Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 1 · Lecture 20
LECTƲRE XX.
PHILIP. 1.
Verſe 24. Neuertheleſſe, to abide in the fleſh, is more needfull for you.
25. And this I am ſure of, that I ſhall abide, and with you all continue, for the furtherance and ioy of your faith.
26. That you may more abundantly reioyce in Ieſus Chriſt for me, by my comming to you againe.
ANother thing yet there is which here is to be noted, and that is that the Apoſtle ſaith, that it is more needefull for the Philippians that he liue longer, then that hee bee looſed. Whence I obſerue, that the long life of the faith full Paſtor is very needefull for the Church, and the bleſſing of God vponupon it. A plaine proofe whereof, we hauehave in the example of Iehoida, touching whom it is ſaid,2 Cron. 24.2.17. That Ioaſh did vprightly in the fight of the Lord, all the dayes of Iehoiada the Prieſt. But after the death of Iehoiada came the Princes of Iudah, and did reuerence to the King, and the King hearkened vntounto them, and they left the houſe of the God of their Fathers, and ſerued groues and idols. What a bleſſing of the Lord was here vponupon Ioaſh the King of Iudah, and vponupon all Iudah by the life of Iehoiada the Prieſt? So long as hee liued, Ioaſh did that which was good in the ſight of the Lord, and Iudah walked in the waies of the Lord; but when hee was dead, then Ioaſh the King, and Iudah with him, reuolted from the true ſeruice of the Lord, and fell vntounto idolatry. And therefore the Lord purpoſing to viſite the iniquities of Iudah, Pſay 3 2.and Hieruſalem, vponupon them threateneth to take away from them the Iudge, and the Prophet, that is, the Magiſtrate and the Miniſter, as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, that he would roote out all ciuill gouernment, and all eccleſiaſticall diſcipline from amongſt them, and bring an vtter confuſion and deſolation vponupon them. Is it then a plague of GOD vponupon a land, to take away their Prophets, and their Teachers? And is it a viſitation of the peoples ſinnes vponupon them? By this then ye ſee, that the continuance of the Paſtors life among the people, is the bleſſing of the Lord vponupon the people; I meane the continuance of the good and faithfull Paſtors life. For otherwiſe, if the Paſtor be an idle ſheepe-heard, one that deſpiſeth his flocke, one that cannot, or will not feed the tender Lambes of Chriſt Ieſus, & leade them forth vntounto greene paſtures, and vntounto the ſoft running waters: then ſurely it is a great bleſſing of the Lord to deliuer the ſheepe from ſuch a ſheep-heard, & to cut him off from feeding his people. And therfore the Lord promiſing in merciemercy to viſite his diſperſed flocke, ſpeaketh thus vntounto them by his Prophet, Behold, Ezec. 34.10I come againſt the ſheepeheards, and will require my ſheepe at their hands, and cauſe them to ceaſe from feeding the ſheepe, neither ſhall the ſheepeheards feede themſelues any more: for I will deliuer my ſheepe from their mouths, and they ſhall no more deuoure them. As then this is a great merciemercy of the Lord vntounto the flocke of his paſture, when the Paſtor is an ill one to deliuer them from him, and to cauſe him to ceaſe from feeding them, whether by death, or how elſe ſo euer; ſo is it a great bleſſing of the Lord vponupon them, when they hauehave a good and faithfull Paſtor and Teacher, to continue his life amongſt them, for their further growth and encreaſe in the faith and truth of Chriſt Ieſus.
This then, beloued, ſhould teach you, how when the Lord bleſſeth you with a faithfull Paſtor you ſhould bee affected towards him, and that is thus, you ſhould euen pray vntounto the Lord for him to continue his life long amongſt you, by whoſe life yee hauehave ſuch a bleſſing. Other duties, many towards them on your behalfe are commanded, as obedience, where it is ſaid, Obey them that hauehave the ouerſight of you, and ſubmit your ſelues, and louelove: As where it is ſaid,Heb. 13.17. Know them that labour among you, and are ouer you in the Lord, 1 Theſ. 5.12.13.and admoniſh you, and hauehave them in ſingular louelove for their workes ſake, and maintenance. As where it is ſaid,Gal. 6.6. Let him that is taught in the word, make him that hath taught him pertaker of all his goods. Whereunto ye are alſo to adde this dutie towards them, euen to pray for the continuance of their life long amongſt you. And ſurely, if either ye conſider the bleſſing which ye hauehave by the enioying of them, or the loſſe which ye hauehave when ſuch are taken from you, yee will ſee that yee hauehave great cauſe to pray for their abiding in the fleſh amongſt you. For what, if after ſuch a faithfull Paſtor ſhould ſucceede an idle ſheepe heard, a greedie wolfe, an ignorant hireling, a ſlow-belly, a peruerter of the truth, a ſcandalous man for life, one whoſe God is his belly, and whoſe glorie is to his ſhame, as too too often after ſuch light followeth ſuch darkeneſſe. How great cauſe then ſhould yee hauehave to waile and lament, and with Ieremie, to ſay, How is the golde become ſo dimme? While then ye hauehave them, how ought ye to pray for them, that long ye may hauehave them, and enioye the benenefits of their labours.
But how farre otherwiſe doe wee a great many of vsus in many places, for ſo it is with many of vsus in many places, that if our Paſtor be a faithful teacher, one that labours amongſt vsus in the word and doctrine, one that keepes nothing backe from vsus, but faithfully deliuers vntounto vsus the whole counſaile of the Lord; we are ſo farre from praying for the continuance of his life, that by all meanes we labour to make him wearie of his life. If wee hauehave ſuch a Paſtor as neither can, nor will teach vsus in the wholeſome word of truth, one that will ſuffer vsus to go on in our ſinnes, and neuer awake vsus out of our dead ſleepe of ſecuritie: one that will ſowe pillowes vnderunder our elbowes, and crie peace, peace, when there is no peace, one that will ſort himſelfe vntounto our manners, and apply himſelfe vntounto our humors, he is a man fit for vsus: hee is a milde, a ſoft man, and a good companion, and wee wiſh that he might liue for euer with vsus. But if our Paſtor with the Prophets of the Lord, threaten the iudgements of the Lord againſt vsus for our ſinnes; if with Iohn Baptiſt hee reproue vsus boldly to our faces, for ſuch crying ſinnes as reigne amongſt vsus; if with the bleſſed Martyr Steuen, in the application of his doctrine, hee ſhall come vponupon vsus and ſay, yee ſtiffe-necked & of vncircumciſed hearts and eares, ye hauehave alwaies reſiſted the holy Ghoſt, as your fathers did ſo doe yee. If with the Apoſtle he ſhall rebuke vsus, and ſay, O fooliſh people, who hath bewitched you, that yee ſhould not obey the truth: if hee ſhall launce our ſores vntounto the bottome, that ſo we may be throughly healed, if he ſhall wound the heary ſcalpe of him that goeth on in his wickedneſſe, and lay the axe to the roote of our ſinnes, him wee can by no meanes endure, he is a contentious man, a ſeditious man, a ſchiſmaticall fellow, a troubler of the world; away with ſuch a man, hee is not worthy to liue vponupon the earth. Thus the Paſtor, from whom it were a merciemercy of the Lord to deliuer vsus, we louelove and like: and him, in the continuance of whoſe liue were a bleſſing of the Lord vponupon vsus, wee cannot away with. So greatly are we in louelove with our ſinnes and ignorance, and ſo little doe we louelove knowledg, and the things that belong vntounto our peace. But, beloued, I perſwade my ſelfe better things of a great many of you. As already you do, ſo continue to hauehave them that labour amongſt you in ſingular louelove, for their workes ſake. Let the feete of them that bring you the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus bee beautifull vntounto you. Count the life of your faithfull Teachers a bleſſing of the Lord vponupon you, and pray yee vntounto the Lord when yee hauehave ſuch a bleſſing for the continuance thereof vntounto you This bleſſing is as needfull for you as the greateſt bleſſing of this life, and therefore reioyce in it, and pray for it as the greateſt bleſſing of your life. And let this ſuffice to be obſerued from the reaſons which made the Apoſtle doubt what to chuſe, whether to liue in the bodie, or to remoue out of the bodie. It followeth.
And this am I ſure of &c.] In the Apoſtles narration which began at the 12. verſe, firſt the Apoſtle told vsus what ſucceſſe his bands had already had, and then what ſucceſſe he hoped they ſhould hauehave. Touching the ſucceſſe which they ſhould hauehave, we hauehave heard that the Apoſtle certainly looked for, and hoped that they ſhould turne to the ſaluation of his ſoule through his conſtancie in his bands, whether it were in life, or in death. But what ſhould be the ſucceſſe of his bands touching the ſaluation and deliuerance of his bodie? The Apoſtle now tells the Philippians that, namely, he knew certainely that he ſhould liue, be deliuered out of priſon, & be reſtored to them againe. And withall he tels them wherefore God would now deliuer him, & hauehave him yet to liue longer, which was for theſe two ends: 1. for their furtherance & ioy of their faith, .i. that by his miniſterie they might be confirmed in the faith, & thereby hauehave their ioy increaſed: & 2. that they might more abundantly reioyce &c. .i. that they ſeeing the mighty power of Chriſt, in deliuering him from the mouth of the lion might more abundantly reioyce in Chriſt the author of his deliuerance, for deliuering him, and for bringing him againe to them. The firſt thing which here I note is, that the Apoſtle ſaith, that he was ſure of this, that he ſhould abide in the fleſh, and continue with all the Philippians, yet for ſome time longer. Whence I obſerue, that the Apoſtle in his firſt impriſonment at Rome was deliuered, and reſtored vntounto the Churches which before he had planted; which I do the rather gather hence, for that the two words which the Apoſtle vſeth,foreign. ſhew that he knew ſo certainly that he ſhould be deliuered, as hee could not otherwiſe but by the reuelation of the ſpirit. And in the Epiſtle to Timothie in plaine words he profeſſeth,2 Tim. 4.17. that he was deliuered out of the mouth of the lyon, meaning of Nero. And the eccleſiaſticall ſtories beare witneſſe, that after his firſt impriſonment, by the ſpace of ten yeares or thereabouts he preached the goſpell, and then returning to Rome againe was ſlaine by Nero, about the 14. yeare of his reigne.
Which may ſerue to encourage the faithfull thus farre in their troubles, that whatſoeuer be their troubles, if it bee for his glory, the Lord will deliuer them. As he did with Paul, ſo will he doe with vsus: as our farther tryall, or preſent deliuerance ſhall be for his glory ſo will he try vsus or deliuer vsus. Let vsus therefore in troubles be of good courage, and let vsus aſſure our ſelues of deliuerance, if it be for his glory. OnelyOnly let vsus, as himſelfe exhorteth, call vponupon him in the day of our trouble, Pſal. 50.and then his promiſe is, we neede no reuelation for it, that he will deliuer vsus; alwaies this condition vnderſtood, if our deliuerance bee for his glory. And what elſe is it that we ſhould deſire but that he may be glorified in our bodies, whether it be by life, or death?
The ſecond thing which here I note, is the end wherefore he ſaith hee ſhould abide and with them all continue, which was, for their furtherance and ioy of their faith, that their faith by his miniſterie might be furthered, and ſo their ioy in the Holy Ghoſt increaſed. Whence I obſerue wherefore the Chriſtians life in generall, and the Miniſters life in particular is preſerued and continued here on earth, and that is, the Chriſtians life in generall is preſerued and continued for the glory of the Lord; and the Miniſters life in particular for the good of Gods church, and of that people ouer whom they are ſet. Be of courage Paul, ſaid the Lord vntounto him,Act. 23.11. for as thou haſt teſtified of me in Ieruſalem, ſo must thou beare witneſſe alſo at Rome: as if hee ſhould hauehave ſaid, howſoeuer the Iewes practiſe againſt thy life in Ieruſalem, yet feare not, I muſt yet hauehave farther glory by thy life, as thou haſt teſtified of me in Ieruſalem, and there brought …lory vntounto my name, ſo ſhall thy life be preſerued and con…nued to the farther glory of my name by thy teſtimonie of be at Rome. And ſo is eueryevery Chriſtian when he is deliuered …om any perill of ſicknes, enemies, or the like to reſolue …ith himſelfe that his life is preſerued, and continued for …he farther glory of his God; and eueryevery Miniſter in parti…ular, that his life is preſerued and continued for the farther …ood of Gods church, and for the profit of his people by …he worke of his miniſterie. The point is cleare enough, …nd needeth not any large confirmation.
This may ſerue firſt for the inſtruction of all Chriſtians …n generall, and of the Miniſters in particular. Of all Chriſtians in generall, to teach euen all of vsus to liue vntounto the Lord, and to the glory of his name, to liue to doe good. This is the end wherefore our life is preſerued and continued here on earth, and this being the end in our whole …ife, we are euer to be looking vntounto this end. Of Miniſters …n particular, to teach them to ſpend willingly their whole ſtrength and their life, in the worke of their miniſterie for the edification of the Church, and the furtherance of their faith, ouer whom the Lord hath made them ouerſeers. This is the end alſo wherefore they are preſerued from all dangers, and their liues continued vntounto their people; and this being the end, in their whole life they are euer to be looking to this end.
What ſhall we ſay then vntounto ſuch Chriſtians in name as liue vntounto themſelues, and vntounto their pleaſures? As would hauehave eueryevery bodie to ſerue their turne, and care not for others? As deſire to liue rather to get goods then to do any good? For ſuch there are as ſo liue, as if they were to liue vntounto themſelues, and not vntounto the glory of God; as if the life of others were to be for their good, and their life not for the good of any others; as if they were to ſcrape aſmuch vntounto themſelues as they could, & not to do any good vntounto any other. Nay I adde further, that ſuch there are as ſo liue, as if in their life they were to ſerue ſinne in the luſts thereof, as if they were to liue by the ſpoile, and hurt, and loſſe o… others; as if they were to flie that which is good, and to doe that which is euill. And ſurely ſuch are here iuſtly reproued, as men neuer remembring that the continuance of their life ſhould be for Gods glory; or rather as men oppoſing themſelues vntounto eueryevery thing that may make for Gods glory. What ſhall we ſay likewiſe vntounto ſuch in the miniſterie as feede themſelues but not the flocke; as ſeeke their owne and not that which is Ieſus Chriſts; as do more harme by their bad example of life, then they doe good by their paines in teaching, as either for idleneſſe, or daintineſſe, or other like reaſon, will not put their hand vntounto the Lord his worke to helpe forward the building of his houſe, nay as deſtroy the faith of ſome which were to bee builded vp in Chriſt Ieſus? Is this the end wherefore they liue in the bodie, wherefore their life is prolonged among their people? Nay ſurely this alſo ſerueth for their iuſt reproofe, as men abuſing that vſe which God giueth them of life.
But on the other ſide, it ſerueth for the great comfort of all them be they Chriſtians in generall, or Miniſters in particular, whoſe life ſerues for the good of the Church. For what greater comfort, if wee be Miniſters, can we hauehave of our life, then that by our life the Saints hearts be ſtabliſhed in the faith, the ioy of the faithfull be fulfilled, the Church of Chriſt Ieſus be builded, the truth of Chriſt Ieſus be maintained, the mouth of all gaine ſayers be ſtopped, and our people kept a chaſte ſpouſe vntounto the Lord? Or what greater comfort can we hauehave of our life whatſoeuer we be, then that by our life the Lord be glorified, the good of our brethren procured, and the common-wealth bettered? Surely ſo may the Miniſter, and eueryevery Chriſtian make account that he liueth if hee liue vntounto God and to his brethrens good, and ſo may he ioy in the continuance of his life, i… he looke vntounto the end wherefore it is continued. Whatſoeuer therefore we be let vsus remember that we are to liue vntounto him that hath called vsus out of darknes into light, and in whatſoeuer perill our life is preſerued, let vsus remember that it is continued for the glory of God, and the good of our …rethren. And as we are by our calling, Miniſters, or others, … let vsus labour that our abode in the fleſh, and continuance … life, may be to the furtherance, and ioy, and comfort of …ur brethren, in eueryevery thing that is good. And let this bee …oken touching the end wherefore the life of Chriſtians in …enerall, and of Miniſters in particular, is preſerued and …ontinued, viz. for the glory of God, and the good of his Church. Which as it ſerueth for the inſtruction of all, to …each vsus euer to looke vntounto the end wherefore our life is …ontinued vponupon earth; ſo for the reproofe of ſuch as whoſe …fe doth no good, and for the comfort of ſuch, whoſe life …rues for the good of the Church.
Now followeth the other end wherefore the Apoſtle …ith he ſhould abide, and with them all continue, viz. that …hey ſeeing the mightie power of Chriſt Ieſus, in deliuering …im from the mouth of the Lion, from the crueltie of Nero, …ight more abundantly reioyce in him, in whom already …hey d…d reioyce, for ſauing him from death, and bringing …im againe vntounto them. Whence firſt I doe obſerue, the great …eioycing which ought to be in the people for their Paſtors …eliuerance out of perill, and for the continuance of his life …mongſt them: their ioy ſhould euen abound in Chriſt Ie…us, as in his great bleſſing and mercy vponupon them. So wee …eade, that when Peter was deliuered out of priſon by an Angell, there was great ioy among the Chriſtians which were …ſſembled in the houſe of Mary, Iohn Marke his mother,Act. 12.12. …nſomuch that it is ſaid of the maid that came to the doore, when Peter knocked at the entrie doore,14. that ſhe opened not the entrie doore for gladneſſe, as one ſo ſurpriſed with ioy, that …he could not reſt till ſhe had told it: and when the doore was opened, and the reſt ſaw, it is ſaid of them,16 that they were aſtonied, partly through wondering at, and partly …hrough reioycing for his deliuerance. And ſo ſhould they that are taught in the word, abundantly reioyce when their Teacher is freed from trouble or danger, and his life or libertie is continued vntounto them: for whether it be life, or libertie that is granted vntounto him, it is for their ſakes, o… whom the Lord hath made him ouerſeer; and there… they are to honour him, and to reioyce for him, as p… ued for them, and the furtherance of their faith.
Such then as grieue at the life or libertie of their faithfull Paſtors, ſuch as practiſe what poſſibly they can againſt the life and libertie of their godly Teachers, ſuch as waſh and watch eueryevery aduantage againſt them, to get their mouths ſtopt, or depriued of their miniſterie; ſuch as reioyce in their trouble, impriſonment, or baniſhment, let ſuch, I ſay, and all ſuch like, looke vntounto it, whether they belong to the ſheepe-fold of Chriſt Ieſus.Luk. 10.16. He that heareth you, beareth a…, ſaith our Sauiour Chriſt; and he that deſpiſeth you, deſ… mee. To refuſe then to heare the Miniſters of Ieſus Chriſt is much, becauſe it is to refuſe to heare Ieſus Chriſt: likewiſe to deſpiſe the Miniſters of Ieſus Chriſt, is very much, becauſe it is to deſpiſe Ieſus Chriſt: but what then is it …o practiſe miſchiefe againſt the Miniſters of Ieſus Chriſt, … reioyce in the loſſe of their life or libertie, and to band men ſelues againſt them? Surely this is plainly to bewray themſelues not to belong to Chriſt Ieſus.
As for vsus, if wee will know that wee belong vntounto Chriſt Ieſus, let vsus reioyce in the life and libertie of our faithful… Teachers. The life and libertie of Gods faithfull Miniſter, cauſe ioy in the hearts of them that belong vntounto the Lo…. Let vsus therefore by this token diſcerne what we are, good or bad Goſpellers.
The ſecond thing which hence I obſerue, is the effect which the examples of the power and goodneſſe of Chriſt Ieſus in the deliuerance of his Saints out of their troubles, ought to worke in vsus: ſuch examples ſhould confirme vsus daily more and more in that reioycing which wee hauehave … Chriſt Ieſus. For when we plainly ſee as in a ſpectacle before our eyes, by the deliuerance of his Saints out of their troubles, that our King and our Sauiour beholdeth vsus from his holy heauens, lookes vponupon our ſufferings & our wrongs, takes our matters into his owne hands, auengeth vsus of o… enemies, and deliuers vsus out of the will of them that hate … this ſhould adde much vntounto that reioycing which before …ee had, and cauſe vsus farre more abundantly to reioyce in …hriſt Ieſus, becauſe thus wee ſee that which before we be…eued, that our King liueth, and raigneth, and hath all …wer giuen vntounto him both in heauen and in earth.
But how little ſuch examples worke with vsus, doth ap…eare by our little reioycing in Chriſt Ieſus. All our reioy…ng is in the vanities, and pleaſures, and fooleries of this …e; neither doe wee euer vouchſafe to conſider the power …d the mercy which the Lord ſheweth in his Saints. And …erefore wee reioyce not as wee ſhould, but as wee ſhould …ot. O let vsus conſider the great things which our Ieſus hath …one, and ſtill doth for vsus. Let vsus not be ſo negligent as to …aſſe ouer, or to forget the things wherein hee ſheweth his …ower and his mercy towards his Saints, but let vsus religi…uſly regard and remember them, that ſo we may hauehave our …eioycing in Chriſt Ieſus.