vntounto the branches of the vine. Now how ſhall wee know that wee are branches of the vine Chriſt Ieſus? If wee beare much fruit in him, if we will glorifie the Father, if we will know that we abide in Chriſt Ieſus, and that he abideth in vsus, if we will know that we are branches of the true vine Chriſt Ieſus, wee muſt not be like vntounto the figge tree that bare no fruit but onelyonly leaues, but we muſt beare fruit, and much fruit, and much fruit in Chriſt Ieſus. It is not here a grape and there a grape, here a cluſter and there a cluſter that will ſerue the turne, but we muſt beare much fruit; neither is it wilde grapes, and fruit in the fleſh that we muſt beare, but wee muſt beare much fruit in Chriſt Ieſus, we muſt be rich in the fruits of the ſpirit, rich in good works. And this was it that was commended in that vertuous woman Tabitha, that ſhee was full of good works, Act. 9.36.and almes which ſhee did. Whoſe example we may not paſſe ouer with a bare reading or hearing of it, without making farther vſe of it then to know that it was ſo; but we muſt know, that it was written for our learning, to admoniſh vsus, that as ſhe was, ſo we ſhould be full of good works and almes deeds, of good works in generall, and of almes deeds in particular.
But what is the reaſon that we ſhould be filled with the fruits of righteouſnes? We hauehave already heard many reaſons: as that we may pleaſe the Lord in all things; for ſo we doe pleaſe him in all things,Col. 1.10. if we be fruitfull in all good workes. Againe, that wee may glorifie God the Father:Joh. 15.8. for herein is the father glorified if we beare much fruit. 5.Againe, that we may know that we abide in Chriſt and Chriſt in vsus: for he that abideth in Chriſt and Christ in him, the ſame bringeth forth much fruit. Againe, that there may be none vnrighteouſnes in vsus: for ſo ſhall we be free from vnrighteouſnes, if we be filled with the fruits of righteouſneſſe. Againe, becauſe we our ſelues ſhould be as good trees, the planting of the Lord, trees of righteouſnes, Eſay 61.3.…s the Prophet ſpeaketh: for ſo ſhall we be knowne to be good trees, if we bring forth good fruit, and the more good fruit that we beare, the better trees we ſhall be. That therefore we may be trees of righteouſneſſe, wee ſhould be filled with the fruits of righteouſnes; that we may be the planting of the Lord, we ſhould bring forth much fruit in the Lord; that we may be as trees planted …y the water ſide, we ſhould alwaies bring forth fruit in due ſeaſon. All times of the yeare our boughes, euen the boughes of our ſpirit, ſoule, and bodie ſhould be full of the fruits of the ſpirit, of the fruits of repentance, of the fruits of holineſſe, of the fruits of righteouſnes. The trees of the garden hauehave their ſeaſons to beare their fruit, and in their ſeaſons they doe not alwaies take; but all times are due ſeaſons for our bearing of fruit, and at all times our trees ſhould be ſo well taken, that their tender …oughes ſhould be euen loden with fruit.
Here then firſt beloued take a caueat, to beware of them that tell you that we make no reckoning of good works, that all our preaching is of an idle and dead faith, that we are afraid in our Sermons to make any mention of good works, and that when we mention them, either we condemne them, or ſpeake ſo coldly of them, as if there were no worth at all in them. Let your owne eares witneſſe what we preach vntounto you, and whether they do not moſt vntruly ſlander vsus that thus ſpeake of vsus. What more doe we beat vponupon and vrge then that yee may be pure, that ye may be without offence vntill the day of Chriſt, that yee may be filled with the fruits of righteouſneſſe, and abound in eueryevery good worke? Anſwere them therfore out of your owne knowledg, & tell them that they are of their father the deuill, who is a lier, and the father thereof. Yee your ſelues know it, and therefore may boldly ſpeake it.
Secondly, let this be as a ſpurre to pricke vsus forward, and to ſtirre vsus vp to eueryevery good worke. For ſhould we be filled with the fruits of righteouſnes, and abound in eueryevery good worke? How is it then that we are ſo barren in good works, like vntounto the heath in the wildernes that bringeth forth no fruit that is good. Abound in works we doe, but it is in the ſinfull works of the fleſh, not in good works of the ſpirit: and full of fruits we are, but it is of the fruits of vnrighteouſnes, maliciouſnes, crueltie, oppreſſion, and the like, not full of the fruits of righteouſnes. If there be here and there a cluſter of grapes, as in the gathering after the vintage, if wee doe ſome things well, though they be nothing in compariſon of the euill that we doe, if after we hauehave runne at ryot a long time, at length we hauehave ſome fruit in holineſſe, if in the moderation and gouernment of our affections and actions, we doe more ſauour of the ſpirit then in the common courſe of the world men doe, then we thinke well of our good works, and count our ſelues ſuch as hauehave well profited in the ſchoole of Chriſt. But to vrge vsus to be filled with the fruits of righteouſnes, to be fruitfull in all good works, to hauehave our whole conuerſation holy, to ſhew forth the fruits of the ſpirit, in our whole ſpirit, ſoule, and bodie throughout our whole life, this we cannot brooke, and this is a thing wherein the Preacher may well ſtriue with vsus, but wherein he ſhall not preuaile with vsus. For here it is with vsus, as it was with the yong man in the Goſpell, who ſoothed vp himſelfe as if hee had beene as good a man as liued, till it was ſaid vntounto him,Math. 9. If thou wilt be perfit, goe ſell that thou haſt, and giuegive it to the poore, and thou ſhalt hauehave treaſure in heauen; but then he hung downe the head, and went away ſorrowfull: ſo we, many of vsus while it is ſaid, doe that which is good, let your conuerſation be honeſt, hauehave your fruit in holineſſe, we comfort our ſelues as hauing obſerued theſe things, but when it is ſaid, abound in eueryevery good worke, be yee filled throughout your whole man, and throughout your whole life with the fruits of righteouſneſſe, then we hang downe the head, and all the exhortations in the world will not preuaile thus farre with vsus. That the Lord ſhall open his hand, and fill vsus with plenteouſneſſe in all good things, we can brooke it very well but where is he that is filled with the fruits of righteouſneſſe, to the glory and praiſe of his name? Some one Tabitha, it may be may be full of good works, but with the reſt it is well if they be not as bad as the worſt. Let vsus beloued now that we know what we ſhould be, ſtriue vntounto that which ſhould be. Let vsus as we ſhould be, be trees of righteouſnes, filled with the fruits of righteouſneſſe. As as we are purged by Chriſt Ieſus to be a peculiar people vntounto him, zealous of good works; ſo let vsus abound in eueryevery good worke. Let vsus not onelyonly flie that is euill, and doe that is good, but as men ſanctified throughout in ſpirit, ſoule, and bodie, let our whole life and conuerſation be ſuch, as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus. The more fruit we beare, the better trees we are; the more by our fruits we glorifie God the Father, the more ſure we are that we are branches of the true vine Chriſt Ieſus. Let vsus therefore giuegive all diligence, vſe all holy meanes, and pray that we may abound more and more in the knowledge of Gods will, that we may diſcerne things that differ, that we may be pure, and without offence vntill the day of Chriſt, filled with the fruits of righteouſneſſe, and being fruitfull in all good works.
The next thing which here I note is, that the Apoſtle calleth good works, the fruits of righteouſnes. For it is as if he had ſaid, filled with good works which are the fruits of righteouſnes, therefore called the fruits of righteouſnes, becauſe they ſpring from righteouſnes, as the fruit from the tree. The obſeruation then hence is, that good works are the fruits of righteouſnes. Righteouſnes that is the tree, and good works they are the fruit of the tree; ſo that as firſt muſt be the tree, and then the fruit; ſo firſt we muſt be righteous, euen by the righteouſnes of God in vsus, before we can doe the works that are good. Now what is our righteouſnes before God? Our Apoſtle telleth vsus in the third chapter of this epiſtle,verſ 9. euen that righteouſneſſe which is through the faith of Chriſt; for as Abraham beleeued God, & it was imputed to him for righteouſnes ſo our faith in Chriſt Ieſus who is made of God vntounto vsus wiſdome, and righteouſnes, and ſanctification, and redemption is accounted vntounto vsus for righteouſnes before God. Firſt then we muſt beleeue in Chriſt Ieſus, whom God hath ſet forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his bloud, before we can doe any works acceptable vntounto God; and being iuſtified by faith in Chriſt, then are our works good and acceptable vntounto God. And to this our Apoſtle giueth teſtimonie where he ſaith, VntoUnto the pure all things are pure, Tit. 1.15.but vntounto them that are defiled and vnbeleeuing, is nothing pure, but euen their mindes and conſciences are defiled. In which words, by pure he meaneth them whoſe hearts are purified by faith in Chriſt Ieſus, as the antitheſis in the next clauſe ſheweth, where he expreſſeth whom he meaneth by impure men, euen vnbeleuing men. Hence then it is plaine, that when once our hearts are purified by faith in Chriſt Ieſus, not onelyonly the things which by the law are counted vncleane are cleane and pure vntounto vsus, but our works alſo are good and holy; but till our hearts be purified by faith in Chriſt Ieſus, neither any of the things which by the law are counted pure are pure vntounto vsus, neither is any worke of ours good, but how good ſoeuer it be in ſhew, yet it is indeed abominable before God. To the like purpoſe is that of the Apoſtle,Heb. 1….6. where he ſaith, that without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God: where the Apoſtle ſhewing the dignitie and excellencie of faith, amongſt other things commendeth it for this, that by it, as Henoch did, we pleaſe God; but without faith, ſaith he, it is vnpoſſible that any worke of ours whatſoeuer ſhould pleaſe God. So that our works if they be good, they are the fruits of righteouſnes, euen of the righteouſnes which is of God, through the faith of Ieſus Chriſt, otherwiſe if they ſpring not from that roote they are not good.
Here then, firſt learne to beware of them that tell you that our good workes, are that righteouſneſſe whereby we are iuſtified before God. Yee ſee the Apoſtle tel eth you, that they are the fruites of righteouſneſſe. Aſwell therefore may they tell you, that the fruite of tree is the tree, as that our good workes are our righteouſneſſe before God. Let God bee true, and eueryevery man a lier. If hee hauehave ſaid, that they are the fruites of righteouſneſſe, then aſſure we our ſelues, that they are ſpirits of error that tell vsus that they are our righteouſneſſe.
Secondly, hence learne to beware of them that tell you, that men not begotten in the faith of Chriſt Ieſus, are able to doe the things that are good and pleaſing vntounto God; for either you muſt not belieue the holy Apoſtle, or rather the holy Ghoſt, ſpeaking by the mouth of the Apoſtle; or elſe you muſt know, that they onelyonly do the things that are good and pleaſing vntounto God, that are iuſtified by faith in Chriſt Ieſus: for this the holy Apoſtle hath ſaid, That good workes are the fruites of righteouſneſſe. Either then our good workes muſt ſpring and proceed, from the righteouſnes of God by faith in Chriſt Ieſus in vsus, or elſe they are not good: ſo that they onelyonly that are iuſtified by faith in CHRIST IESVS, doe the things that are good. And therefore they that tell you otherwiſe, they are led by the ſame ſpirit of error tha… they are who tell you, that by our workes we are iuſtified before God.
Thirdly, let this teach vsus how to examine our workes whether they be good or no. Are they the fruites of righteouſneſſe? Do they proceed from a true and liuely faith in Chriſt Ieſus? Is the fountaine pure whence they ſpring, and their end good whereunto they tend? Then bee bolde they are good workes. Otherwiſe, if there bee no ſuch warrant for them, ſeeme they neuer ſo good, yet they are not good. Examine but our works according to this rule, and ſurely we will not all of vsus be found full of good workes.
The third thing which here I note is, that the Apoſtle ſaith, that theſe fruites of righteouſneſſe wherewith hee would hauehave the Philippians filled, are by Ieſus Chriſt. Whence I obſerue the Author of eueryevery good worke in vsus, and that is Chriſt Ieſus, by the grace of his holy ſpirit:2 Cor. 3.5. for as the Apoſtle ſaith, We are not ſufficient of our ſelues, to thinke any thing as of our ſelues, but our ſufficiencie is of God. Now, if of our ſelues we be not ſufficient to thinke a good thought, but that muſt onelyonly be ſuggeſted by Gods ſpirit, then how ſhall wee bee ſufficient of our ſelues to doe any thing that is good? Nay, our Apoſtle tels vsus in the next Chapter,13. that it is God which workes in vsus both the will and the deed, euen of his good pleaſure. Neither thought of the heart, nor affection of the will, nor worke of the hand, but if it be good, it is by the operation of the holy ſpirit in vsus. Nay, take an argument euen from hence; Good workes they are the fruites of righteouſneſſe. Now doth the fruite of a tree bud or grow by the labour or skill of man. Nay, hee planteth and watereth, but God onelyonly giues the fruite in due ſeaſon. Right ſo it is not in man to doe that is good, but if he doe that is good, it is of God. Worke of himſelfe he may, and to worke that which is euill hee is too proane of himſelfe; but if he worke any thinke that is acceptable vntounto God, it is wholly by the ſpirit of God. And why? That God may be all in all, and that he may hauehave the glorie of all.
Let this ſufficiently warne vsus to beware of them, and arme vsus againſt them, that would perſwade vsus that wee are able of our ſelues to doe that is good, at leaſt if wee be holpen by grace. If wee thinke, or will, or doe any thing that is good, whatſoeuer fruite of righteouſneſſe it is that is in vsus, it is by Ieſus Chriſt, not of our ſelues, for then we had wherein to reioyce in our ſelues, but only of his good pleaſure, that by his good ſpirit worketh it in vsus. This our Apoſtle telleth vsus, and this wee learne from him, and if any man preach vntounto vsus, or teach vsus otherwiſe then this that wee hauehave receaued, let him bee accurſed.
Secondly, let this teach, vsus vntounto whome all praiſe is …ue for whatſoeuer good is in vsus. Whatſoeuer good is …n vsus, it is by Ieſus Chriſt. So that our ſong is alwaies to …e as the ſong of the Angels in the Apocalips, Praiſe, Apoc. 5.13.and honour, and glorie, and power be vntounto him that ſitteth vponupon the …hrone, and to the lambe for euermore. His name is to bee bleſſed, and the power of his ſpirit is to bee acknowledged, in whatſoeuer good in whatſoeuer good worke is wrought in vsus.
The laſt thing which here I note is, touching the end of good workes, which as they are by Ieſus Chriſt, as the author and worker of them in vsus, ſo they are to be done to the glorie and praiſe of his name. Whence I obſerue, vntounto what end our workes muſt be done if they be good, and that is vntounto the glorie and praiſe of God. Ye know that of the Apoſtle, where hee ſaith, Whether yee eate, 1 Cor. 10.31.or drinke, or whatſoeuer ye doe, doe all to the glorie of God. As alſo that of our Sauiour, where he ſaith,Matth. 5.16. Let your light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good workes, and glorifie your father which is in heauen. And that of Peter, 1 Pet. 2.12.where he ſaith, HaueHave your conuerſation honeſt amōg the Gentiles, that they which ſpeake euill of you, as of euill doers, may by your good workes which they ſhall ſee, glorifie God in the day of the viſitation. By which, and many other places which might be alleaged to this purpoſe, it appeareth, that the end whereunto our workes (if they bee good) muſt bee referred, muſt be the glorie and praiſe of God that thereby he may be glorified, both by vsus, and by others which ſee our good workes.
Here then, firſt, we learne not to credite any that ſhall tell vsus, that any action of any vnregenerate man can be good. For, what is the end of ſuch men in their actions? Is it the praiſe and glorie of God? Nay, it is their owne praiſe, and the praiſe of men which they ſeeke after, in all the moſt glorious things that they doe. But hence wee learne that ſo our workes are good works, if they be by Ieſus Chriſt, vntounto the glorie and praiſe of God.
Secondly, hence we learne, that the end of our good workes is not to be, that thereby we may merite heauen but that thereby God may bee glorified. Nay, if our workes bee thereby to merite heauen, they cannot be to the glorie and praiſe of God. For how much ſo euer is giuen to merite, ſo much is taken from the glorie of God. Either therefore we muſt renounce all merite, or elſe whatſoeuer we ſay, our workes are not to the glorie of God.
Thirdly, this teacheth vsus, whatſoeuer we doe, to do it to the honour and praiſe of God. Let this therefore bee our end in all that euer wee doe, that thereby God may be glorified: and let vsus know that, ſo onelyonly, that which we doe is good, if we do it to this end.