Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 1 · Lecture 22
LECTƲRE XXII.
PHILIP. 1. Verſe 28.
And in nothing feare your aduerſaries, which is to them a token of perdition, and to you of ſaluation, and that of God.
A Third thing alſo is herre mentioned, namely courage againſt the aduerſaries of the truth, ſet downe here in our reading by way of dehortation, And in nothing feare &c. but is thus to bee vnderſtood in true coherence with that which went before, Let your conuerſation &c, that whether &c, I may heare and ſee that yee continue in one ſpirit, and in one minde fighting &c, and that in nothing yee feare your aduerſaries. For ſo wee are to vnderſtand the Apoſtle, that hauing exhorted the Philippians to ſuch a conuerſation as becommeth the goſpell of Chriſt, he doth particularly ſpecifie ſome things whereby they might giuegive proofe vntounto him of ſuch a conuerſation, as namely if hee might heare or ſee that they continued in one ſpirit, and in one minde fighting together &c, and in nothing fearing the aduerſaries, or being in nothing afraid of the aduerſaries. Thus then I read theſe words, not by way of dehortation, but as depending on the former words, and in nothing fearing the aduerſaries, or, and being in nothing afraid of the aduerſaries. The Syriac interpreter readeth, in nothing feare our aduerſaries; our reading is, in nothing feare your aduerſaries. But in the originall is neither read our, nor your aduerſaries, but as I ſaid before, in nothing fearing the aduerſaries, or fearing them that oppoſe themſelues. The meaning is, that if he might heare or ſee that both they ſtood faſt by the power of the ſpirit againſt the aduerſaries of the truth, and that they ioyntly fought together againſt the aduerſaries of the truth, as men knit together in one minde, and likewiſe that in nothing they feared them that oppoſed themſelues againſt the truth, and the profeſſors thereof, this ſhould bee a good proofe vntounto him that their converſation was ſuch as became the Goſpell of Chriſt.
Hence then I obſerue a third ſpeciall part, and marke of ſuch a conuerſation as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt, which is chriſtian courage againſt the aduerſaries of the truth, and of the profeſſors thereof. If in nothing we feare the aduerſaries of the Church, and of the truth, but take a good courage againſt the Dragon and his Angels, this is a good note of ſuch a conuerſation as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt. Whereunto the Holy Ghoſt ſeemeth to giuegive ſo many teſtimonies, as he doth often diſſwade all feare of whatſoeuer and whomſoeuer exalt themſelues againſt God. Feare yee not them, ſaith our bleſſed Sauiour,Mat. 10.28 which kill the bodie, but are not able to kill the ſoule, but rather feare him which is able to deſtroy both ſoule and bodie in hell. Mat. 10.28.In which place our bleſſed Sauiour putteth the very extremitie of that which any aduerſarie can doe againſt vsus. For what can any cruell tyrant or bloudy perſecutor doe more then kill the bodie? Nebuchadnezzars rage and furie againſt thoſe three ſeruants of the Lord, Shadrach, Meſech, and Abednego, can no more but take hold of their bodies, and caſt them into an hote fiery furnace. And the Deuill himſelfe when he would wrecke his malice vponupon Iob, Job 1. & 2.what could he doe more then touch him in his goods, and in his bodie? Aſſault the ſoule the Deuill may by many tentations; and poyſon the ſoule Heretiques may by their damnable hereſies; but none of them all can kill the ſoule; neither can any of them all preuaile farther either againſt the ſoule, to infect or defile it by hereſies or other pollutions, or againſt the bodie to kill or to afflict it, then they hauehave power from God. The Iewes in their rage may ſtone Steuen to death:Act. 7.59. but though Nebuchadnezzar in his rage command the furnace to be hot ſeauen times hotter then it was wont, Dan. 3.19.21.27.and caſt Shadrach, Meſhech, and Abednego into the middeſt of it, yet not one haire of their heads ſhall be burnt, nor their coates ſinged, nor any ſmel of fire come vponupon them. And why, but becauſe the Lord giueth power ouer the one, and not ouer the other? The very extremitie then which any aduerſarie can doe againſt vsus, is to kill the bodie, and that if the Lord giuegive leaue they may doe: yet ſaith the Lord feare them not, ſeeing they can doe no more feare them not.
Yea but they are many, and we but few, how ſhould we but feare them? Nay, though they be many, and wee but few,Luc. 12.32. how ſhould we feare them, ſeeing our great Captaine Chriſt Ieſus hath ſaid vntounto vsus, Feare not little flocke? Wherein he implieth that the aduerſaries are many, and wee but few, yet (ſaith he) little flocke feare not. And ſhall hee bid vsus not feare, and ſhall we feare? Eliſha, we read, feared not the King of Syria, 2 Reg. 6.16.nor all his horſes and charets, nor his mighty hoſte, becauſe he knew that they that were with him were m…e then they that were againſt him. Be we nener ſo few, we are to take vntounto vsus that weapon of faith, whereof we ſpake before, and to beleeue that God is with vsus, and then we are not to feare, but with good courage and comfort to ſay, If God be with vsus, who can be againſt vsus? Rom. 8.31.for ſurely if he be with vsus none ſhall be able to preuaile againſt vsus. Yea but they are mighty, powerfull, and ſtrong. Yea but God that dwelleth on high is mightier, and be the aduerſaries that oppoſe themſelues againſt vsus tyrants, or heretiques, or ſpirituall wickedneſſes which are in the high places, his power is enough to …quell them, and to turne all that they can doe againſt vsus to the furtherance of his Goſpell, and to our ſaluation. And why are they mightier and ſtronger then we? Is it becauſe they are moe then we? One God and Sauiour of vsus all Chriſt Ieſus enow for them all. If he goe forth with our armies, nay if he goe forth with vsus alone, with thee, or with me, hell gates ſhall not be able to preuaile againſt vsus.
What then? Are wee deſperately to runne vponupon their pikes, and to put our ſelues in danger, or ſecurely to walke, and onelyonly contemne them? No, theſe are extremities on the other ſide, and either to runne our ſelues into danger when we neede not, or to wiſh aſſaults by Satan, grapling with heretiques, perſecution by tyrants; or on the other ſide, to ſleepe the matter when ſuch aduerſaries lay their batteries againſt vsus, what elſe is it but to tempt the Lord by willfulnes and ſecuritie? We are to feare them ſo, that we auoide them, and runne not our ſelues into the danger of them when we neede not, and we are ſo to feare them that we take heede that we be not circumvented by them. For our bleſſed Sauiour himſelfe ſo feared, that hee runne not himſelfe into the danger either of any other aduerſarie, or of the Deuill when he was tempted, but was led aſide by the ſpirit into the wildernes to be tempted of the Deuill, Mat. 4.1.and ſo he feared that he tooke heede of being circumvented either by any other aduerſarie, or by the Deuill, and therefore returned vponupon his falſe allegations of ſcriptum est▪ true allegations of ſcriptum est. And ſo we are willed to flie into this Citie, when we are perſecuted in that; to beware of dogges, Mat 10.23 Tit. 3.2.and of euill workers, 1 Pet. 5.8.and to watch, becauſe our aduerſarie the Deuil … a roaring lion walketh about ſeeking whom he may deuoure. S… that we are to feare them to auoide them; and to feare them to beware of them. But we are not to feare them as to be… daunted or diſmayed by them, or to forſake the truth f… them. We are not to feare them, as for feare of them … ioyne our ſelues vntounto them, and to ſhrinke from the hope of a good profeſſion; but herein we are to take a good courage to ſtand againſt them without being throwne downe by them, and with one minde to fight together againſt them to throw them downe. And in this ſenſe it is where ſuch like exhortations are, as not to feare the aduerſaries; not to feare them as to ioyne our ſelues vntounto them, or to ſhrinke from a good profeſſion for them, but in Chriſt his cauſe, and in the defence of the truth to take a good courage againſt them, euen as our Sauiour willeth where hee ſaith,Ioh. 16.33. In the world yee ſhall hauehave affliction, but be of good comfort, I hauehave ouercome the world. Though the world afflict and perſecute you for the truths ſake, yet feare not, nor ſhrinke from the truth, but be of good comfort, and ſtand, and fight for the truth: for though happily they preuaile againſt vsus, and hauehave their wills ouer vsus, yet neither doe they ouercome, nor are wee ouercome, but if wee die for the truth, our ſoule marcheth valiantly, and we triumph gloriouſly.
This then may ſerue for a iuſt reproofe of them, that for feare of the aduerſaries ſhrinke and fall away from the hope of a good profeſſion. Feare them we ſhall euen in Gods cauſe, and the Goſpels, the beſt of vsus; inſomuch that it ſhall be needfull to ſay vntounto Paul, Act. 23.11. Luc. 12.32. Ioh. 16.33.be of good courage Paul; and vntounto all of vsus, Feare not little flocke, be of good comfort: for while we liue here in the bodie of this fleſh we hauehave our weakneſſe and infirmities, our wants which had neede to be ſupplied; our falls which had neede to be pardoned, and our faint hearts which had neede to be encouraged. But who ſo feareth them ſo, that for feare of them he fall away from a good profeſſion, it had beene better for him neuer to hauehave knowne the way of truth, then after hee hath knowne it to turne away from it for feare of any aduerſarie. Such our Fathers hauehave heard of, and ſome of vsus hauehave ſeene. But let vsus hearken vntounto our bleſſed Sauiours exhortation thriſe repeated, not to feare the aduerſaries. He hath there ſaid, Whoſoeuer ſhall confeſſe me before men, Mat. 10.26 28.31.32.33.him will I confeſſe alſo before my Father which is in heauen: But whoſoeuer ſhall denie me before men, him will I alſo denie before my Father which is in heauen. And againe,38.39. He that taketh not vp his croſſe, and followeth after me is not worthy of me. He that will ſaue his life ſhall loſe it, and hee that loſeth his life for my ſake ſhall ſaue it. That Chapter is well worth the reading for this purpoſe, wherein our Sauiour abundantly prepareth and armeth his children againſt perſecution, and feare of any aduerſaries.
Yea but what reaſon is there but to feare the aduerſaries? In the very next words immediately following, the Apoſtle giueth three reaſons to encourage the Philippians, and in them vsus: As 1. that the aduerſaries perſecute the truth, and perſecute them, it is to the aduerſaries a ſure token of perdition; and why ſhould any feare to ſee his aduerſaries runne vntounto deſtruction? 2. That they fight together againſt them, and feare them not, is to them a ſure token of ſaluation▪ and why ſhould any man feare a marke of his ſaluation? 3. That perſecution cauſeth perdition to the aduerſaries, and ſaluation vntounto them: it is of God, and why ſhould an… feare perſecution by the aduerſaries, which God turneth to the deſtruction of the perſecutors, and to the ſaluation of the perſecuted? This I take to be the argument and ſenſ… of theſe words.
Which is to them a token of perdition.] This is the firſt mo…iue and reaſon to perſwade the Philippians, in nothing to feare the aduerſaries, which oppoſe themſelues againſt them, and againſt the truth, euen becauſe this ſame thing, …hat they are aduerſaries to them and to the truth, is an euident token of deſtruction to their aduerſaries. Whence I obſerue, that the furie and rage of tyrants and perſecutors againſt the truth and profeſſors thereof, is an vnfallible ſigne of their deſtruction.Pſal. 34 21. Malice (ſaith the Prophet) ſhal… ſlay the wicked, and they that hate the righteous, ſhall periſh. Doe the wicked then and vngodly of the earth maligne the children of God? This ſurely is a token of their deſtruction: for malice ſhall ſlay the wicked. Doe they hate and perſecute the children of God? This ſurely is a token vntounto them of perdition: for they that hate the righteous, ſhall periſh. Very plaine to this purpoſe is that of the Apoſtle, where he ſaith, It is a righteous thing with God, 2 Theſſ. 1.6.7.to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you, when the Lord Ieſus ſhall ſhew himſelfe from heauen with his mightie Angels, &c. Where the iudgement of the Lord i… very plainly and peremptorily ſet downe againſt them that trouble and perſecute the Saints of God. Doe the children of darkneſſe then trouble and perſecute the children of light? It is a plaine fore-runner and prognoſtication of that fearfull and euerlaſting perdition, wherewith they ſhall be puniſhed, when the Lord Ieſus ſhall ſhew himſelfe from heauen with his mightie Angels, in flaming fire, rendring vengeance vntounto them. And the more they rage againſt Gods children, the more manifeſtly they declare that they runne to their owne deſtruction: as Cain when he ſlew his brother Abel, and Iezabel when ſhee deſtroied the Lord his Prophets, then they ranne amaine to their deſtruction. Before, when Cain was wroth with his brother, and Iezabel imagined miſchiefe againſt the Lord his Prophets, they were in the high way; but when their rage braſt out into cruell murther, then they marched furiouſly, and poſted apace to their deſtruction.
Howbeit, here yee muſt vnderſtand, that perſecution and rage againſt the Saints of God, is onelyonly an vnfallible ſigne of deſtruction vntounto them that obſtinately perſiſt therein: for if God grant grace vntounto repentance, their ſinne ſhall no more be had in remembrance. Euen as wee ſee in our Apoſtle, who perſecuted the Church of God extremely, and waſted it,Gal. 1.13. a… himſelfe confeſſeth: but he did it ignorantly through vnbeleefe, and therefore afterwards was receiued vntounto mercy, and was made the great inſtrument of the Lord, to the ſaluation of many thouſands. But vntounto them that goe on with an high hand, and as they hauehave begunne, ſo continue to perſecute the Church of God, this is an infallible token of their perdition, yea it is a cleare cauſe of their deſtruction: as wee ſee heauie plagues and iudgements to hauehave ouertaken Hananiah, Shemaiah, Amaziah, Ier. 28.16.29 25. Amos 7.17.and others, becauſe they were malicious enemies againſt his Prophets, Ieremiah, Amos, and others.
The vſe which our Apoſtle here teacheth vsus to make hereof, is this, not to feare the aduerſaries that oppoſe themſelues againſt vsus: for when they perſecute vsus from one Citie to another, beat vsus, impriſon vsus, and eueryevery way afflict vsus, whom hurt they? Euen themſelues, they runne themſelues vponupon the rockes, and bring vponupon themſelues ſwift damnation. They thinke they hauehave great maſteries ouer vsus, but indeed themſelues ſmart for it. Let them therefore looke vntounto it, how they hold on to wrecke their malice vponupon vsus, and let vsus not feare all that euer they doe or can doe againſt vsus.
Yea but though they hurt themſelues, yet they hurt vsus alſo: how ſhould wee then but feare them? Nay that is the next reaſon wherefore wee are not to feare them, becauſe their perſecution and rage againſt vsus is no harme vntounto vsus, but a token vntounto vsus of ſaluation. And to you of ſaluation: that is, The furie and rage of the aduerſaries againſt you, if yee ſtand faſt, and fight together with one minde, through the faith of the Goſpell, is a plaine token vntounto you of your ſaluation. Whence I obſerue, that perſecution by the aduerſaries is vntounto Gods children a token of their ſaluation. Wee reioyce (ſaith the Apoſtle) of you in the Churches of God, 2 Th. 1.4.5.becauſe of your patience and faith, &c. Againe,Gal. 6.17. I beare in my body (ſaith the Apoſtle) the markes of the Lord Ieſus. Whereby he ſignifieth, that his afflictions were the very markes of his ſaluation through Chriſt Ieſus, as whereby hee was made like vntounto him. Againe, If wee ſuffer with him, 2 Tim. 2.12wee ſhall alſo raigne with him. And againe, Bleſſed are they that ſuffer perſecution for righteouſneſſe ſake, Matt. 5.10.for theirs is the kingdome of heauen. The Scriptures are very plentifull to this purpoſe, cleerely ſhewing, that perſecution by the aduerſaries is vntounto Gods children a token of their ſaluation: A token, I ſay, but not a cauſe; for that of the Apoſtle is euer true, that the afflictions of this preſent time are not worthy of the glory which ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus. Rom. 8.15.VntoUnto the aduerſaries indeed, their perſecution and rage againſt vsus, is ſo a token, that it is alſo a cauſe of their deſtruction: for ſinne being a iuſt cauſe o… death,Rom. 6.23. according to that of the Apoſtle, The wages of ſinne is death, ſurely this great and grieuous ſinne of perſecuting the truth, and the profeſſors thereof, muſt needs bee a iuſt cauſe of their endleſſe deſtruction. But vntounto vsus, their perſecution and their rage againſt vsus, is onelyonly a token, not a cauſe of our ſaluation: for both to ſuffer for Chriſt, is the gift of God, as it is in the next verſe, and ſaluation alſo through ſufferings, is his gift by grace through faith. So that it is no cauſe; but it is vntounto vsus a token of ſaluation, as both this and many other places ſhew.
Howbeit, here yee muſt alſo vnderſtand, that ſo their perſecution and rage againſt vsus is a token vntounto vsus of ſaluation, if wee continue in one ſpirit, and in one minde, fighting together againſt them, through the faith of the Goſpell, and in nothing fearing the aduerſaries. It is not ſtanding … while, and not continuing; or fighting for a blow or …wo, and then giuing the bucklers; or taking courage for a ſpirt, and afterwards for feare falling away, that betokens our ſaluation. But he that continueth vntounto the end, he ſhall bee ſaued: Mat. 10.22he that fighteth lawfully, and as hee ſhould, hee ſhall be crowned;2 Tim. 2.5. Hab. 6.6. and he that for feare flatly falleth away, purchaſeth vntounto himſelfe a fearfull iudgement.
The vſe which our Apoſtle teacheth vsus to make hereof, is this, as of the former, not to feare the aduerſaries which oppoſe themſelues againſt vsus: for what if wee be tried by mockings and ſcourgings, yea moreouer by bonds and impriſonments? What if wee be ſtoned, hewen aſunder, ſlaine with the ſword, afflicted and tormented many wayes? This is vntounto vsus a token of our ſaluation. They thinke that t…s they hurt vsus, and hauehave their willes ouer vsus: but indeed thus they further our reckoning in the day of Chriſt Ieſus. Let vsus therefore not feare what they doe or can doe againſt vsus: but let vsus be of good courage, and hold faſt the profeſſion of our hope vntounto the end.