Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 1 · Lecture 17
LECTƲRE XVII.
Verſe 21. For Chriſt is to me both in life and in death aduantage.
NOw then, that the Apoſtle had ſignified his hope that Chriſt ſhould be magnified in his bodie, and had added, whether it were by life or by death; implying that it was all one to him, ſo that Chriſt were magnified in his body, whether it were by life or by death, he yeeldeth a reaſon thereof ſaying, For Chriſt is to me &c. as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, I heartily looke for and hope that Chriſt ſhall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death, and ſo that Chriſt be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death, all is one to …e, for Chriſt is to me &c. .i. whether I liue, or die, Chriſt i… …o me aduantage. If I liue, and Chriſt be magnified in my …ody by preaching the Goſpell, and walking in his waies, …erein I count I hauehave great gaine and aduantage; and if I …ie now in my bands, and Chriſt be magnified in my body …y my conſtancie in the defence of the goſpell, and in ſuffe…ing for the goſpels ſake, herein alſo I count I hauehave great …aine and aduantage; ſo that if Chriſt be magnified in my …odie, it is all one to me whether it be by life, or by death; …ecauſe which ſo euer fall, Chriſt and his glory is the thing which I count my vantage and gaine. His glory by me is …y glory, the increaſe of his kingdom by me is the crowne …f my reioycing; the honor of his name by me, whether it …e by my life, or by my death is to me in mine account a …reat gaine. Thus then I reſolue the Apoſtles reaſon: Chriſt and his glory is to me of that reckoning and regard, …hat whether he be glorified in my life, or in my death, I …ount it a great gaine vntounto me; therefore it is all one to …e whether he be glorified in my bodie by my life, or by …y death. This ſenſe and meaning of theſe words I fol…ow, both becauſe being a reaſon of the former words, i… …hus beſt concludeth them in my iudgement; as alſo be…auſe the words themſelues in the originall may very well …arie this meaning, if we vnderſtand an ellipſis of the word foreign, which is not vnvſuall.
Neither is this meaning of theſe worde vnſo…ting with …he words that follow. For hauing ſaid, that Chriſt and his glory was vntounto him, and in his account, aſwell in death as in …ife, euen both in death and in life an aduantage and gaine; …pon that occaſion by a litle digreſſion, he firſt moueth the …oubt whether were better for him to chuſe, life or death, …f he ſhould chuſe the one, verſ. 22. and ſecondly anſwe…eth that he knoweth not what to chuſe, but in this choiſe …s in a ſtrait betwixt two: and thirdly ſetteth downe the reaſons why the choiſe is ſo hard: as 1. in reſpect of himſelfe it were better for him to chuſe death, verſ. 23. and 2. in reſpect of them it were better that he choſe life, verſ. 14. Here is then the ſtrait, whether for his owne greater good he were now to chuſe death, or for their greater good h… were to chuſe longer life. This I take to be the order and meaning of theſe words generally, thus farre. Now let v… ſee what obſeruations we may gather hence for our farthe… vſe and inſtruction.
The firſt thing then which here I note is, the reaſon wherefore the Apoſtle was ſo indifferent either vntounto life or death, which ſo euer God might be glorified by; and it was becauſe whether he liued or died, if by either death or life he might gaine glory vntounto Chriſt, vntounto him did accrew vantage enough. Whence I obſerue, how a Chriſtian becommeth indifferent vntounto either life, or death, and that is thus if Chriſt be vntounto him both in life and in death aduantage, if he ſeeke no other gaine but this that Chriſt may be glorified in his body, then he is indifferent vntounto whatſoeuer it is whereby Chriſt may be glorified, be it life, or death. This was it that made thoſe three children mentioned in Daniel ſo indifferent either vntounto life or death. For when Nebuchadnezzar had called them, and thundred out cruell threatnings againſt them, if they ſhould not worſhip the golden image that he had ſet vp,Dan. 3.16.17.18. they ſaid vntounto him, O Nebuchadnezzar we are not carefull to anſwer thee in this matter. Behold our God whom we ſerue is able to deliuer vsus from the hote fiery fornace, &c. In which their anſwer they plainely ſhew, that it was not life or death that they ſtood vponupon, but it was the glory of their God. If God ſhould deliuer them from death to his farther glory by their life, they were willing to liue; and againe, if he ſhould deliuer them vp vntounto death to his further glory by their death, they were alſo willing to die. Life and death was indifferent to them by whether ſoeuer God would be glorified in them, becauſe the glory of God was all that they ſought in life, or in death. The ſame is to be ſaid of all thoſe godly Martyrs that are dead in the Lord for the teſtimonie of a good conſcience, and for the defence of the truth of Chriſt Ieſus to the ſhedding of their bloud. They were willing no doubt to hauehave liued, and they …re willing alſo to die, euen very indifferent vntounto either … or death. And how ſo that they were indifferent vntounto …her? Becauſe if God were glorified in them, whether it …re by life, or by death that was comfort enough, ioy …ough; and gaine enough vntounto them. If they might gaine …rie vntounto God thereby, came death, or came life, either …s welcome vntounto them. And in ſo many of gods children, …here is this indifferencie vntounto either, life or death, thus …commeth to paſſe becauſe of the aduantage which they …ckon vponupon by Gods glorie, becauſe as either life or death …akes for Gods glory: ſo they embrace either; life, if ther… God may be more glorified; and death, if thereby God …ay be more glorified.
Let this then teach vsus, euen ſo many of vsus as feele not in …r ſelues this indifferencie vntounto either, life or death; to …oke into the cauſe why it is that we are not indifferent vn… either. And ſurely, if we be not too partially affected to…ards our ſelues, we ſhall finde that it is, becauſe this is the …aſt reckoning with vsus, that Chriſt be glorified in our bo…es. The pleaſures and ſorrowes of life, and the terrors of …eath, theſe be the things that ſo affect vsus, that wee are not …different vntounto either, but ſo heart ſet on the one, that wee …nnot brooke to heare of the other. If, as Iob ſpeaketh,Iob 21.8.9.10. …ur ſeede bee ſtabliſhed in our ſight with vsus, and our generation …fore our eyes: if our houſes be peaceable without feare, and the …od of God bee not vponupon vsus, if our bullockes gender and faile not, …nd our Cowe calue, and caſt not her calfe. If wee ſpend our …ayes in wealth, and hauehave all things at our deſire, then doe …e ſo dote vponupon theſe things, that wee ſay with the foole in …he Goſpell, Soule, Luc. 12.19.thou haſt much goods layd vp in ſtore for …any yeares, liue at eaſe, eate, drinke, and take thy paſtime. And …uch a reckoning we make vponupon the honors, and pleaſures, & commodities of this life, that we could be content to liue with them euer, but cannot abide to depart frō them. Again, …f the rod of the Lord bee vponupon vsus, and his countenance …eeme to be turned away from vsus, if we be troubled on eueryevery ſide with fightings without, and terrors within, if wee b… croſſed in our ſubſtance and goods, in our wife and chi… dren, or in our owne bodies, if wee bee in trouble, ſorro… neede, ſickneſſe or other aduerſitie; if we be tryed by mockings and ſcornings, by bonds and impriſonment; then o… the other ſide we are ſo daunted with thoſe things, that w… are wearie of our liues, and with Iob in his extremitie, we c… out,Iob 3.11.12 and ſay, Why dyed I not in the birth, or why dyed I not wh… I came out of the wombe? 6.9.7.15.Why did the knees preuent me, … why did I ſucke the breaſt? O that God would deſtroy mee, th… he would let his hand go and cut me off: my ſoule chooſeth rath… to be ſtrangled, and to dye, then to be in my bones. Yea, and many times like vntounto Achitophell and Iudas, wee become our owne butchers. One ſort can heare of nothing but life, and another ſort wiſh nothing but death; very fewe of vsus that are indifferently affected to either life, or death, and all becauſe we minde earthly things. The preferments, and pleaſures, and commodities of this life, they are our aduantage and gaine. If our deſires bee filled with them, then wee are nothing indifferent vntounto death, but all our delight is ſet o… life. But if wee lacke them, and inſtead thereof hauehave our drinke mingled with weeping, then are we nothing indifferent vntounto life, but all our deſire is of death, and would God we were dead, would God we were dead. As for the glorie of God, it neuer comes into our thoughts, neither doe wee euer make account of life, or of death, as they doe make for the glory of the Lord; for if we did, then would we be indifferent vntounto either, as either ſhould make for the glory of the Lord, and not run vponupon the one as carnall reſpects, or terrors of death ſhould moue vsus.
Well, now that wee know theſe things, let vsus thinke or theſe things. Let vsus not ſet our hearts on life for the louelove of any earthly thing whatſoeuer, neither let vsus wiſh death for any thing of this life which wee want, or for any croſſe of this life which we ſuffer; but let vsus be indifferent vntounto either, as either may make for the glorie of Chriſt Ieſus. Let the glorie of Chriſt Ieſus be all the vantage and gaine that wee make reckoning vponupon either in life, or in death, and let it be …h a vantage and gaine vntounto vsus if he be glorified in vsus, …t we make no reckoning of it whether it be by our life, …y our death, ſo that he be glorified in vsus. Let his glory …our glory, his kingdome our kingdome, and ſo let life …eath be welcome vntounto vsus; as thereby glory is gained vn… Chriſt Ieſus. Let vsus ſet this downe with our ſelues to glo…e Chriſt Ieſus in our mortall bodies, and let vsus not care …ether it be by life, or by death, and that vponupon this recko…g, that Chriſt is vntounto vsus in life and death aduantage.
Now to deſcend vntounto the particulars, the ſecond thing …ich here I note is that the Apoſtle ſaith, that Chriſt is vntounto … in life aduantage. Whereby he meaneth, that if he liue, …d through life glorifie God in his bodie by preaching the …ſpell of Chriſt Ieſus, and walking in his waies; euen this …rifying of Chriſt in his bodie by his life is vntounto him ad…ntage, euen ſuch an aduantage as that this only he coun… his life if he glorifie God in this life. Whence I obſerue, …at vntounto a Chriſtian ſhould be the greateſt gaine of his … which he ſhould ſeeke, and whereunto he ſhould bend …ſelfe in his whole life, and that is the glory of Chriſt Ie… by a faithfull walking in the waies of his calling; and by …uiding for things honeſt before the Lord, and before all …n. The glorifying of Chriſt in his bodie by liuing to his …ry, ſhould ſeeme ſuch a gaine vntounto him, as that all other …ngs in his life ſhould ſeeme but loſſe vntounto him. Where…on it is that the Prophets ſo often remember vsus that we …re created, formed, and made for the Lord his glory;Eſay 43.7 …t our bleſſed Sauiour exhorteth vsus ſaying,Mat. 5.16. Let your light … ſhine before men that they may ſee your good works, & glorifie …r father which is in heauen: & that our holy Apoſtle like…ſe exhorteth vsus ſaying, Whether yee eat, or drinke, 1 Cor. 10.31or what…uer yee doe, doe all to the glory of God. Which places ſhew …ainely thus much, that the thing which wee are to ſeeke, …d whereunto we are to bend our ſelues in our whole life, … …he glory of God, euen that he may be glorified in our …ortall bodies. And the reaſons are cleare: for firſt the end wherefore we were created and made was, as euen now we heard out of the Prophet, the glorie of God; that hee might ſhew his glory in vsus, and that we againe might glorifie him in the land of the liuing. Secondly, wee are not our owne, but wee are bought for a price, and therefore as the Apoſtle maketh the argument,1 Cor. 6.20. we muſt glorifie God, euen him whoſe we are in our bodies, and in our ſpirits: henceforth we muſt not liue vntounto our ſelues, but vntounto him and his glorie, That dyed for our ſinnes, and roſe againe for our iuſtification. Gods glorie, that muſt bee the bent of our whole life, and the vantage that we muſt ſeeke while we are at home in the body.
Now, if yee aske how we are to glorifie God in our life, I anſwer, by walking faithfully in the waies of our calling, whatſoeuer our calling be, by keeping our veſſels holy vntounto the Lord, and pure from all filthineſſe of corruption: by conforming our wills in all obedience vntounto his will, and by liuing ſoberly, and righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world. All which our Apoſtle comprehendeth in a conuerſation,1 Pet. 2.12. which becommeth the goſpel of Chriſt. And Peter, in an honeſt conuerſation, where he ſaith, HaueHave your conuerſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that they which ſpeake euill of you, as of euill doers, may by your good works (which they ſhall ſee) glorifie God in the day of viſitation. That God may be glorified by vsus, this is a poynt which we muſt looke vntounto. And how may this be? by hauing our conuerſation honeſt, that is, by ſo walking and liuing, as before was mentioned.
This then ſhould teach vsus, ſo to looke vntounto our wayes in our whole life, that in nothing the Lord be diſhonoured by vsus. For, if the glorie of God ſhould be vntounto vsus the greateſt gaine of our life, while we liue herein the body, then ſhould we in all things ſeeke it, and by no meanes doe any thing which may be to the impairing of it. But, doe wee in our whole life ſeeke the glory of our God, as our greateſt gaine? Doe wee in nothing diſhonour our God throughout our whole life? If eueryevery man ſhould but looke how faithfully he walketh in the waies of his calling, the miniſter, the Lawyer, the Phyſition, the Souldier, the Tradeſman, the Merchant, the Countrie-man, how carefull each of them in their calling are, that God may be glorified by them; if eueryevery man ſhall but looke how watchfull he is ouer his owne body, that it be not defiled with the corruptions which are in the world through luſt, what a conſcience he maketh of all his waies, that they bee framed in all obedience vntounto Gods will, and how deſirous he is to leade a ſober, a righteous, and a godly life in this preſent world; if, I ſay, eueryevery man ſhall but looke into himſelfe, and ſearch, and ſee how the caſe ſtandeth with him touching each of theſe things; each man ſhal finde in himſelfe ſo many things whereby God is diſhonoured, as that I neede not to preſſe them to the ſhame of all that heare them. Beloued, the thing is too lamentable, and too true, if we will confeſſe a truth, that whom in our whole life by all meanes we ſhould glorifie, againſt him our whole life is a continuall rebellion. For what ſin is it, whereof if we dulie examine our ſelues, we may not finde our ſelues guilty? Looke vntounto the firſt table. Doe wee not truſt vntounto vncertaine riches, and giuegive much honour to others, which is due vntounto God alone, and ſo make other Gods vntounto our ſelues beſides him? Doe not many in the worſhip of God vſe ſuperſtitious rites, and will-worſhips, which God neuer commanded, and ſo ſinne againſt the ſecond Commandement? Doe wee not often abuſe the name of God in periuries, in blaſphemous oaths, in ſpeaking of him lightly and vnreuerently, and ſo take his name in vaine? Doe wee not prophane the holy Sabbath many of vsus with bodily labour on that day, many with riotous banquetting on that day: many with vnlawfull gaming on that day, and moſt of vsus with neglect of ſuch holy duties as on that day were to be performed? Looke alſo vntounto the ſecond Table. Doe we not neglect, nay, contemne our Superiours, and ſometimes euen make rebellion againſt them? Doe wee not often murther the innocent without a cauſe, if not in his life, yet in his credite and name, and in a cruell ſpight againſt him? Doe we not often ſteale from our brethen, by falſe weights and meaſures, by ſelling naughty wares, by bribes and extortion, by ſymonie and vſurie, by deceitfull and wrongfull dealing? Doe we not often lye one vntounto another, and ſo ſmother the truth that it can neuer come to light? Doe wee not abound with ſinnefull luſts, inordinate affections, vngodly deſires, and vnruly motions? True it is which the Prophet ſaith, that by lying, Hoſ. 4.2.and ſwearing, and killing, and ſtealing, and whoring we breake out, and bloud toucheth bloud. Shall I ſay all in a word, Chriſt is not to vsus in life aduantage, but rather Chriſt is vntounto vsus in life a loſſe. His glorie we count not our glorie, but rather we count all the time loſt that is not ſpent in the things which tend nothing to his glorie. I wiſh my words might iuſtly be reproued. Beloued, it is enough that we hauehave ſpent the time paſt of our life in vngodlines & vnrighteouſnes: it is enough that hitherto we hauehave not glorified God in our mortall bodies, as we ought. Let vsus hereafter make ſtreight ſteps vntounto the Lord, and let vsus liue vntounto his glorie, in whoſe glorie is our life. Let vsus ſo make account that wee liue, if wee liue to his glorie; and whatſoeuer others count their gaine, let vsus count his glorie our greateſt gaine.
The third thing which here I note is, that the Apoſtle ſaith, that Chriſt is vntounto him in death aduantage. Whereby he meaneth, that if he dye, and by his conſtancie in his death bring glorie vntounto Chriſt, this glorifying of Chriſt by his death, is vntounto him in his death an aduantage. Whence I obſerue, what vntounto a Chriſtian ſhould be the thing wherof he ſhould make reckoning in his death, and that is, that God be glorified by his death; and then if he dye (ſo that in his death God hauehave his glorie) welcome death whenſoeuer, and whatſoeuer, violent, or naturall. What ſaith our bleſſed Sauiour,Luc. 22.50. I muſt, ſaith he, be baptized with a baptiſme, and how am I grieued till it be ended? In which words hee ſhewed his great and earneſt deſire to die for vsus, that the Goſpell might the ſooner be preached throughout the world. For, hauing before ſignified that his comming was to preach the goſpell, which ſhould kindle a fire throughout the world, and this fire was alreadie kindled by the preaching of the goſpell, he ſignified likewiſe that before his paſſion the goſpell ſhould not be publiſhed throughout the world. And therefore, that he deſired to die was, that the Goſpell might the ſooner bee preached throughout the world. Heere then, ye ſee, what it was that the ſonne of God reckoned vponupon his death, namely, the glorie of God by the publiſhing of the goſpell throughout the world.Phil. 2.17. And becauſe he longed after this, hee longed after death. What alſo ſaith our holy Apoſtle, Though, ſaith he, I be offered vp vponupon the ſacrifice and ſeruice of your faith, I am glad, and reioyce with you all. Where yee ſee the Apoſtle ſaith, that hee would reioyce in death as a vantage vntounto him, if by his death God might hauehave this glorie, that their faith thereby might bee confirmed. The thing then that hee made reckoning of in his death was, that God might be glorified thereby, and ſo hee would reioyce in death. Semblably, wee in death ſhould principally looke at this, that our death be to the glorie of the Lord, that our death bee as the death of his Saints,Pſ. 116.13. that our death be in the Lord, and then we may reioyce and bee glad in it. For as the Prophet ſaith,Apoc. 14.13 Right deare and precious in the ſight of the Lord, is the death of the Saints. And as our Sauiour ſaith, Bleſſed are the dead that dye in the Lord.
Hence then we may learne, why it is that we are many of vsus ſo vnwilling to dye. If perſecution ariſe becauſe of the word, and fire and faggot be the portion for vsus to drinke, it is no need to bid vsus to flie but we runne, and we turne, and turne, and turne againe, rather then wee will burne. If any ſicknes ſeaze vponupon vsus, by and by we ſo ſhrinke, and are ſo affraid of death, that whatſoeuer phyſicke by the Phyſition, whatſoeuer cōfort by the Miniſter be miniſtred vntounto vsus, yet ſtil nothing but death death with vsus. EueryEvery ſummō of death is ſo fearefull vntounto vsus, that if any way wee could wee would ſhift it off. And why is all this, but becauſe we count of no vantage in death, becauſe Chriſt is not vntounto vsus aduantage in death? we neuer bethinke our ſelues, ſhall God be glorified by my death? ſhall the Saints hearts be ſtrengthened by my conſtancie, & my patience in my death? ſhall the Chriſtian and quiet repoſe of my ſoule in the Lord at my death, cauſe them that behold me to glorifie the Lord? But what do we thinke and ſay, I ſhall die, I ſhall die, I ſhall go downe to the graue, and be no more ſeene; the terrors of death are vponupon me, and who ſhall deliuer me? And thus death triumpheth ouer vsus, whereas vponupon the other cogitations, we ſhould triumph ouer death.1 Sam. 25.37. Ye know the ſtorie of Naball, of whom it is ſaid, that when his wife told him Dauids words, his heart died within him, and he was like a ſtone. So is it with many of vsus, when any ſummons of death come forth for vsus, our hearts faile, and die within vsus, and we are euen as ſtones. And no meruaile that feare of death ſhould ſo worke vponupon vsus, when in our death there is nothing to comfort vsus. If our hearts were ſo ſet on the glorie of the Lord, that wee counted that gaine enough vntounto vsus: if any way wee might gaine glory vntounto the Lord by life, or by death, then would wee willingly die, whenſoeuer our death might be to Gods glorie. But, ſetting apart all care of Gods glorie by life, or by death, we mind onelyonly the pleaſures and profites of this life; which hauehave an end in death, and therefore are vnwilling to die. In the terrors of death, then will we not feare death? Let mee die the death of the righteous, and I will not feare what death can doe vntounto me. Let Chriſt Ieſus bee glorified by my death, and then let death come in fire, in ſword, in famine, in peſtilence, in what terrible ſort it can come, and I will triumph ouer death. Let this mind be in euerie one of vsus, and ſo, that by our death God bee glorified in vsus at what time ſo euer, and in what ſort ſo euer it come, let it bee welcome to vsus. And let this ſuffice to bee obſerued from theſe words; whence ye ſee, firſt, how we become indifferent vntounto either death, or life, namely, if Chriſt be vntounto vsus both in life, and in death aduantage. Secondly, that the vantage whereof we are to make reckoning in our life is, that Chriſt Ieſus may bee glorified by our life. And thirdly, that the vantage whereof we are to make reckoning in our death is, that Chriſt Ieſus may be glorified by our death.
Now, vponupon this occaſion that hee had ſaid, that hee was very indifferent vntounto either life or death, becauſe Chriſt was vntounto him both in life and in death aduantage: the Apoſtle maketh a little digreſſion, and diſputeth the poynt whether were better for him to chooſe, life, or death. And firſt, in this verſe hee mooueth the doubt, and anſwereth it in theſe words, And whether, &c. Which words, I know, are diuerſly read, but the words bearing well this reading, I follow it, as both beſt opening the Apoſtles meaning, and beſt ſorting with that which followeth. Now, when hee ſaith, Whether to liue in the fleſh, ye muſt vnderſtand that to liue in the fleſh, and to liue after the fleſh are much different. For to liue after the fleſh, is to follow the filthie luſts of the fleſh and to liue in the fleſh, is onelyonly to liue in this fraile bodie The doubt then is, whether to liue in the bodie were profitable for him, and what to chooſe, life, or death, were beſt for him? And the anſwere is, that he knoweth not what to chooſe, life, or death. Being in his caſe, in priſon, a man would hauehave thought this choiſe would not hauehave been hard Yet, he being in priſon, ſaw ſuch comfort in death, and ſuch ioy in life, that hee knew not which rather to chooſe. And ſuch louelove did hee beare towards the Philippians, that weighing the great comfort which hee ſhould hauehave by his death, with the great profite which they ſhould hauehave by his life, he knew not what to chooſe.
Whence I obſerue, firſt, the great louelove which ought to bee in the Paſtor towards his people, and the great deſire which he ought to hauehave of their profite and comfort. Euen in caſe of his greateſt comfort, ioyned with their loſſe and heauines, it ſhould much perplexe him what to chooſe; his, or their preſent comfort. Yee know that of Moſes, Exo. 32.32.where he prayed the Lord either to pardon his people their ſinne, or to raze him out of the booke of life. And that of Paul, Rom. 9.3.where hee wiſhed himſelfe to bee ſeparated from Chriſt for his brethren, which were his kinſmen according to the fleſh. They both knew, the one, that hee could not be razed out of the Booke of life; and the other, that hee could not bee ſeperated from Chriſt, onelyonly therein they ſhewed how greatly Gods glorie in the peoples good. And true is that of the Apoſtle,1 Cor. 13.5. that LoueLove ſeekes not her owne things, but the things of others. Whence yet I doe not inferre, that the Paſtor for louelove of his people, ſhould in caſe of his ſaluation wiſh his own vtter rection, rather then that his people ſhould not be gained vntounto Chriſt. But this, I ſay, that euen in caſe of his and their ſaluation for the louelove of his people, hee is to be perplexed how ſoone to wiſh his ſaluation by his diſſolution, becauſe howſoeuer his preſent comfort ſhould bee gained by his preſent diſſolution, yet their ſaluation ſhould be furthered by his longer continuance in the bodie.
A poynt which doth not much perplexe many Paſtors. For too many ſuch there are, as neither caring for their own ſaluation, nor their peoples, looke onelyonly to fleece them, but neuer care what become of them. A point which might be much enlarged, but not ſo fitly in this place. If the vrging of it might concerne any here, I beſeech them in the feare of God to thinke further of it with themſelues.
The ſecond thing which here I obſerue is this, that if we bee at peace with God, and keepe faith, and a good conſcience, whatſoeuer our outward ſtate be, we hauehave ſuch comfort and ioy on eueryevery hand, that neither we deſire to die in reſpect of the griefes of this life, nor to liue in reſpect of any feare of death. The example of our Apoſtle is proofe enough to this purpoſe. He lay in priſon, and of the brethren none aſſiſted him, but all forſooke him; and many practiſed much againſt his conſtancie, and againſt his life; ſo that his outward ſtate was very hard, and ſuch, that in reſpect of the griefes of his life, he might hauehave deſired death; and againe, in reſpect of the feare of death, hee might hauehave deſired life. Yet, euen then ſuch ioy and comfort he found on eueryevery ſide, which way ſo euer hee lookt, to life, or death, that hee knew not whether of them to chooſe. And where was the reaſon? Though his caſe were hard, yet hee was at peace with God, and had faith, and a good conſcience.
Farre otherwiſe it is with many in our daie, who ſee nothing but matter of diſcontentment and diſcomfort, both in life, and in death. If either promotion fall not vponupon them according to their deſire, or if croſſes fall vponupon them otherwiſe then they deſire, then they grow male-contented, they care not to liue, and yet they ioy not in death. Such are they that minde earthly things, but minde not the things of God.
Let vsus ſeeke to be at peace with God, let vsus truſt perfectly in Chriſt Ieſus, let vsus keepe a good conſcience in all things, and this ſhall make both life and death comfortable vntounto vsus.