Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 2 · Lecture 40
LECTƲRE XL.
PHILIP. 2. Verſe 21.
For all ſeeke their owne, and not that which is Ieſus Chriſts. 22. But yee know the proofe of him, that as a ſonne, &c.
FOr all ſeeke their owne, &c.] Touching the meaning of which words it is firſt to bee vnderſtood, that the Apoſtle doth not ſpeake in this place generally of all men, but of ſuch Miniſters of the Goſpell as were then at Rome with him. What then? Did all the Miniſters of the Goſpell that were then with him, Timothee onelyonly excepted, ſeeke their owne, and not that which was Ieſus Chriſts? No, the Apoſtle I take it is not ſo to bee vnderſtood, that hee ſpeaketh vniuerſally of all them, but becauſe very many did ſo, therefore he ſaith all ſeeke their owne &c. euen as wee in our common phraſe of ſpeech are wont to ſay, that all the world is ſet vponupon couetouſneſſe, becauſe ſo many runne after riches; and all the world is ſet on miſchiefe, becauſe ſo many delight in wickedneſſe. And this manner of ſpeech is not vnuſuall in the Scriptures.Ier. 6.13. From the leaſt to the greateſt eueryevery one is giuen to couetouſneſſe, ſaith the Prophet, and from the Prophet to the Prieſt all deale falſly. Where the Prophets meaning is, that very generally theſe faults raigned, and that very many had thus corrupted their wayes, not that all vniuerſally were ſuch without exception. And not to inſtance in moe Scriptures; this wee may often obſerue in the Scriptures, that in reproofes of ſinne all are accuſed, if many hauehave offended. When therefore the Apoſtle here ſaith, all ſeeke their owne, &c. his meaning is, that it was growne to be a very generall fault amongſt thoſe Miniſters of the Goſpell that were with him, that very many of them ſought their owne, &c. Againe, touching the fault noted in them, it is to be vnderſtood that the Apoſtles meaning is not, that they ſought their owne, but not that which was Ieſus Chriſts at all: for it is very likely that the Apoſtle doth not here compare Timothee with thoſe that had fallen from the faith, and turned aſide after the world, but with thoſe that did ſincerely preach the Goſpell of Chriſt, yet were further in louelove with the world than they ſhould hauehave beene. The Apoſtles meaning therefore I take it is, that many of thoſe that were with him ſought their owne; their owne, what? their owne eaſe, their owne profit, their owne honour, more than the glory of Chriſt Ieſus. They did not ſimply not ſeeke that which was Ieſus Chriſts, but they did not ſeeke that ſo much as they did ſeeke their owne. They looked more vntounto their owne eaſe, and pleaſure, and profit, than they did vntounto thoſe things which might be for the glory of Chriſt Ieſus, and for the increaſe of his kingdome. For it is very likely that the Apoſtle had dealt with the reſt to goe to Philippi, to ſee them, and to comfort them, and to confirme them in the faith: and finding them vnwilling to vndertake that iourney in diuers reſpects, he dealt with Timothee to that purpoſe. VponUpon whoſe prompt minde thereunto aboue the reſt, hee giueth him this commendation aboue the reſt. They then whom the Apoſtle doth here note, yee ſee are of thoſe Miniſters of the Goſpell of Chriſt that were then with him. The thing which he noteth in them, is, that they ſought and regarded more the profit, and pleaſure, and eaſe, and honour of themſelues, than the glory of God, and the building vp of the Church of Chriſt Ieſus.
Here then firſt the Apoſtle deſcrieth a notable fault in the Miniſters of Chriſt Ieſus, which is to ſeeke their owne, and not that which is Ieſus Chriſts, to regard more their owne eaſe, or pleaſure, or profit, or honour, than the honour of God by preaching the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus. A grieuous fault in them that both by integritie of life and vncorrupt doctrine ſhould draw others vntounto God, that they ſhould ſeeke any thing rather or ſooner than the honour of God: for as our Sauiour ſaith,Matt. 6.23 If the light that is in thee be darkneſſe, how great is that darkneſſe? ſo I ſay, If they that ſhould be principall light, in Gods Church, and by the light that is in them ſhould bring others out of darkneſſe into light, if they ſhall turne aſide after the world, or preferre any thing before the doing of their heauenly Fathers buſineſſe, how great and how grieuous muſt needs their fault be? And yet as grieuous as the fault is, how faultie this way hauehave the Prieſts of the moſt high God in the old Teſtament, and the Miniſters of Chriſt Ieſus in the new, beene at all times? The ſonnes of Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas, Prieſts of the Lord,… Sam. 2. they ſo turned aſide after the louelove of their bellies, and after the louelove of their pleaſures, that they forgat, or elſe cared not for the Law of their God. And how often doe the Prophets complaine of ſuch Shepheards as feede themſelues, and not their flockes? In the new Teſtament the Apoſtle noted it in Iohn Marke, Act. 15 38.that hee departed from him and Barnabas from Pamphilia, and went not with them to the worke; in Demas, that hee forſooke him, and embraced this preſent world; and in this place hee notes (it ſeemes) many, that they ſought their owne, and not that which was Ieſus Chriſts. And if here this fault had ſtaied, the harme had beene the leſſe. But both alwayes there hauehave beene, and ſtill there are euen to this our day, many tainted with this fault: for not to ſpeake of thoſe monſters of men, rather than Miniſters of Chriſt, that intrude themſelues into this holy calling, not with any purpoſe to worke in the Lord his vineyard, but only to feed vponupon the portion of the Leuites, making of the miniſterie no more but a plaine occupation; not to ſpeake, I ſay, of theſe, becauſe theſe are not worthy to liue; Of thoſe that doe ſincerely preach the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus, are there not many that doe more ſeeke their owne than that which is Ieſus Chriſts? How many are there that doe withdraw their ſhoulders from this burden as much and as often as they can, and take as little paines in this worke as they can? And doe not theſe ſeeke their owne eaſe more than that which is Ieſus Chriſts? Againe, how many are there whoſe mindes being bewitched with the louelove of the world, are ſo carefully occupied about the things of this life, that they doe not intend the worke of their miniſterie as they ſhould? And doe not theſe ſeeke their owne profit more than that which is Ieſus Chriſts? Againe, how many are there that preach themſelues rather than Ieſus Chriſt, ſeeking rather their owne praiſe than that which is of God, and ſtudying rather to ſpeake vntounto the eare than vntounto the heart? And doe not theſe ſeeke their owne credit and praiſe rather than that which is of Ieſus Chriſt? Againe, how many are there which preach Chriſt rather through ſtrife and enuie, than of good will; rather in hope of preferment for their paines, than of deſire to gaine them that heare them vntounto Chriſt; rather for any other reſpect almoſt, than in any zeale of the glory of God? And doe not all theſe ſeeke their owne rather than that which is Ieſus Chriſts? Well, it is a fault, and a grieuous fault in the Miniſters of Chriſt Ieſus, in any reſpect to preferre any thing before the glory and increaſe of his kingdome whoſe Miniſters they are, to ſeeke either their owne eaſe, or their owne pleaſure, or their owne profit, or their owne honour, or any thing elſe rather or more than the building vp of Chriſt his Church in faith, and in louelove, and in eueryevery good worke of the ſpirit.
Now if this be a fault in them, hereby wee are taught what dutie is requiſite in the Miniſters of Chriſt Ieſus, namely ſo to ſeeke their owne, as that firſt and principally they ſeeke that which is Ieſus Chriſts. And what is that? That is the glory of Chriſt Ieſus, the increaſe of his kingdome, the building vp of his Church vntounto a ſpirituall Temple, the turning of many vntounto righteouſneſſe, the ſaluation of mens ſoules. This is that buſineſſe which they muſt firſt and principally intend, and then ſuch other things as may be fur…herances, or at leaſt no hinderances thereunto. Our calling and commiſſion is to preach the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus: a woe is vntounto vsus if wee preach not the Goſpell; and our Apoſtle moſt ſtraitly doth adiure vsus vntounto this dutie,2 Tim. 4.1. ſaying, I charge thee before God, and before the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, &c. The worke then of our miniſterie is the thing that wee hauehave to looke vntounto; the thing wherein we muſt ſpend our ſtrength and our ſtudie, is to doe our heauenly Fathers buſineſſe in begetting men vntounto the faith, and teaching them the way that leadeth vntounto ſaluation and life euerlaſting. Wee muſt not ſeeke our owne, but that which is Ieſus Chriſts. Our Sauiour, when his mother Mary came and expoſtulated the matter with him, why hee ſtaied behinde them in Ieruſalem, Know yee not, ſaith he,Luk. 2 44. that I must goe about my Fathers buſineſſe? Whereby hee plainly teacheth vsus, that the principall thing wee are to regard is the principall end of our being and calling. So that this being our calling, and the thing whereunto wee are ſet apart, to preach the Goſpell of God, wee are by Chriſt his example to minde this aboue all things elſe whatſoeuer.
What then? Muſt a Miniſter ſo wholly intend the worke of his miniſterie, as that he may not care for his familie? muſt he ſo weyne himſelfe from the affaires of this life, as that hee may not at all meddle with the things of this life? No, not ſo, he may and ought to care for his familie,1 Tim. 5 8. otherwiſe he is worſe then an Infidell. And againe the Apoſtle declaring in particular the office of a Miniſter, ſaith,1 Tim. 3.4.5. he muſt be one that can rule his owne houſe honeſtly, hauing children in obedience with all honeſtie: For (ſaith the Apoſtle) if he cannot rule his owne houſe, how ſhall be care for the Church of God? Out of which words yee may obſerue the clearing of two points; whereof the one is, that they may hauehave houſe and familie, wife and children; otherwiſe how ſhould the Apoſtle ſay that the Miniſter muſt be ſuch a one as hauing children vnderunder obedience, can rule his owne houſe honeſtly? The other is, that an honeſt and godly care ouer his owne houſe, and the things that belong thereunto, is very requiſite in the Miniſter of Chriſt Ieſus. All care then, and all ſeeking of his owne, all intermedling with the things of this life, is not ſimply forbid the Miniſter of Chriſt, but ſuch onelyonly as doth withdraw him from that …hereon his principall care ſhould be ſet. Hee may ſeeke his owne, ſo that principally he ſeeke that which is Ieſus Chriſts: for that is the fault here noted, that they ſeeke their owne m…re then that which is Ieſus Chriſts; and that is the dutie here implied, that they ought firſt and principally to ſeeke that which is Ieſus Chriſts, and then that which is their owne. This then is generally to be concluded, that neither eaſe, nor pleaſure, nor profit, nor honour, nor any thing elſe ſhould withdraw them from the worke of their miniſterie, neither in the worke of their miniſterie ſhould their eye be ſet vponupon any thing, but only vponupon the glory of God, and the edification of the Church of Chriſt Ieſus: and hereon ſhould their zeale be ſo ſet, that they ſhould be euen eaten vp and conſumed therewith.
The ſecond thing which I note in theſe words, is touching the time when the Apoſtle noted this fault in the Miniſters of Chriſt. It was a fault, and a generall fault then in the time of the Apoſtles, in that golden age of the Church, when they that were immediately called by Chriſt Ieſus, and put apart to preach the Goſpell of God, taught the wayes of God moſt perfectly. Then euen thoſe Miniſters which had beene taught and inſtructed by the Apoſtles themſelues, thoſe whom the Apoſtles ceaſed not to put them in minde of their holy calling, and of the duties belonging thereunto, euen they ſought their owne more then that which was Ieſus Chriſts: they looked ſome after their eaſe, ſome after their profit, ſome after their pleaſure, ſome after their honour, more than after the high price of their calling in Chriſt Ieſus. Which note I doe the rather obſerue in particular, becauſe of thoſe that are alwayes complaining, as of all things in generall, that they were neuer worſe, ſo of the miniſterie in particular, that it was neuer worſe then now it is. For as this is the humor of very many, alwayes to miſlike the preſent ſtate the moſt, and to commend former times, though a great deale worſe, yet a great deale more then the times wherein they liue; ſo if once we come in talke of the Miniſterie, oh Miniſters neuer worſe, neuer more idle, neuer more couetous, neuer more ambitious then now they are. Yea enter this diſcourſe, and yee ſhall hauehave many will neuer want matter, but the more they talke, the more they may of this argument. And I wiſh wee were able to ſtop their mouthes when they ſo willingly obſerue the generall corruption in the miniſterie in our dayes, I wiſh wee were able to ſay truly that ſimply they ſpeake an vntruth. But I cannot, neither is it my purpoſe to excuſe the the faults of our times in the miniſterie. Bee it therefore true, which indeed is true, that very many of our coat and calling doe more ſeeke their owne then that which is Ieſus Chriſt…, is this fault now more generall in the Miniſters then euer it was? What, are Miniſters now more idle, doe they now ſeeke their owne eaſe more then euer they did? Doth not the Apoſtle in his day note Iohn Marke for this fault?Act. 15.38. Are they now more couetous, doe they now ſeeke their owne wealth more then euer they did? Doth not the Apoſtle in his day note Demas for this fault? Are they more ambitious,2 Tim. 4.10 doe they now ſeeke after and louelove preeminence more then euer they did?3 Joh 9. Doth not the Apoſtle Iohn in his day note Diotrephes for this fault? Oh, but if a note were now taken of thoſe that are faultie theſe wayes, not one, but very many ſhould bee found faultie each of theſe wayes. As though becauſe the Apoſtle noted no moe, there were then no moe. Nay, in that the Apoſtle noteth theſe of theſe faults, wee know that euen then the Miniſters of Chriſt were tainted with theſe faults, but how generally wee know not. But tell me ye that preſſe this point ſo hard, that Miniſters are now worſe then euer they were: ſay the moſt and the worſt ye can, can yee ſay more or worſe then this, that all ſeeke their owne, and not that which is Ieſus Chriſts? And ſaid not the Apoſtle thus much in his day, as here we ſee? The Apoſtle in his day meant it not vniuerſally of all, neither can yee ſay it at this day vniuerſally of all, that all ſeeke their owne, and not that which is Ieſus Chriſts. Nay if wee ſhall ſpeake vntounto the point, that which the truth is indeed, I am perſwaded that neuer in any age the number of faithfull Miniſters was greater then our age hath and doth affoord; neuer moe that with leſſe ſelfe-reſpects, and more zeale to Gods houſe, laboured in the worke of their miniſterie, then now there doe. I… may be that the graces of Gods holy ſpirit were powred downe in greater meaſure and abundance vponupon ſome in ſome times heretofore, then now they are, and that the word hath beene more powerfull through a greater operation of the holy ſpirit in the mouthes of ſome heretofore, then now it is, as it was (no doubt) in the time of the Apoſtles, with whom the Lord wrought moſt powerfully and wonderfully, and as happily it hath beene in ſome ſince that time; yet, as I ſaid before, I am perſwaded that neuer in any time there were moe, more enflamed with the zeale of Gods ſpirit, faithfully, painfully, and ſincerely, without ſelfe reſpects, to labour in the worke of their miniſterie, and to build vp Chriſt his Church in faith, and in louelove, and in eueryevery good worke, then now there are. For if we ſhould looke into all ſucceeding times after the time of the Apoſtles, eſpecially if we ſhould looke into the times ſince the myſterie of iniquitie beganne to worke in and vnderunder that man of ſinne, what elſe ſhould we finde but idleneſſe, and couetouſneſſe, and licentiouſneſſe, and ambition, and what wickedneſſe not? Hee hath lifted vp himſelfe on high,2 Theſſ. 2.4. and hath exalted himſelfe againſt all that is called God, or that is worſhipped, ſo that hee doth ſit as God in the Temple of God, ſhewing himſelfe that he is God. And what elſe doth his whole Clergie ſeeke, but the abetting of his pride, and the maintaining of his triple Crowne, together with ſuch eaſe, and pleaſure, and profit, as followes thereupon? So that if euer it were truly ſaid of any, that they ſought their owne, and not that which is Ieſus Chriſts, then in my iudgement may it as truly be ſaid of them as of any. Thus then yee ſee that it is not the fault of our time alone, that now Miniſters ſeeke their owne more then that which is Ieſus Chriſts, but that euen in the Apoſtles time it was ſo, as alſo that how generall ſoeuer the fault now be, yet is it not more generall then euer it was, but rather the number of them that ſeeke that which is Ieſus Chriſts more then their owne, is now greater then euer it was. Take heed therefore, men and brethren, leſt at any time ye be deceiued. The Miniſters of Chriſt they ate as beacons on the top of an hill, in eueryevery mans eye, and eueryevery mans tongue talking of them, and what talke of them more common, then of branding them with ſome fault or other, thereby to diſcredit that truth which they preach? It is no new thing, yee ſee, that Miniſters hauehave their faults, and hee is the beſt that hath the feweſt. And howſoeuer they tell you that Miniſters are now worſe then euer they were, beleeue them not: for if the worſt be ſaid that can be, there cannot be worſe then this, that all ſeeke their owne, and not that which is Ieſus Chriſts; and thus much ſaid the Apoſtle in his time.
The third and laſt thing which I note from theſe words, is, that howſoeuer properly, and in the meaning of the Apoſtle, theſe words in this place be onelyonly affirmed of the Miniſters of Chriſt Ieſus, yet may they truly be affirmed euen of all men in generall, that all men for the moſt part doe ſeeke their owne more then that which is Ieſus Chriſts, firſt looking vntounto the things of this life, and then afterwards vntounto the things that belong vntounto their peace in Chriſt Ieſus. This is a point which needs not long to be ſtood vponupon, being ſo plaine a truth in our owne experience, that which way ſoeuer we caſt our eyes, vntounto high or low, rich or poore, it cannot be denied. For looke into the delights and deſires of men, and ſee what it is that they principally hunt and ſeeke after. Are there not many that are ſo ambitious, that they ſeeke by all meanes poſſible to be great, and to be had in honour of all men? And yet how many of them,Pſal. 75. remembring that promotion commeth neither from the Eaſt, nor from the Weſt, nor yet from the South, but that God alone putteth downe one, and ſetteth vp another, doe firſt ſeeke the Lord and his ſtrength, and doe firſt honour him, that ſo he may honour them before all people? Nay eueryevery plot is ſooner and oftener caſt then this, and this comes ſeldome or neuer within their thoughts, or if it doe, yet this is too ſlow a courſe for them, God muſt giuegive them leaue to climbe vp another way, and then when they are where they would be, they will ſerue him perhaps when they thinke of him. Againe, are there not many that are ſo couetous, that they ſeeke by all meanes to be rich, and to be Lords (if it were poſſible) of the whole earth? And yet how many of them remembring that the Lord maketh poore and maketh rich, doe firſt ſeeke the Lord, ſo to become rich by him? Nay if fraud, oppreſſion, vſurie, or the like will make them rich, they will not wait vponupon the Lord, but thus they will become rich. Yea but theſe, and ſuch like, as ſeeke and delight only in pleaſures, and idleneſſe, and riches, and honour, and the like, they ſeeke theſe things altogether, they ſeeke not the Lord at all, neither is God in all their thoughts: but thou ſeekeſt the Lord, and delighteſt in his Law. And ſo doe many, which yet ſeeke their owne more then that which is Ieſus Chriſts. Wilt thou then ſee whether thine owne things or the things of Chriſt Ieſus be more ſought of thee, whether in ſome things thou preferre not thy ſelfe before thy Chriſt and his will? Aske thine owne heart, and ſee whether if thy God ſhould bid thee doe as Zacheus did,Luk. 19.8. giuegive halfe of thy goods to the poore, and if thou haſt taken from any man by forged cauillation, to reſtore him foure-fold, whether (I ſay) it would not grieue thee ſo to doe. See whether if thy Chriſt ſhould ſay vntounto thee as he ſaid to the young man in the Goſpell, Goe ſell that thou haſt, Mat. 19.21and giuegive to the poore, and thou ſhalt hauehave treaſure in heauen, and come and follow mee, whether (I ſay) thou couldeſt be content to doe ſo. See whether in thy care for thy health, for thy wealth, for thy life, &c. thy firſt and chiefe care therein be that thereby thy God may be glorified. See (I ſay) and looke into theſe and the like things with a ſtrait eye, and this ſhall be a good rule for thee to know whether thou ſeeke thine owne more then Ieſus Chriſts. And howſoeuer you ſhall finde your ſelues in the examination of theſe things, guiltie or guiltleſſe, this you muſt know, that Chriſtian dutie requireth this of vsus, that firſt and principally we ſhould ſeeke the glory of God, and the things that belong vntounto our peace, and then afterwards the things that belong vntounto this life. Wee are carefull for many things, what to eat, what to drinke, wherewith to be clothed, how to liue and pay eueryevery man his owne, how to prouide for our wiues and our children, how to maintaine our ſtate and calling, &c. and ſo wee may, and ſo wee ought to hauehave a godly care of theſe things, without diffidence or diſtruſt in Gods gracious prouidence: but the rule which our Sauiour Chriſt giueth, that muſt wee ſtill keepe,Mat. 6.33. firſt to ſeeke the kingdome of God and his righteouſnes, and then all theſe things (which are outward meanes of liuing and well liuing) ſhall be caſt vponupon vsus. Chriſt muſt bee vntounto vsus health, and wealth, and life, and all things elſe. We muſt caſt our care vponupon him, and he will care for vsus. Aboue all things wee muſt ſubmit our ſelues vntounto his will, and walke after his Law, and whatſoeuer things are needfull and meet for vsus, hee will miniſter vntounto vsus. Let eueryevery man therefore ſo ſeeke his owne things, that firſt and principally hee ſeeke the things of God; let him ſo minde earthly things, that his affections be principally ſet on the things that are aboue; let him ſo regard his body, that he principally looke vntounto his ſoule.