Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 2 · Lecture 24
LECTƲRE XXIV.
PHILIP. 2.
Verſe 1. If there be therefore any conſolation in Chriſt, if any comfort of louelove, if any fellowſhip of the ſpirit, if any compaſſion and mercy.
2. Fulfill my ioy, that yee be like minded, hauing the ſame louelove, being of one accord and of one iudgement.
THE Apoſtle hauing in the former chapter exhorted the Philippians generally vntounto ſuch a conuerſation as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt, and hauing particularly inſtanced in ſome of thoſe points wherein ſuch a conuerſation conſiſteth; now in this chapter hee inſtanceth in ſome other points wherein ſuch a conuerſation conſiſteth, as namely in concord, louelove, and humilitie, and moſt earneſtly exhorteth the Philippians, and in them vsus vntounto theſe moſt neceſſarie vertues and graces of a Chriſtian life and converſation. In the words I note 1. the manner. 2. the matter of the Apoſtles exhortation. The manner how the Apoſtle exhorteth the Philippians is by way of requeſt, as we ſay, for all the loues vnderunder heauen, in the firſt verſe, in theſe words, If there be therefore &c. Wherein the Apoſtle coucheth 4. very patheticall arguments to perſwade the things whervnto he exhorteth them, are inferred, as ye ſee, vponupon the words before; as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, your ſelues hauehave ſeene what I ſuffered at Philippi for Chriſt his ſake, what fighting I had there, and now yee heare what I ſuffer at Rome for Chriſt his ſake, what fighting I hauehave here, If therefore &c.
The firſt argument is, If there be any conſolation in Chriſt, that is, if by my miniſterie and Apoſtleſhip ye hauehave any comfort in Chriſt Ieſus, then fulfill my ioy that yee be like minded &c. as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, now ſhew whether yee hauehave receiued any conſolation in Chriſt Ieſus by the worke of my miniſterie. If yee hauehave receiued any, let me hauehave ſome backe againe from you, fulfill my ioy &c.
The ſecond argument is, if there be any comfort of louelove, that is, if you ſo louelove me that yee deſire any comfort in theſe my bands for the defence of the Goſpell, then fulfill my ioy &c. as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid; I louelove you from the very heart roote in Ieſus Chriſt, now ſhew whether yee ſo louelove me that indeed yee deſire my comfort in my bands and impriſonment. And if yee doe ſo louelove me, then fulfill my ioy &c.
The third argument is, If there be any fellowſhip of the ſpirit, that is, if yee be knit together in the bond of one ſpirit with me and amongſt your ſelues, then fulfill my ioy &c. as if hee ſhould hauehave ſaid, Men that are knit together in the bond of one ſpirit are to giuegive proofe thereof by concord, louelove, and agreement amongſt themſelues: now then ſhew whether yee be knit together in the bond of one ſpirit with me, & amongſt your ſelues. And if yee be ſo knit together, then fulfill my ioy &c.
The fourth argument is, if there be any compaſſion and mercy, that is, if ye hauehave any bowels of compaſſion to ſhew any merciemercy to me the Lord his priſoner for your ſake, then fulfill my ioy &c. as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, Now ſhew what bowels of compaſſion there are in you, what mercy you hauehave on me the priſoner of Ieſus Chriſt for your ſake. And if there bee any bowels of compaſſion in you, any mercy towards me, then fulfill my ioy &c. What more patheticall to moue, more forcible to perſwade then theſe arguments ſo cloſely followed, and ſo paſſionately vrged. All ſuch, and in ſuch ſort preſſed that the manner of the Apoſtles exhortation could not be deuiſed more effectuall, to perſwade the things which now his hearts deſire was to perſwade.
Now the matter of the Apoſtles exhortation, is partly touching graces which he wiſheth them to follow after, and partly touching faults which hee wiſheth them to bee free from. The graces which he wiſheth them to follow after in this ſecond verſe are ſet downe firſt in generall, and then in ſpeciall. In generall he exhorteth them that they be like minded; or as it is tranſlated elſewhere, that they be like affectioned, Rom. 12.16.hauing their affections, likings, and deſires ſet on the ſame things. Which his exhortation is not ſimply ſo that they be like minded, but with another prefixed motiue as I take it therevnto, fulfill my ioy that yee be like minded. Which is as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, I ioy in the fellowſhip which yee hauehave in the Goſpell from the firſt day vntounto now, I ioy in your conſtant abiding in the truth in ſuch aſſaults by the aduerſaries of the truth, I ioy in your liberalitie ſent vntounto me whereby yee communicated to mine afflictions, I ioy in very many mercies and graces of God beſtowed vponupon you in Chriſt Ieſus. But yet my ioy is not full, ſo long as I heare of any contentions, emulations, and diſtractions among you, my ioy is not full. If therefore there be any conſolation in Chriſt &c, fulfill my ioy, make full my ioy; and ſo ſhall yee make full my ioyt if yee be like minded, like affectioned one towards another. So that yee ſee the exhortation is not ſimply propoſed, but with this motiue prefixed therevnto, my ioy is not full except yee be like minded; fulfill my ioy that ye be like minded. This is the generall vertue whereto he exhorteth them.
The ſpeciall vertues compriſed vnderunder this generall, wherevnto he exhorteth them are, 1. that they hauehave the ſame louelove, that is, that they louelove the ſame things in the Lord. 2. That they be of one accord, that is, that they agree in their wills and deſires in the Lord. 3. That they be of one iudgement, that is, that they agree in the doctrine and truth of Chriſt Ieſus. Theſe be the things which he wiſheth to be in them, that their conuerſation may be ſuch as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt; in generall, to be like affectioned in the Lord; in ſpeciall to louelove the ſame things in the Lord, to agree in their wills and deſires in the Lord, to agree in the doctrine and truth of Chriſt Ieſus. Now the faults which hee wiſheth them to be free from are contention, vaine-glory, and ſelfe-louelove noted in the verſes following, yet ſo that the countre-poyſon of humilitie is therein countre-ballanced and perſwaded, that nothing be done through contention &c. This I take to be the order and meaning of theſe words thus farre. Now let vsus ſee what obſeruations we may gather hence for our owne farther vſe and inſtruction.
If there be therfore any conſolation in Chriſt Ieſus] In this manner of the Apoſtles exhortation, 1. In generall I note the Apoſtles vehement obteſtation of the Philippians for the embracing of concord, louelove, and humilitie, that they may neuer faile from amongſt them. He mought, as hee ſaith to Philemon, hauehave commaunded them in Chriſt that which were conuenient. Verſ. 8.Yet hee rather beſeecheth them; but that hee doth indeed thorowly, euen for all the loues ſakes vnderunder heauen, if there be any conſolation in Chriſt in them, any comfort of louelove in them, &c. Whence I obſerue, in what manner the Paſtors ought to labour to repreſſe ſuch enormities amongſt their people, as hinder the courſe of a Chriſtian conuerſation: they are earneſtly to beſeech them; euen as if they deſired no other recompence of their labors and trauels amongſt them, then this, that ſuch and ſuch contentions might be taken vp, ſuch and ſuch diſorders might bee reformed, ſuch and ſuch Chriſtian pietie might bee maintained. They are to remember that they are fathers to their flockes, as the Apoſtle calleth himſelfe,1 Cor. 4.15. 1 Joh. 2.1. and as Iohn alſo implieth when hee ſaith, my babes, little children, &c. and therefore they are to deale with them as parents with their children. Now the father if happily his children be at oddes amongſt themſelues, what doth he? He calleth them vntounto him, hee remembreth them what care hee hath had ouer them, what coſt hee hath beene at with them, what his louelove hath beene towards them, what his deſire hath beene of their good, what honour, duety, reuerence, and obedience they owe vntounto him, and at length entreateth them that if they hauehave any care of theſe things, if they deſire his comfort, if they will not bring his life downe vntounto the duſt with griefe, they will be reconciled, and liue together as brethren in vnitie. Euen ſo Paſtors which are ſpirituall fathers, when their people, their children fall to inconueniences which any way breede offence, they are to remember them with what care they labour amongſt them, how they long after their good from the very heart roote in Ieſus Chriſt; what continuall mention they make of them in their praiers vntounto the Lord: what honour againe, duetie, reuerence, and obedience they owe vntounto them as vntounto them that watch for their ſoules, and at length earneſtly to beſeech them that if they hauehave any care of theſe things, if they deſire his continuance with comfort amongſt them, if they wiſh that he may giuegive vp his accounts for them in that day with ioy, & not with griefe, then they will reforme ſuch and ſuch diſorders, liue in ſuch and ſuch ſort as becommeth the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus. Our Apoſtle dealing thus with the Philippians in this place, hath therein left a patterne for all Paſtors, that they ſhould ſo deale with their people as they hauehave him for example.
Here it may be you will ſay, that you could like this well, that in things conuenient for you, Paſtors would thus mildly deale with you, as parents with their children. But forſooth, they will rather commaund as Maſters ouer ſeruants, and oftentimes threaten the law; they will when things are amiſſe, and this yee cannot brooke. Will ye then hauehave vsus to beſeech you, & mildly to deale with you as here the Apoſtle dealt with the Philippians? If ye doe not, it is becauſe ye are not as were the Philippians. Be ye as were the Philippians generally, embrace the truth of Chriſt Ieſus, bee conſtant in the faith of Chriſt Ieſus, be patient in afflictions for Chriſt Ieſus his ſake, communicate to the afflictions of the Saints of Chriſt Ieſus, louelove them that labour amongſt you and are euer in the Lord, amongſt many graces of the ſpirit let there be but ſome infirmities of the fleſh, and ſee whether we will not beſeech you, and deale with you as here the Apoſtle dealt with theſe Philippians. But if ye be like vntounto the Galathians, vnſtable ſoules caried about with eueryevery winde of doctrine, corrupt in iudgement, corrupt in manners, then yee may looke for it, that as Paul ſharply rebuked them, ſaying, O fooliſh Galatians who hath bewitched you that yee ſhould not obey the truth, Gal. 3.1.ſo we will learne of him ſharply to reproue you. This ye muſt know that we may come vntounto you either with a rodde,1 Cor. 4.21. Philem. 8. or in louelove, and in the ſpirit of meekneſſe; that in Chriſt, we may command you that which is conuenient for you, euen when for loues ſake we rather beſeech you. If we come then vntounto you with a rod, or if we commaund you, we do that we may doe, but ye driue vsus vntounto it by your inordinate waies, and diſſolute liues, which as cankred ſores neede ſharpe corraſiues. For this is a thing, ye heare, which we vrge and preſſe, that paſtors are to labour to repreſſe ſuch enormities as ariſe amongſt their people in the mildeſt ſort that may be, earneſtly beſeeching them to reform ſuch things as are amiſſe. And againe, if we come vntounto you for loues ſake beſeeching you, we remit of that wee may doe, euen becauſe in all louing kindneſſe, and meekneſſe of the ſpirit we would reconcile you vntounto God, and ioyne you vntounto the things that belong vntounto your peace. For therfore we beſeech you, that by mildneſſe we may preuaile in that wherin of right we may command.
But this withall ye muſt note, that our beſeeching of you is to be vntounto you as if we commanded you. For when the Apoſtle ſaith,2 Theſ. 2.1.2. we beſeech you, brethren, by the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and by our aſſembling vntounto him, that ye be not ſuddenly moued from your mind &c. What elſe is his beſeeching of the Theſſalonians, but an adiuration of them by theſe things, that they be not troubled about the day of the Lord his comming. And, not to ſtand vponupon many places, when our Apoſtle here ſaith, if there be any conſolation in Chriſt, &c. What elſe is this, but an adiuration of the Philippians, by theſe things, that they like minded, &c. Albeit therefore wee are to remit of that which we may do, and of that which ſometimes ye conſtraine vsus to doe, and not to threaten, or command, but only to beſeech you in Chriſt Ieſus, yet are ye to take our beſeeching of you as a commandement vntounto you, euen as a deepe charge touching the things whereof we beſeech you.
Let this then, beloued, teach you how ye ought for your parts to carie your ſelues towards your Paſtors and Teachers. Are we in all mildneſſe and meekneſſe of ſpirit to deale with you as parents with their children? Then are you in all obedience as children, to hearken vntounto vsus as your fathers in Chriſt Ieſus. Are we for loues ſake to beſeech you the things which in Chriſt we might commaund you? Then are yee when wee beſeech you, to take it as if we commanded, as if we charged you, and more to be moued therewith then if we commaunded, then if wee charged you. Of many of you I am ſo perſwaded, that the Paſtor ſhall not be more readie to deale with you as a father, then ye will be ready to carry your ſelues towards him as children, and that his beſeeching of you ſhall be as if he commanded, as if he charged you. But for ſome, to what purpoſe is it to beſeech them to reforme any thing that is amiſſe in them? Whether in Chriſt his ſteed wee beſeech them, or in his name we commaund them, or out of the law we threaten them, they will not come to heare vsus, they will none of our inſtructions. But I leaue them vntounto him vntounto whom they ſtand or fall. And I beſeech you, beloued, by the mercies of God to continue in the grace wherein yee ſtand, rooted and built in Chriſt, and ſtabliſhed in the faith as yee hauehave been taught in Chriſt Ieſus. And let this ſuffice to bee obſerued in generall from the manner of the Apoſtles exhortation; whereby ye ſee the manner how Paſtors ought to labour to keepe their people in holy duties, and to repreſſe diſorders amongſt them, and that is, by beſeeching them in all meekeneſſe of ſpirit for all loues ſake to doe that which is conuenient.
Now in particular, from ſo many arguments, as are couched in the manner of the exhortation, may ſo many ſundrie obſeruations be gathered. His firſt argument is, if there be any conſolation in Chriſt, i. If ye hauehave receiued any conſolation by my miniſterie and Apoſtleſhip, then fulfill my ioy that ye be like minded, &c. The ground of which argument is, that if the Philippians had receiued comfort in Chriſt by him, then ought they likewiſe at his requeſt thus to comfort him as to be like minded, &c. Whence I obſerue that vntounto whom conſolation in Chriſt is miniſtred, of him, he that miniſtred it, may require and looke for the like againe. For the generall, it is ſo commonly held, that it is the ſaying of eueryevery man, that one good turne requires an other, and a pleaſure ſhewed requires the like againe. And for the proofe of this particular, that of the Apoſtle is not impertinent: where hee ſaith,1 Cor 9.11. If we hauehave ſowne vntounto you ſpirituall things, is it a great thing if we reape your carnall things? Out of the generall meaning whereof, this particular may not vnfitly bee gathered, that where ſpirituall conſolation in Chriſt Ieſus hath been beſtowed, there as other things, ſo comfort, againe, as it is required may iuſtly be expected.
Wretched then is that vnthankfulneſſe where hatred is returned for good-will, and where the comfort which was miniſtred is requited with cauſe of heauineſſe. And yet what more common than ſuch vnthankfulneſſe? The Miniſters labours for the conſolation of his people in Chriſt Ieſus, are in too too many places requited with too too great cauſe of heauineſſe. Let the faithfull miniſter now ſay vntounto him that hath receiued great comfort in Chriſt Ieſus by his labours, if there be any conſolation in Chriſt, if you hauehave receiued any comfort in Chriſt Ieſus by my miniſterie, let me beſeech you that you ſet not your affections ſo much on things which are on the earth, that you will bridle your inordinate deſires which runne too much after couetouſneſſe, that you will not lend your mony vponupon vſurie, &c. And how ſeldome doth he receiue this comfort from them againe thus to preuaile with him? Nay to his great griefe hee findeth that his words are not eſteemed. Let it not be ſo with you beloued, but by whoſe labours ye hauehave receiued comfort in Chriſt Ieſus, let them receiue this comfort againe from you, that their holy deſires may preuaile with you.
His ſecond argument is, If there be any comfort of louelove, that is, if yee ſo louelove mee, that ye deſire my comfort in my bonds, for the defence of the Goſpell, then fulfill my ioy, &c. The ground of which argument is, that if the Philippians loued him as he loued them, and in their louelove of him deſired his comfort in his bonds, then they ſhould fulfill his ioy, &c. Whence I obſerue, that to yeeld vntounto the holy deſires one of another, is an effectuall token of Chriſtian louelove in one towards another. If yee louelove mee (ſaith Chriſt) keepe my Commandements. Joh. 14.15Which place ſheweth, that ſo we make proofe of our louelove of God, if we conforme our ſelues in obedience to his commandements. But more direct to our very purpoſe is that of our Apoſtle, where he ſaith to Philemon, Philem. 17.If thou count our things common, receiue him as my ſelfe. As if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, Let …his be a token of thy louelove towards mee, and that thou counteſt all mine thine, and thine mine, euen to yeeld to my deſire, to receiue Oneſimus as my ſelfe.
This then in part ſheweth, why it is that we yeeld not to the holy deſires of ſuch as would gladly hauehave comfort of our good, euen for want of louelove of them. If ſinners ſhall entice vsus, and ſay, Come with vsus, wee will lay wait for bloud, Prou. 1.10.11.12.and lie priuily for the innocent, without a cauſe, wee will ſwallow them vp aliue like a graue, euen whole, as thoſe that goe downe to the pit, &c. we are ready enough to yeeld our ſelues vntounto their willes, and to runne as faſt as they for their liues vntounto miſchiefe. But let the Paſtor ſay to his people, If yee ſo louelove mee, that ye deſire my comfort, prophane not the Lord his Sabboths, breake off your ſinnes by righteouſneſſe, and your iniquities by mercy towards the poore; or the father to the childe, If thou ſo louelove mee, that thou deſire my comfort, refraine thy feet from eueryevery euill path, and walke in the wayes of the Lord; or the friend vntounto his friend, If thou ſo louelove me, that thou deſire my comfort, bridle thine inordinate deſires, flie from that which is euill, and doe that is good: what cares the people for the comfort of their Paſtor in this caſe, or the childe for the comfort of his father, or the friend for the comfort of his friend? Will any of them, for the louelove of them, that they may bee comforted by them, yeeld vntounto their holy deſires? Nay wee louelove them not ſo, but whatſoeuer become of their comfort, wee will follow our owne wayes. If it be ſo with vsus, this is verily a fault amongſt vsus, and let vsus hereafter ſo louelove the godly, whatſoeuer be their place, that wee make reckoning of their comfort, and in token thereof, let vsus hearken to ſuch holy aduice as they giuegive vsus.
His third argument is, If there be any fellowſhip of the ſpirit; that is, if yee be knit together in the bond of one ſpirit, and hauehave fellowſhip one with another, as members of one body, vnderunder one head, then fulfill my ioy, &c. The ground of which argument is, that men knit together in the bond of one ſpirit, are to giuegive proofe thereof by concord, louelove, and agreemen… amongſt themſelues. Whence I obſerue, that wee are to giuegive proofe of being knit together in the bond of one ſpirit, by the bond of peace, concord, and louelove amongſt our ſelues. Thus where it is ſaid in the Acts, of ſuch as were brought to the faith through the Apoſtles preaching, that they beleeued and were baptized, as a token and proofe, that they were all baptized into one ſpirit, it is alſo ſaid, that they continued together with one accord, that they were of one heart, and of one ſoule All that beleeued (ſaith Luke) were in one place, Act. 2.14.and had all things common. 41.46.And they ſold their poſſeſſions and goods, and parted them to all men, as eueryevery one had need. And they continued daily with one accord in the Temple, &c. All which things are ſet downe as tokens and proofes, that they were all baptized into one ſpirit. And againe, The whole multitude of them that beleeued, were of one heart, and of one ſoule; that is, of one minde, will, conſent, and affection: whereby they ſhewed indeed, that they were knit together in one ſpirit, and had fellowſhip one with another, as members of one head; and therein left vsus an example how wee ſhould ſhew that wee are ſo knit, that wee hauehave ſuch fellowſhip.
What proofe then we giuegive that we are knit together in one ſpirit, and hauehave fellowſhip one with another, as members of one body, let our contentions, diſcords, and diuiſions, witneſſe vntounto the world. Indeed they doe too too plainly witneſſe vntounto our faces, that herein wee are carnall, and walke not as they that are knit together in the fellowſhip of the ſpirit▪ But the words following wil giuegive vsus further occaſion to ſpeake of this point.
His fourth argument is, If there be any compaſſion and mercy; that is, if yee hauehave any bowels of compaſſion to ſhew any mercy vntounto mee the Lord his priſoner for your ſake, fulfill my ioy, &c. The ground of which argument is, that in mercy and compaſſion towards him, the Lord his priſoner for their ſake, they ſhould at his requeſt fulfill his ioy, to be like, &c. Whence I obſerue, that the godly requeſts of Gods Saints afflicted for Chriſt his ſake, ſhould moue in vsus ſuch bowels of compaſſion, as that wee ſhould gladly hearken and yeeld vntounto them. Hereupon our Apoſtle, before diuers exhortations and requeſts which he maketh in his Epiſtles, prefixeth this, that hee was priſoner in the Lord, priſoner of Ieſus Chriſt. I therefore being priſoner in the Lord, ſaith he,Eph. 4.1. pray you that yee walke worthy of that vocation whereunto yee are called. Where, in that he ſaith, I being priſoner in the Lord, he thereby implieth, that they were the rather to hearken vntounto his exhortation, becauſe it was the exhortation of him that was priſoner for the Lord his cauſe. And ſo hee beginneth his Epiſtle to Philemon thus, Paul a priſoner of Ieſus Chriſt, implying that Philemon was the rather to hearken and to yeeld to his requeſt for his ſeruant Oneſimus, becauſe it was the requeſt of him that was now priſoner for Ieſus Chriſt. I omit other places. By theſe yee ſee how powerfull and effectuall the godly requeſts of Gods afflicted members ought to be with vsus.
And it were well, that in all places they were ſo powerfull and effectuall, as to ſtirre vp the very bowels of compaſſion towards them. But are not many in many places rather readie to adde affliction vntounto their bonds? Would it not now be enough to reiect the requeſts, were they neuer ſo godly, if they ſhould come in the name of the priſoner of the Lord, I the priſoner of the Lord, pray you that yee reforme the wickedneſſe of your wayes? Indeed wee may well wiſh in our daies, that enioying our libertie, we may beſeech you in Chriſt his ſtead: for I feare that if out of our priſons & bonds wee ſhould thus write vntounto you, If there bee any compaſſion and mercy in you towards mee the Lord his priſoner, hearken vntounto mee in this, that yee be like minded, or the like, I ſay, I feare mee the mention of our bonds would not much preuaile with you, or moue any bowels of compaſſion in you. Well, howſoeuer it would, it ſhould, and I hope it will in all that belong to Chriſt Ieſus. And let this ſuffice to be obſerued from the ſeuerall arguments couched in the manner of the Apoſtles exhortation.
Now followeth the matter of the Apoſtles exhortation, which is this in generall, that they be like minded. Which is not ſimply propoſed, but with this motiue prefixed thereunto, My ioy, though for great cauſe it be great, yet is not full, vnleſſe yee be like minded. Fulfill my ioy, that yee be like minded. Whence I obſerue, firſt, that the godly Paſtors ioy is to be in the weale of his people, whatſoeuer his owne caſe bee. If himſelfe bee, as Paul here was, cloſe in priſon, bound with chaines, and looke for nothing but ſentence of death, yet if his people be well, if they ſtand faſt in the faith, hee is to bee glad, and reioyce euen in his bonds. When our Apoſtle wrote to Philemon, hee was in priſon, as euen now wee heard: yet ſaith he to him, wee hauehave great ioy and conſolation in thy louelove, becauſe by thee the Saints hearts are comforted. So how hard ſoeuer the Paſtors owne caſe be, yet if hee bee a good one, hee hath great ioy and conſolation in his peoples weale.
But too too many Paſtors wee hauehave in our day, which if themſelues be well, care not in what caſe their people bee. If they hauehave the fleece from them, their hearts are glad, whatſoeuer become of them. But ſuch reioycing is not good, and ſhall be bitterneſſe in the end.
2. Hence I obſerue, that the good Paſtors ioy is not to be full ſo long as any thing is amiſſe amongſt his people. Wee ſhall not now need other proofe than this of our Apoſtle in this place. The Philippians had embraced the faith of Ieſus Chriſt, they abounded in knowledge and in iudgement, they ſtood faſt in the faith, notwithſtanding their aſſaults by falſe Apoſtles, they were carefull ouer him, and communicated to his afflictions, they were excellent in many graces. So that our Apoſtle had great cauſe to hauehave great ioy ouer them. But becauſe of ſome contention and vaine-glory amongſt them, his ioy was not full. A ſufficient preſident for the Paſtor, that he count not his ioy full, ſo long as any thing is amiſſe amongſt his people.
Which may ſerue to admoniſh the Paſtor, to labour that nothing may bee amiſſe amongſt his people, either touching life or doctrine, that ſo his ioy may be full, and that his people may be the crowne of his reioycing in the preſence of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt at his comming. But I come vntounto that which the Apoſtle exhorteth in generall.
The thing which the Apoſtle exhorteth the Philippians in generall, is, that they be like minded, that is, like affectioned, hauing their affections, likings, and deſires ſet on the ſame things. An euident argument, that they were not like minded, as alſo the reſt which followeth is, that ſome things were amiſſe amongſt them. And in that hee dealeth ſo earneſtly with them, that theſe things might bee amended in them, it ſheweth that theſe are things which are carefully to be procured, regarded, and maintained.