Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 2 · Lecture 30
LECTƲRE XXX.
PHILIP. 2. verſe 9, 10.
And giuen him a name aboue eueryevery name, that at the name of Ieſus ſhould eueryevery knee bowe &c.
ANd giuen him a name &c.] Where we are not to vnderſtand that God gaue vntounto Chriſt after his reſurrection any new name which he had not before. For as before ſo after, and as after ſo before he was and is called the wiſdome of God, the power of God, the true light at the world, faithfull and true, holy and iuſt, …he Apoſtle and high Prieſt of our profeſſion, a Prieſt after …he order of Melchiſedech, the Sauiour of the world, the Prince of peace, the Mediator of the New Teſtament, the …ead of the Church, the Lord of glory, Ieſus Chriſt, the …mage of the Father, the Sonne of God, and God; neither had he any name after his reſurrection which he had not be…ore, But by a name is to be vnderſtood in this place, glory, …nd honor, and maieſtie, and dominion ouer all things crea…ed, as the ſame word is elſewhere vſed,Eph. 1.21. Epheſ. 1.21. So that when it is ſaid, that God hath giuen him a name aboue eueryevery name, …he meaning is, that God hauing raiſed vp Chriſt Ieſus from …he dead, hath ſo highly exalted him in the heauenly places, …hat he hath giuen him all power both in heauen and earth, …ll dominion ouer all creatures whatſoeuer, and the ſame glory which he had with him from the beginning; ſo that now he …eigneth and ruleth with him, King ouer all, and bleſſed for euer. Now this power, dominion, and glory wherevnto Chriſt Ieſus after his reſurrection was exalted, is further opened and expreſſed by the Apoſtle: 1. By that ſubiection and worſhip which all things created now owe, and at length ſhall yeeld vntounto him, in theſe words, that at the name &c. 2. By that acknowledgement whereby all creatures now ought, and at length ſhall confeſſe that Ieſus Chriſt is the Lord, vntounto the glory of God the father, in theſe words, and that eueryevery tong… &c. The ſumme then in briefe of the Apoſtle his meaning i… theſe words, is this, that God hauing raiſed vp Chriſt Ie… from the dead, hath crowned him with ſuch honour and glory aboue all creatures in heauen, or in earth, or vnderunder the earth; that they all doe, or ſhall bowe vntounto him, be ſubiect vnderunder his feete, and acknowledge that he who was cruelly, di… dainefully, and diſpitefully handled, and crucified, is King and Lord, and God bleſſed for euer vntounto the glory of God the Father.
In theſe words therefore I obſerue 4. principall points: 1. The great honour and glory wherwithall Chriſt was cro… ned after his reſurrection, and aſcenſion, ſet downe in theſe words, and giuen him a name &c. 2. The ſubiection, and worſhippe which all creatures owe, and at length ſhall yeeld vntounto him, ſet downe as a branch, and an end of hit glorification it theſe words, that at the name &c. 3. The confeſſion and acknowledgement of all creatures that Ieſus Chriſt crucified is the Lord ouer all, and that all power belongeth to him both in heauen, and in earth, ſet downe as an other branch and end of his glorification in theſe words, and that eueryevery tongue &c. 4. The iſſue of the whole, which is, that the whole glorification of Chriſt redoundeth to the honour of God the Father, ſet downe in theſe words, vntounto the glory &c.
Touching the 1. point, viz. the great honour and glorie wherewithall Chriſt was crowned after his reſurrection, which our Apoſtle here ſignifieth by the name which God gaue vntounto him aboue eueryevery name, the Apoſtle to the Hebrues giueth moſt euident teſtimonie thereunto,Heb. 2.9. when he ſaith, But we ſee Ieſus crowned with glorie and honour which was made a little inferiour to the Angells that he might ſuffer death: as if the Apoſtle ſhould hauehave ſaid, that Ieſus which in no ſort tooke on him the nature of Angels, but the nature of man, euen fleſh & bloud, and mortalitie, to the end that he might ſuffer death for our ſinnes; he now being raiſed from the dead is crowned with honour and glory, euen vntounto him is giuen the excellencie of all dignitie farre aboue all things created whatſoeuer. The …me alſo is further confirmed by the teſtimonie of our Apo…le to the Epheſians, where he ſaith,Eph. 1.20. That God raiſed vp Chriſt …eſus from the dead, and ſet him at his right hand in the heauenly …laces, farre aboue all principality, and power, and might, and do…ination, and eueryevery name that is named, not in this world onelyonly, 21.but …lſo in that that is to come, &c. Where the Apoſtle moſt plain…y ſheweth, how highly Chriſt was exalted aboue all creatures whatſoeuer after that God had raiſed him from the dead. Now …f ye aske me what was that maieſtie and excellencie of digni…e whereunto Chriſt was exalted after his reſurrection, I an…were that it was that glory wherewithall Chriſt before his paſ…ion praied to be glorified, when hee thus praied,Ioh. 17.5. glorifie mee …hou father, with thine owne ſelfe, with the glorie which I had with …hee before the world was. The glory then whereunto Chriſt was exalted after his reſurrection was his owne glorie, that …lory which he had before his incarnation euen before the …orld was, with his father; that glory which he had when be…ng in the forme of God hee thought it no robberie to be e…uall with God. For we know that he was heard in all things …or which he praied of the Father: ſo that hauing praied for …hat glory which he had from the beginning with the Father, …he glorie whereunto he was exalted was his own glorie which …e had with the Father from the beginning. Now if yee aske …ne againe what glorie this was which he had with the Father …rom the beginning, I anſwer that it was all power both in hea…en and in earth. For ſo our Sauiour himſelfe after his reſur…ection from the dead ſaid, ſaying,Mat. 28.18 all power is giuen vntounto me in …eauen and in earth; where, by all power is meant, all authori…y, all ſoueraigntie ouer all things created both in heauen, and …n earth; ſo that both the Angells are his miniſtring ſpirits, …nd with his word he commandeth the foule ſpirits, and they obey him, and of all men it is true, that vntounto one he ſaith go, …nd he goeth, and to another come, and he commeth. Thus …hen it appeareth, that Chriſt after his reſurrection both was highly exalted vntounto all honour and glorie, and that his glory was and is that abſolute Lordſhip and ſoueraignty which hee hath ouer all creatures in heauen and in earth. Yea he was exalted vntounto that glory which he had with the father before the world was. If now againe it be demanded whether Chriſt were exalted vntounto this glory, and dignity according to both his natures, both his Godhead, and his m…nhood: I anſwere, according to both. According to his godhead, not as it is conſidered in it ſelfe, but in as much as his godhead, which fro… his birth vntounto his death did little ſhew it ſelfe, after his reſurrection was made manifeſt in his manhood. For as the Apoſtle ſaith,Rom. 1.4. He was declared mightily to be the ſonne of God by the reſurrection from the dead. Euen by the reſurrection, and after his reſurrection from the dead, he which was thought only to be man, was moſt plainely manifeſted likewiſe to be God Now as touching his manhood he was therein exalted vntounto higheſt maieſtie in the heauenly places, not onelyonly ſhaking off all infirmities of mans nature, but alſo being beautified and adorned with all qualities of glory both in his ſoule, and in his body, yet ſo that ſtill he reteineth the properties of a true body. For euen as he was man hee was ſet at the right hand of the father, to rule and reigne ouer all, till all his enemies be… deſtroyed and put vnderunder his feete. To knit vp all in a word Chriſt God and man after his reſurrection was crowned with glory and honour, euen ſuch as plainely ſhewed him to bee God, and was ſet on the throne of God, there to rule and reigne as ſoueraigne Lord and King, till hee come in the clowdes to iudge both quicke and dead.
Here then is both matter of comfort, and conſolation vntounto the godly, and likewiſe of feare and aſtoniſhment vntounto the wicked and vngodly. For therefore is he aſcended into heauen, euen to prepare a place for vsus, that where hee is there may we be alſo:Ioh. 14.2. for ſo himſelfe ſpeaketh. And therefore is he exalted farre aboue all men and Angels as in all fulneſſe of gifts and graces, ſo in glory and maieſty that he may ſuccour vsus in all our miſeries, and helpe vsus in all dangers. Whatſoeuer infirmities we hauehave, whatſoeuer perſecutions wee ſuffer, whatſoeuer croſſes we endure wee neede not be diſmaide or troubled. For Chriſt Ieſus who bore our infirmities, whom the high Prieſts, Scribes, and Phariſies, and all the Iewes perſecuted vntounto the death, who endured the croſſe, and deſpiſed the ſhame, is exalted vntounto the higheſt glory for vsus, and both … able to ſuccour vsus, and will not ſuffer vsus to periſh. If Chriſt …ad not ouercome death, and ſinne, and the world, and the Deuill, nay if he had not as a moſt triumphant King led cap…uitie captiue, and ſo cruſhed them that though they would …et they can not hurt vsus; nay if hee did not now as Lord and …ing ſo bridle their rage that they cannot preuaile againſt vsus, …hen might we well feare death, and ſinne, and the world, and …he Deuill. But now that he hath ouercome all theſe, and …uleth all things henceforth with his mightie power, ſo that …ne haire of our heads cannot fall away without his heauenly …ill, and nothing can touch vsus but as hee giueth leaue, what …re of death, what danger of ſinne, what care of the world, …hat care of the Deuill. Let death draw out his ſharp arrowes …gainſt vsus, let ſinne aſſault vsus, and ſeeke to tyrannize ouer vsus, …t the world hate vsus and band themſelues againſt vsus, let the …euill rage, and lay what battery he can againſt vsus; our King …nd our God which dwelleth in heauen he laugheth them to …orne, and our Lord hath them in deriſion. Hee ſaith vntounto …em, touch not my choſen, and doe my children no harme. Hee …tteth them their bounds which they cannot paſſe, and hee …miteth their power euen as it beſt pleaſeth him. And there…re death ſhall not deadly wound vsus, but onelyonly tranſport vsus …nto a life that laſteth euer: ſinne ſhall not tempt vsus aboue …at we be able, but together with the tentation we ſhall hauehave …e iſſue that we may be able to beare it: the world and wick… inſtruments of Sathan ſhal either not at all preuaile againſt …, or no farther then ſhall be for Gods glory, and our good: …either ſhall the Deuill, rage he neuer ſo horribly, be able to …rre euer a whit farther then the linkes of his chaine ſhall be …oſed vntounto him. When Salomon was annointed King ouer …rael in ſtead of Dauid his father,1 King. 1.40. it is ſaid that all the people came …ter him, that they piped with pipes, and reioyced with great ioy, ſo …at the earth rang with the ſound of them. Shall the people of …rael thus reioyce the crowning of Salomon, and ſhall not …e much more reioyce when as Chriſt Ieſus is placed in hea…en at the right hand of his Father, and hath the euerlaſting …epter of his kingdome put into his hand. Shall not our ſoules be filled with ioy and gladneſſe for the crowne of his glory and honour which is the prince of our peace, and the ſtrong rocke of our ſaluation? Surely the Apoſtle ſo reioyced in this crowne of his glory, that he bidde defiance vntounto condemnation, and whatſoeuer accuſation could bee laid againſt him: who ſhall lay any thing, ſaith he, vntounto the charge of God choſen? Rom. 8.33.it is God that iuſtifieth. Who ſhall condemne? it is Chriſt which is dead, yea or rather which is riſen againe, who is alſo at the right hand of God, 34.and maketh requeſt for vsus &c. Where ye ſe… plainely how the Apoſtle vponupon the ground of Chriſt hi… death, or rather vponupon the ground of that crowne of glorie whereunto Chriſt was exalted after his reſurrection from the dead; henceforth feareth neither accuſation, nor condemnation, nor whatſoeuer can be laid vntounto his charge. And as the Apoſtle doth, ſo all the children of Chriſt his kingdome may bidde defiance vntounto accuſation and condemnation, and whatſoeuer can be laide vntounto theire charge, now that Chriſt ſitteth at the right hand of God to make interceſſion for vsus. The Lord is King, the earth may be glad thereof, hee i… great in Sion, and high aboue all people. Let the heauens reioyce, and let the earth be glad, let the ſea roare, and all that therein is.Pſal. 91.1.2.3. &c. Thou that dwelleſt vnderunder the defence of the moſt high, and abideſt vnderunder the ſhaddow of the almightie, ſay vntounto the Lord, &c.
Now as this ſoueraigntie of power, and excellency of dignitie whereunto Chriſt was exalted after his reſurrection may be matter of comfort and conſolation vntounto the godly, ſo may it be matter of feare and aſtoniſhment vntounto the wicked and vngodly.Pſal. 2.9. For he ſhall bruiſe his enemies with a rodde of iron, and breake them in pieces like a potters veſſell. Hee ſhall euen deale with them as Ioſhua dealt with the fiue Kings that were hidde in the caue, he ſhall tread them vnderunder feete, and make a ſlaughter not ſo much of their bodies as of their ſoules. For as his exaltation into that glory, is for the good of his Church and faithfull people, ſo is it for the confuſion and vtter deſtruction of his enemies. For it is a righteous thing with him to recompence tribulation to them which trouble his children, and to giuegive reſt to his children which are troubled. Yea but what doth this touch vsus, theſe iudgements wee neede not to feare: we are no enemies to Chriſt, we are Chriſtians, and wee are baptized into his name. True it is, wee are Chriſtians, and baptized into Chriſt his name, and therefore wee ſhould die vntounto ſinne, and liue vntounto God. But yet ſee for all this whether many of vsus be not enemies vntounto Chriſt.Luc. 19.27. Thoſe mine enemies …aith Chriſt himſelfe, that would not that I ſhould raigne ouer …hem bring them hither, and ſlay them before me. Where againe …e heare the peremptorie ſentence of death and deſtruction …nto thoſe that are Chriſt his enemies. But who are enemies …o Chriſt, let Chriſt himſelfe tell vsus, Thoſe mine enemies, ſaith …e, that would not that I ſhould raigne ouer them. They then are …nemies vntounto Chriſt which would not hauehave Chriſt to raigne …uer them. Yea, but we are all very willing that Chriſt ſhould …aigne ouer vsus. Looke then I beſeech you, whether all of vsus …ubmit our ſelues to the ſcepter of his kingdome, euen to the …ule of his moſt ſacred and holy word, to be ruled and guided …hereby in our whole life. For if we do not ſubmit our ſelues …hereunto, to be ruled thereby, we are indeede, and in truth of …hoſe that would not hauehave Chriſt to raigne ouer them, what…oeuer outward profeſſion we make otherwiſe. Doe we then …ll of vsus ſubmit our ſelues to the ſcepter of his kingdome to …e ruled by his holy word? Are there not ſome who ſeldome …r not at all preſent themſelues in the great congregation to …eare the wholeſome word of truth that they might receiue …nſtruction thereby; who refuſe to heare the Lord ſpeaking …nto them in his holy word, and loath this heauenly Manna which is the food of our ſoules? I meane the recuſant, who …efuſing to come to theſe holy aſſemblies to heare the word …reached, which God hath ordained to bee the ordinarie …eanes of our ſaluation, ſubmitting not himſelfe to the ſcep…er of Chriſt his kingdome, but in effect ſaith of Chriſt, wee …ill not hauehave this man to raigne ouer vsus. Againe are there not …ome who though they come to heare the word preached, yet …re ſo hardened in their ſinnes that they are not at all ſoftened with the hammer of Gods word, but rather are like vntounto the …mithes anuill, which the more it is beaten with the hammer …he harder it is? I ſpeake not now of ſuch as onelyonly come for faſhions ſake, or ſuch as thinke they ſit on thornes when they ſit at a ſermon, eſpecially if it be any longer then they deſire, or ſuch as whoſe thoughts are wandring vp and downe vponupon their profits, or their pleaſures, or the like, and attend but … tle vntounto the word preached, or ſuch as hang down their heads, and fall to ſleepe while the Lord is knocking at the doore of their hearts, and eares by the miniſtery of his ſeruants: ſuch might, and ſhould learne ſo to aſſemble themſelues in the houſe of God, as Cornelius and his kinſmen, and friends, and family aſſembled themſelues when Peter came to preach vntounto them;Act. 10.33. We are all here preſent before God, ſaith Cornel…, to heare all things that are commaunded thee of God: ſo they might, and ſhould learne that here they are preſent before God, to heare and learne all things that are commanded then of God; and therefore that here they ſhould be reuerent, diligent, and carefull to heare that which is preached and taught out of the holy word. But I ſay I ſpeake not now of ſuch: But I ſpeake of ſuch as ſuffer ſinne to reigne in their mortall bodies, and obey it in the luſts thereof, notwithſtanding that they be rebuked of their ſinnes out of the holy booke of God I demand then, hath the couetous man left off to bee couetous, hath the drunkard left off to be drunke, hath the theefe left off to ſteale, hath the whoremonger left off to delight is ſtrange fleſh, hath the lier left off to lye, hath the blaſpheame… and ſwearer left off to blaſpheme and ſweare; becauſe it is written that neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, not wantons, nor theeues, nor couetous, nor drunkards, nor blaſpheamers, nor lyers ſhall inherit the kingdome of God? What turning vntounto God is there from any ſinne whereof wee hauehave beene reproued by a true and an vnfeined repentance of the ſame ſinne? Nay doth not eueryevery man go forward in his ſinne without remorſe be the booke of God neuer ſo wide opened againſt it? And can we ſay that wee ſubmit our ſelues to the ſcepter of Chriſt his kingdome, while wee yeeld our ſelues ſeruants vntounto ſinne, and ſuffer it to reigne in our mortall bodies? Nay certainely, men and brethren, if when wee hear… our ſinnes plainely rebuked out of the world, wee notwithſtanding walke on in our ſinnes, and reforme not the wickedneſſe of our wayes, wee doe in effect ſay vntounto Chriſt, wee will …ot hauehave thee to raigne ouer vsus, and ſo by our Sauiour his …wne teſtimonie wee are enemies to him; and what then re…aineth, but that he bruiſe them with a rod of iron, and breake …em in peeces like a potters veſſell? Beware therefore, men …d brethren, how ye ſtill harden your hearts when the Lord …ath ſo directed the tongue of the Preacher, that your owne …onſcience tels you he hath rightly hit you, and noted your …ne. It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing …od, for he is a conſuming fire, and rendreth vengeance vn… all them that know not him, and which obey not his Go…ell. And thus yee ſee with what honour and glory Chriſt …as crowned after his reſurrection, as alſo what matter of …mfort and conſolation this may bee vntounto the godly, and …ntrariwiſe what feare and aſtoniſhment vntounto the wicked …ad vngodly. It followeth that in the next place we ſpeake of …at ſubiection and worſhip which all creatures owe, and at …ngth ſhall yeeld vntounto Chriſt thus exalted, which is a branch …f Chriſt his glory, and ſet downe here as an end of his glori…cation, in theſe words, That at the name of Ieſus, &c,
Where by the name of Ieſus, wee are not to vnderſtand the …re name of Ieſus, as though it had the vertue in it to driue …ay deuils, or as though at the very ſound of if all were to …ow their knees: for at the name of Sauiour, which is the …me with Ieſus, none boweth, and the name of Chriſt, of Em…anuel, of the Sonne of God, of God, are names no leſſe pre…us and glorious than is the name of Ieſus. True it is, that …wing of the knee at the name of Ieſus is a cuſtome which …th beene much vſed, and may without offence be retained, …hen the minde is free from ſuperſtition. But to bow and …eele at the very ſound of the name, when we only heare the …me of Ieſus ſounding in our eares, but know not what the …me meaneth, ſauoureth of ſuperſtition. By bowing the knee …e Apoſtle here meaneth that ſubiection and worſhip which … creatures ought continually to performe, and which all …atures ſhall performe to Chriſt in that day, ſome willingly …d cheerefully, as holy men and Angels, ſome vnwillingly …d to their confuſion, as the deuils, and wicked men his inſtruments: for ſo the Lord by his Prophet vſeth the ſame phraſe of ſpeech,Eſa. 45.23. where he ſaith, EueryEvery knee ſhall bowe vntounto me that is, ſhall be ſubiect to mee, and worſhip mee.
Here then is a dutie preſcribed, neceſſarily to be performed of eueryevery Chriſtian, which is, to glorifie him who is exalted into the height of glory, both in our bodies and in our ſpirit…, to worſhip him with holy worſhip, to ſubiect our ſelues vntounto him in all obedience vntounto his heauenly will: for worthy is the Lambe that was killed, Ap 5.12.to receiue all power, and wiſdome, and ſtrength, and honour, and glory, and pr…iſe. The Angels in heauen they glorifie the name of Ieſus, in that they are alwayes ready to execute his will, and to doe whatſoeuer he commandeth them.H…b. 1.14. Whereupon they are called miniſtring ſpirits, ſent forth to miniſter for their ſakes which ſhall bee heires o… ſaluation. This alſo is that holy worſhip wherewith we ough… to worſhip him, and to glorifie his name, euen to be heare and doers of his word, to obey his will, to walke in his lawes and to keepe his commandements. Not the bare and outward capping and kneeling at the name of Ieſus, but principally obedience vntounto his will, that is named, is the honor which here he accepteth of vsus. For as not eueryevery one that ſai… vntounto him, Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into his kingdome, ſo no… eueryevery one that boweth at the name of Ieſus, ſhall enter in… his kingdome, but he that doth his will, and walketh in hi… wayes. Saul when he was ſent to ſlay the Amalekites, though to honour God greatly by ſparing the beſt of the ſheepe are of the oxen to ſacrifice vntounto him. But it was ſaid vntounto hi…. Hath the Lord as great pleaſure in burnt offerings and ſacrifice… as when his voice is obeyed? 1 Sa. 15.22Behold, to obey is better than ſacrifi… and to hearken is better than the fat of Rammes. So you happi… may thinke you honour our bleſſed Sauiour greatly, when y… bowe your ſelues at eueryevery ſound of his name: but behold … obey his will is better than capping and kneeling, or all ou… ward ceremonies whatſoeuer. Yet miſtake mee not I beſee… you, as though I thought that the names of Ieſus, of Chriſt of the Lord, of God, of the Father, of the Sonne, or of th… holy Ghoſt, were names of ordinary account and reckoning, or to be paſſed ouer without reuerence, as other names. Nay whenſoeuer wee heare, or ſpeake, or thinke of them, wee are …o reuerence the maieſtie of God ſignified thereby. And feare-…ill it may be to them that thinke or ſpeake of them pro…hanely, or lightly, or vponupon each light and trifling occaſion, …r otherwiſe than without great reuerence and feare, that the …ord will not hold them guiltleſſe. But this I ſay, that neither …he ſound of theſe ſyllables of Ieſus, nor the name of Ieſus …hould affect vsus more than any other names of Chriſt, a… …hough there lay ſome vertue in the bare word: but whenſo…uer wee heare, or thinke, or ſpeake of him, wee are to reue…ence his maieſtie, and in the reuerent feare of his name, to …biect our ſelues vntounto his will. This is a part of that dutie …hereby wee muſt glorifie Chriſt Ieſus.
Men and brethren, let vsus at length looke to it. Hee that …all come, will come, and will not tarry. We pray daily, Thy …all be done in earth as it is in heauen; but it is but lip-labour. The Angels in heauen are alwayes ready to execute his will: …ut on earth wee follow our owne wils, and walke in the …ayes of our owne hearts. Wee regard not to walke in the way …f the Lord, or to hearken to the words of his mouth: Wee …ill not obey, wee will not incline our eare, but wee will goe …fter the counſels and ſtubbornneſſe of our wicked hearts. …ell, rebellion is as the ſinne of witchcraft,1 Sa. 15.23 and tranſgreſſion … wickedneſſe and idolatrie. Take heed, and put not off from …ay to day. Come and learne to know the Lord his will, and …e not forgetfull hearers, but doers of the word. If wee now …rue him and doe his will, wee ſhall afterwards raigne with …im. But he that now will not be ſubiect vntounto his will, let him …now that wee ſhall all appeare before the iudgement ſeat of Chriſt, and then eueryevery knee ſhall bowe vntounto him. Bleſſed are …hey that heare the word of God, and liue thereafter.