Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 2 · Lecture 27
LECTƲRE XXVII.
PHILIP. 2. Verſe 5.6.7.8.
Let the ſame minde be euen in you that was in Chriſt Ieſus, who being in the forme, &c.
THE Apoſtle being now priſoner at Rome for Ieſus Chriſt, in writing this Epiſtle to the Philippians, and diuers others which he wrote there in his bonds for the Goſpells ſake, giueth moſt manifeſt and euident proofe of the great care which hee had ouer all thoſe Churches which he had planted in all places. In all which his Epiſtles as here laboureth to confirme them in the truth of that doctrin which by his preaching they had embraced, ſo moſt carefully eueryevery where he admoniſheth them not to be troubled at the bonds which he ſuffereth for the Goſpells ſake, aſſuring them that his impriſonment, afflictions, and all things that came to him were to the furtherance of the Goſpell which he had preached. In which points alſo the Apoſtle hauing laboured earneſtly in the former Chapter of this Epiſtle, now in this Ch…pter in the words before my text, hee exhorteth them aboue all things to humilitie, meekneſſe of minde, and brotherly louelove, that they ſhould do nothing through contention, or vaine glorie, or ſelfe-conceit, but that eueryevery man ſhould eſteeme other better then himſelfe, and ſhould looke on the things of other men, and not on his owne things.
In theſe words which I hauehave now read vntounto you, the Apoſtle goeth forward to excite and ſtirre vp the Philippians, and in them vsus, vntounto this ſame true humilitie, meekneſſe of mind and brotherly louelove. Wherein that hee might the rather preuaile with them, he preſſeth the example of Chriſt, ſaying, Let the ſame minde be in you, &c. In the opening and declaring of which example of Chriſt Ieſus, he firſt ſetteth down his humilitie, and then the iſſue thereof, which was his exaltation into glorie. His humilitie is here deſcribed to bee twofold. Firſt, in that he being in the forme of God, i. being God, and without all iniurie to the Godhead, equall in might, power, and maieſtie vntounto the Father, yet made himſelfe of no reputation, and tooke on him the forme of a ſeruant, 1. was made man, euen the moſt abiect amongſt men. 2. In that being made man he humbled himſelfe, willingly laying aſide as it were the power of his Godhead, and became obedient, in all things which the law required of him, vntounto the death, euen the moſt ſhamefull death of the Croſſe. After this double deſcription of Chriſt his humility, followeth, and is ſet down the iſſue thereof, which was that hee was not left in this lo… eſtate, but was highly exalted far aboue all principalitie, and power, and might, and domination, and eueryevery name that is named not in this world only, but in that alſo that is to come, ſo that at his name ſhould bowe eueryevery knee, both of things in heauen &c. The argument then or reaſon, which the Apoſtle draweth, to perſwad them to true humility, & brotherly louelove one towards another, from Chriſt his example in effect is this: If Chriſt who being God bleſſed for euer, and equall to the father, yet ſo farre humbled himſelfe that he became man, and tooke on him the ſimilitude of ſinfull fleſh: And againe, if Chriſt deſcending from heauen in the ſimilitude of ſinnefull fleſh, and being made man, did yet ſo farre humble himſelfe, that he became obedient to the death, euen the death of the croſſe. Laſtly, if Chriſt being God, and hauing humbled himſelfe to be man, and being man, hauing humbled himſelfe to the death of the croſſe, was therefore highly exalted, and had a name giuen him aboue eueryevery name &c. how then ought we ſinfull men to put on vsus this humility, and meeknes of minde, no man through arrogancie treading downe his weake brethren, but eueryevery man eſteeming other better then himſelfe? This I take to be the Apoſtles argument in this place. It is then as if he had thus ſaid:
O ye Philippians my hearts deſire for you is, that ye may be found perfit and entire, lacking nothing, in the day of Ieſus Chriſt. Wherefore I beſeech you that nothing be done among you through contention, or through vaine glorie, but that ye be like minded one towards another, that ye louelove one an other, and that in all humbleneſſe and meekneſſe of minde ye ſubmit your ſelues one vntounto an other, & eueryevery man eſteem other better then himſelfe. Learne I beſeech you of Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe, whoſe Diſciples, whoſe ſeruants, members of whoſe bodie ye are, learne I ſay of him to bee humble and meeke. For he being God, and without all iniurie to the godhead equall in glorie, and honour, and maieſtie vntounto the Father, yet made himſelfe of no reputation, and became man, and was like vntounto man in deſires, in infirmities, in ſorrowes, and in all things ſinne only excepted: yea being man, he ſo far humbled himſelfe, that he was obedient in all things euen vntounto the death, and that the ſhamefull death of the croſſe, where …he hung betweene two theeues. Let the ſame minde bee in you that was in Chriſt Ieſus: be ye humble and meeke as hee was, not in that degree, but in ſome meaſure frame your ſelues vntounto that humilitie that was in him, and then aſſure your ſelues, that as Chriſt was not thus lef… but was highly exalted, &c. ſo you, if you humble your ſelues, you ſhal… be exalted. This I take to be the meaning of theſe wordes of the Apoſtle.
They braunch themſelues, as you may ſee, into three parts: whereof the firſt is, an exhortation vntounto humility, and meekneſſe of minde, Let the ſame minde &c. 2. Is ſet downe the humilitie of Chriſt, as a paterne for them to looke vponupon, and to perſwade them to humilitie, Who being in the forme of God, &c. 3. Is ſet downe Chriſt his exaltation into glorie after his humiliation here on earth, as a motiue alſo to perſwade them vntounto louelove and humility, Wherefore God hath alſo, &c. I can only point at thoſe manifold notes, and moſt profitable inſtructions which hence might be gathered.
Firſt therefore in the exhortation wee are to note what it is whereunto the Apoſtle exhorteth the Philippians, and in them vsus. The thing whereunto he exhorteth both them, and vsus, and all that will liue godly in Chriſt Ieſus, is, that wee ſhould bee humble and lowly, kind and curteous, gentle and louing one vntounto an other, in all humbleneſſe ſubmitting our ſelues eueryevery man one vntounto another, and in all meekneſſe of minde eſteeming eueryevery other man better then himſelfe. The like exhortation the ſame Apoſtle maketh,Rom. 12.01 where he ſaith; be affection… to louelove one an other with brotherly louelove, and in giuing honour go out before an other. In which place the Apoſtle together with his exhortation vntounto humilitie, the fruite whereof is the preferring of our brethren in honour before our ſelues, ioineth the ground thereof, which is louelove. For if wee louelove our brethren, then we can willingly ſubmit our ſelues vntounto them, and preferre them before our ſelues: but where this louelove of our brethren is not, there is contempt of them, and lifting vp of our ſelues aboue them. The like exhortation alſo the Apoſtle Peter hath,1 Pet. 5.5. where he ſaith, Submit your ſelues eueryevery man one vntounto an other, and decke your ſelues inwardly in lowlineſſe of minde: In which place you ſee how the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of humility, as of a ſpeciall ornament wherewithall the childe of God is decked, and beautified more than with all coſtly iewels, and precious ointments whatſoeuer. But here it is to be obſerued, euen from the Apoſtle in this place of Peter, that there is a two fold humilitie and holineſſe; the one inward, the other outward; the one of the minde, the other to the eye, the one true and holy, the other ill and hypocriticall. Of the outward and hypocriticall humbleneſſe the Apoſtle ſpeaketh where he thus writeth vntounto the Coloſſians; Let no man at his pleaſure beare rule ouer you by humbleneſſe of minde, Coloſ. 2.18.and worſhipping of Angels, &c. For the vnderſtanding of which place it is to be vnderſtood, that there were craftily crept in amongſt the Coloſſians certaine which taught them to worſhippe Angels, becauſe forſooth it was a point of great arrogancie ſtreight-way to ruſh into the holy place, and to worſhip God: greater humblenes beſeemed them then foorthwith to rule into Gods preſence, and to fall downe before him, and to worſhippe him. Much like vntounto thoſe who at this day teach men to vſe the interceſſion of the ſaints departed this mortalytie, and to make their praiers vntounto them, not boldly and preſumptuouſlie themſelues to enter into the Kings palace before the throne of grace, but in all humblenes to proſtrate themſelues before the ſaints and their images, that ſo their praiers and ſupplications through their interceſſion may bee accepted with God. But againſt ſuch as by ſuch humblenes …eeke to abuſe vsus, the Apoſtle plainly warneth vsus in this place; …or that this humbleneſſe is a voluntarie ſubmiſſion not taught …y God, but choſen according to mens owne fantaſie. The …nward humilitie, and lowlineſſe of minde is that whereof Pe…er here ſpeaketh, and wherunto our Apoſtle in my text exhor…eth. It is the heart, the minde, and the ſoule that God regardeth: there muſt be the ſeate of humilitie, if it be true humilitie. The glorie of the true Chriſtian is within; and therefore it is ſaid, The Kings daughter is all glorious within: Pſa. 45.13.the kings daughter, i. the Church, and then if thou be a liuely member of the Church, thy glory is within, and thy outward humility is then good when it proceedeth from within, euen from the lowlineſſe of the minde.
And now that you ſee what it is, euen what humility it is that the Apoſtle exhorteth vntounto, I beſeech you (with the Apoſtle) that the ſame minde be in you that was euen in Chriſt Ieſus, that in meekeneſſe of minde eueryevery man eſteem other better then himſelfe. It is an exhortation, which if we ſhall a little looke into ſome of thoſe properties which alwaies follow this humblenes of minde wherunto the Apoſtle exhorteth, I feare me we ſhall finde that we hauehave either neuer heard of, or neuer hearkened vntounto. The propertie of it is, in giuing honour to preferre others, Rom. 12.10as ye hauehave already heard out of the Apoſtle: and as is further prooued by that parable of our Sauiour Chriſt vntounto the gueſt when he marked how they choſe out the chiefe roomes at feaſts. Luc. 14.7.Out of both which places it may appeare that he that is truely humbled, in matters of honour preferreth not himſelfe before others, but preferreth others before himſelfe. But how farre we are from this humilitie, the great ambition of men in our daies, and great ſeeking of eueryevery preferment, yea of eueryevery petite office in eueryevery towne incorporate, would ſpeake if I ſhould hold my peace. Nay ſo farre are we from preferring others before our ſelues, that rather than we will not clime ouer the heads of thoſe that are better than our ſelues we will vſe all bribery and corruption, yea & out of our falſe hearts we will deuiſe all manner of lies and ſlanders againſt them, and rather then faile we will libell againſt them. It is ſo, and where it is ſo there wants this humbleneſſe of minde here ſpoken of.
Another property of it is, that hee that is humble, and a… our Sauiour calleth him poore in ſpirit eſteemeth others better than himſelfe, as the Apoſtle ſheweth verſ. 3. He ſtandeth not vponupon the conceit of his knowledge, of his honour, of his wealth, of his friends. If he hauehave theſe things hee acknowledgeth them to be the bleſſings of the Lord, but no cauſe why he ſhould ſwell with pride, or aduance himſelfe aboue his brethren. But doth not the wealthy rich man treade vnderunder foote, and oppreſſe with all wrong and violence his poore neighbours? Is not the great Scholar, and wiſe man ſo puft vp with his knowledge that he counts of others little better than fooles? Doth not the great man, whether it be that he bee great in office, or in birth and friends, doth hee not diſdaine his inferiours, and oftentimes make a mocke of them? I wiſh it were not ſo: but if it be ſo, there wants in them this humbleneſſe of minde here ſpoken of.
A third propertie of it is, as to humble vsus ſo before God that we willingly acknowledge whatſoeuer good thing wee hauehave, to be onelyonly from God without any merit in our ſelues ſo without ſelfe reſpects to regard the good of others, and of Gods Church. For the truely humbled man doth not looke on his owne things, as it is in the former verſe, as ſo louing them that he careth not for the things of other men; but he looketh on the things of other men, and whatſoeuer is good for Gods Church that he doth. I wiſh there were no cauſe of feare that this humbleneſſe of minde were wanting. But who ſeeth not that the reformation of many abuſes is hindred, that many godly and Chriſtian exerciſes are ſtaied, that much good many times is left vndone? and why? Forſooth becauſe ſuch a one moued it, becauſe ſuch and ſuch men call for it, ſuch and ſuch men like too well of if, and therfore rather then pleaſe their humours, let things ſtand as they are. A thing in practiſe too too common, and what humbleneſſe of minde where it is ſo? By this which hath already beene ſpoken, I thinke, it may appeare how little hitherto we hauehave hearkened to this exhortation of the Apoſtle. Well I beſeech you, that whatſoeuer is amiſſe in this behalfe may be amended. Decke y…ur ſelues inwardly with lowlineſſe of minde: in giuing honour go …e before another: eſteem eueryevery man another better then himſelfe: …t neither opionion of wiſedome puffe you vp, or of wealth make you …ell; but ſubmit your ſelues one vntounto another, and let the ſame …ind be in you that was in Chriſt Ieſus. And ſo I come to my ſe…ond note out of this exhortation.
2. In this exhortation I note the inducement which the …poſtle vſeth to moue them vntounto this humbleneſſe of minde, …hich is the example of Chriſt Ieſus. Let the ſame minde bee … you that was in Chriſt Ieſus. Will ye then hauehave a reaſon why …e ſhould be lowly in minde? Chriſt Ieſus, whoſe example is …erule of our life, and whoſe actions ought to be our inſtru…tions, he ſo humbled himſelfe that being God hee for our …kes became alſo man; how then ought wee to ſubmit our …elues one vntounto another in all humbleneſſe and meekneſſe of …inde? The like motiue or reaſon is vſed by our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe, where he ſaith vntounto the people that were with …im, Learne of me that I am meeke and lowly in heart: Math. 11.…0. Ioh. 13.…5.as alſo …here he waſheth his Diſciples feet to teach them humility, and …hen ſaith vntounto them, I hauehave giuen you an example that yee ſhould …n euen as I hauehave done to you. What ſhould I go forward to …uote Scriptures to this purpoſe? Nothing more vſuall in the …criptures then by the example of Chriſt to ſtirre vp vntounto our …euerall duties: and what ought to be more effectuall with vsus …o perſwade vsus? when the ſouldier ſees his Captaine fight, …here needes no further ſpurre to ſet him into the batteil. Chriſt is our Lord, and we his ſeruants: if hee our Lord and Maſter hauehave giuen vsus ſuch an example, and hauehave ſaid vntounto vsus, …oe as ye hauehave me for example, ſhould there neede any further …purre vntounto vsus for this duty? If he hauehave ſo humbled himſelfe …or vsus, that being God he became alſo man, if hee hauehave had …uch compaſſion on vsus that when wee were enemies vntounto him …e reconciled vsus vntounto God, if he ſo loued vsus that he laid down his life for vsus, how ought we to be humble and lowly minded one towards another? how ought wee to hauehave compaſſion vponupon our poore brethren, eſpecially in this heauy time? how …ought we to louelove one another with brotherly louelove? Chriſt my brethren is our head. If we be members of his bodie, we muſt draw our life and our ſpirituall nouriſhment from him; we muſt in all things grow vp into him which is our head. Fare be it therefore from vsus to diſdaine our brethren, to wrong them, to oppreſſe them, to contemne them, to ſwell in pride againſt them. Nay rather, let vsus vſe one another with all kindneſſe, with all gentleneſſe, with all meekneſſe. Let vsus ſubmit our ſelues one vntounto another, let vsus be like minded one toward another in Chriſt Ieſus. Himſelfe exhorteth vsus hereunto, he hath giuen vsus an enſample, Let the ſame minde, &c.
Thirdly, I note the humilitie of Chriſt, whoſe example the Apoſtle here exhorteth vsus to follow. His humilitie is here deſcribed by the Apoſtle, firſt by his incarnation, in that being God, he vouchſafed to take fleſh of the bleſſed Virgin, and to become man, like vntounto vsus in all things, ſinne only excepted ſecondly, by the worke of our redemption, in that being man he yet againe further humbled himſelfe, and became obedient to the death, euen the moſt ſhamefull death of the Croſſe. In the deſcription of Chriſt his incarnation are very many things moſt worthy our obſeruation, touching both the natures in Chriſt his God head, and his Manhood. I can only point at ſome of the heads of thoſe obſeruations which hence were to bee made, and more fully handled. Firſt for the Godhead of Chriſt, in that it is here ſaid, that hee was in the forme of God, it is thereby proued, that Chriſt was true God: for in the ſelfe ſame manner and phraſe of ſpeech that here he is ſaid to be in the forme of God, in the ſame is it afterward ſaid that hee tooke on him the forme of a ſeruant. Where by the forme of a ſeruant the Apoſtle expreſſeth his Manhead, as here by the forme of God is expreſſed his Godhead. Neither indeed can any be in the forme of God, who is not true God. And as in this place he is ſaid to be in the forme of God, whereby is meant that he is God; ſo in other places plainly and directly heads ſaid to be God,Rom. 9.5. as in the Epiſtle to the Romans, Of when are the Fathers, and of whom concerning the fleſh Chriſt came, wh… is God ouer all, bleſſed for euer: and to the Coloſſians, In Chriſt dwelleth all the fulneſſe of the Godhead bodily: Coloſſ 29.and in the Acts, Take heede &c. Act. 20.28to feed the Church of God, which he hath purc… ſed with his owne bloud. The phraſe of ſpeech in this place is ſomewhat different, but it is all one as if he had thus ſaid, who …eing God. Secondly, I note touching the Godhead of …hriſt, that he was equall in all things vntounto God the Father, the Apoſtle plainly ſheweth, where it followeth, that hee …ought it no robberie to be equall with God: for in that he ſaith, thought it no robberie, hee plainly ſheweth, that it was his …ght, and no iniurie at all vntounto the Godhead, for him that …as God to be equall vntounto God. If then it be Chriſt his right, …d no iniurie at all to the Godhead, that Chriſt be equall vn… God the Father, then Chriſt as touching his Godhead is …quall vntounto God the Father, howſoeuer touching his Man…ood he be inferiour to the Father. And this be noted tou…ing the diuine nature of Chriſt.
Now touching Chriſt his Manhood: Firſt, in that it is here …id, that he made himſelfe of no reputation, or as the word ſigni…eth, that he emptied himſelfe, and of all brought himſelfe vntounto …othing, I note Chriſt his Manhood not forcibly to hauehave …eene impoſed vponupon him, but himſelfe voluntarily to hauehave …ken on him the forme of a ſeruant. When therefore it is ſaid, …at God ſent his Sonne in the ſimilitude of ſinfull fleſh, and againe, …at God ſo loued the world, that he gaue his only be gotten Sonne, &c. where God the Father is ſaid to hauehave ſent, and to hauehave gi…en his Sonne, and the Sonne is ſaid to be ſent, and to be gi…en, wee are to vnderſtand the ſpeeches thus, that God the …ther ſent his Sonne, and God the Sonne was ſent of the …ther, yet God the Father, and God the Sonne, being not …wo Gods, but one God diſtinguiſhed into two perſons, it is …ghtly ſaid that God the Father ſent the Sonne, and that the …onne being one God with the Father, made himſelfe of no …putation, voluntarily deſcending from his Maieſtie, to bee …artaker of our miſerie: for if himſelfe had not thus humbled …imſelfe, who could hauehave impoſed this baſe eſtate vponupon him, …mſelfe being God bleſſed for euer? The Angels which kept …ot their firſt eſtate, they were throwne downe lower than …he earth, euen to bee reſerued in euerlaſting chaines vnderunder …arkneſſe, vntounto the iudgement of the great day. But Chriſt …hen he was equall vntounto God in fulneſſe of power, glory, ma…eſtie, knowledge, abaſed himſelfe, and of almightie, made himſelfe full of infirmitie; of immortall, made himſelfe mortall. Secondly, in that it is ſaid, hee tooke on him the forme of a ſeruant, I note that Chriſt ſo became man, as that hee ceaſed not to be God. For it is not ſaid that the Godhead was changed into the Manhood, but that Chriſt being God, tooke … him the forme of a ſeruant, ſo vniting the God head and Manhood in the vnitie of perſon into one Chriſt, as the reaſonable ſoule and fleſh is vnited into one man. A diſtinction therefore of natures there is in Chriſt, but no confuſion of ſubſtance; one Chriſt, and he both God and man. Thirdly, it that it is ſaid he was made like vntounto men, I note the truth o… his Manhood: for the Apoſtles meaning is, that in no ſort be tooke on him the nature or qualities of Angels, but tooke the ſeed of Abraham, and ſo made himſelfe man; that in nothing he differed from the common ſort of men, taſting of all man infirmities, and in all things was as man, ſinne only excepted Laſtly, in that it is ſaid, he was found in ſhape as a man, I note the ſame thing that before, namely the truth of Chriſt his Manhood: for in theſe words the Apoſtle his meaning i…, that his very perſon and behauiour ſhewed him to bee a man and a man (as the Prophet ſpeaketh) full of ſorrowes. Th… hauehave I briefly pointed at ſome of thoſe notes and obſeruation which may eaſily bee gathered touching the Godhead and Manhood of Chriſt, out of this deſcription of Chriſt his humilitie in his incarnation.
To knit vp the whole in one generall note and obſeruation, here wee may moſt cleerely obſerue the great humilitie of our Lord and Sauiour Chriſt Ieſus: euen this one deſcription of his incarnation may both moſt liuely preſent it before our eyes, and be a moſt cleere patterne vntounto vsus how wee ought to be minded one towards another. Hee that was very God, of the ſubſtance of the Father, glorious in maieſtie, wonderfull in power, only wiſe, of right, and without any iniurie to the Godhead at all, eueryevery way equall vntounto God the Father, of himſelfe vouchſafed to deſcend from his high and glorious maieſtie, and to take into the vnitie of his perſon the nature of a man, euen the baſe condition of a ſeruant, and in eueryevery thing that concernes mans nature to bee like vntounto all other men, ſinne only excepted. Here is louelove paſſing the louelove of women, and here is humilitie beyond all compariſon. Who knoweth not this? and yet who followeth this patterne of Chriſt Ieſus ſet before him? He when we were enemies vntounto him, vouchſafed to come vntounto vsus: which of vsus will vouchſafe …o goe vntounto our enemie, and be reconciled vntounto him, though …he commandement be, that the Sunne ſhould not go downe vponupon our wrath? Nay how hardly are wee drawne to come vntounto him that hath thus vouchſafed to come vntounto vsus? Let the …ell ring in the fore noone and in the after noone to call vsus to come vntounto him, that wee may heare his will out of his word, yet either wee will not come at all, or at our beſt leiſure, when our owne buſineſſe is diſpatcht. Hee for vsus vouchſafed to deſcend from his high Throne of Maieſtie, and to become man: But which of vsus will ſtoope downe a whit, or at all let downe our ſaile for our poore brethrens ſake? Nay if wee bee aboue them, rather than wee will looke ſo low, wee will turne them out of houſe and home, out of lands and goods, yea wee will ſuffer them for want of food to periſh in our ſtreets. O if Chriſt Ieſus had beene ſo vnkinde vntounto thee, how hadſt thou ere this beene plunged into the bottomeleſſe pit of hell, and ſo beene preuented of this vnkindneſſe to thy brother? He diſdained not to take on him euen the baſeſt condition of a man, euen of a ſeruant, and for our ſakes to become poore, that wee through his pouertie might be made rich. But how many of vsus with patience doc beare our pouertie? Nay doe wee not murmur and grudge againſt God, as an vnequall diſpoſer of theſe temporall bleſſings? Doe wee not often breake out into theſe intemperate ſpeeches, Rather than we will thus want, wee will rob by the high wayes ſide, or ſteale; Rather than we will ſtarue, wee will hauehave it out of the rich mans belly? &c. But know thou, that vnleſſe Chriſt had beene poore for thy ſake, thou hadſt had thy portion with the Deuill and his Angels. He tooke vponupon him our infirmities, that ſo hee might take compaſſion on our infirmities. But how many of vsus are moued to take compaſſion on the miſeries, diſtreſſes, and infirmities of our brethren? Nay how many of vsus doe ſhut vp all bowels of compaſſion againſt thoſe that are in miſerie and diſtreſſe? not clothing the naked, not feeding the hungry, not viſiting the ſicke, not releeuing the diſtreſſed. O my brethres, let the ſame minde be in you that was in Chriſt Ieſus. If hee thus humbled himſelfe for our ſakes, let vsus follow him in the practiſe of humilitie. Let vsus equall our ſelues vntounto them of the loweſt degree. Let vsus plucke downe our high ſailes, and bee ready to diſtribute vntounto the neceſſitie of the Saints. Let vsus d…e good vntounto all, but eſpecially vntounto thoſe that are of the houſhold of faith. Let vsus not ſay with the Angell of the Church of La…icea, I am rich, and increaſed with gold, and hauehave need of nothing but let vsus caſt downe our ſelues for our ſinnes, and let eueryevery man be humbled in his owne ſoule, and ſo ſhall we ſubmit our ſelues one vntounto another. Let vsus alwayes ſet before our eyes the humilitie of Chriſt Ieſus in his incarnation, and thereby be prouoked to all humbleneſſe and lowlineſſe of minde. Meditate on theſe things all yee that feare God, and yee ſhall finde reſt vntounto your ſoules. Meditate on theſe things, ye that now come, or hereafter meane to come to the Lords Table, to be made partakers of the myſteries of Chriſt his bleſſed death and paſſion. Here Chriſt Ieſus, who was made bone of our bone, and fleſh of our fleſh, inuiteth you vntounto this holy Supper, that you may be made bone of his bone, and fleſh of his fleſh. Here by a true and liuely faith, through the operation of the holy ſpirit, yee are made bone of his bone, and fleſh of his fleſh, members of his body, and veſſels of his glory. But there muſt be in you the ſame minde that was in Chriſt Ieſus yee muſt put away all hatred and contention, all rancour and malice, and as he came to vsus in louelove towards vsus, ſo wee muſt come vntounto him in perfect louelove and charitie towards all men. As hee came vntounto vsus to kill ſinne in our fleſh, ſo wee muſt come vntounto him purged from the corruption which is in the world through luſt,2 Pet. 1.4. that ſo wee may bee partakers of the diuine nature, as Peter ſpeaketh. As hee came vntounto vsus, giuing vsus an enſample ſo to walke as hee hath walked, ſo wee muſt come to him with full reſolution, and ſetled purpoſe, ſo to walke as wee hauehave him for an enſample in all humbleneſſe and lowlineſſe of minde: or elſe in comming vntounto him to this holy Table, wee heape vntounto our ſelues wrath againſt the day of wrath, and of the declaration of the iuſt iudgement of God.
The Lord giuegive vsus his grace, that we may walke as we hauehave Chriſt Ieſus for an example, that ſubmitting our ſelues one vntounto another, wee may be like minded one towards another in Chriſt Ieſus, that eueryevery man eſteeming other better than himſelfe, wee may all together in all things grow vp into him which is our head, that is, Chriſt.