Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 2 · Lecture 32
LECTƲRE XXXII.
PHILIP. 2. Verſe 12.
Wherefore by beloued, as yee hauehave alwayes obeyed, or as in my preſence only, but now much more in … abſence, &c.
WHerefore my beloued, &c.] In theſe word now following wee hauehave the concluſion o… the Apoſtle his exhortation vntounto the Philippians, ſet downe by way of applying Chriſt his humilitie, and obedience vntounto his Father, vntounto their vſe and inſtruction and conſequently vntounto ours. In this concluſion of the Apoſtle his former exhortation, the Apoſtle againe exhorteth the Philippians, and in them vsus, firſt vntounto humble obedience towards God, verſ. 12.13. ſecondly vntounto humble and modeſt conuerſation towards our neighbour, verſ. 14.15.16. and thirdly he addeth as a reaſon why he thus exhorteth them, the comfort and ioy which they ſhall bring vntounto him in the day of Chriſt, if they ſo walke as he exhorteth them, verſ. 16.17.18. In the firſt exhortation, which is vntounto humilitie and obedience, or humble obedience towards God, wee hauehave firſt to conſider the exhortation it ſelfe, verſ. 12. ſecondly the reaſon thereof, verſ. 13. The exhortation of the Apoſtle vntounto the Philippians, and in them vntounto vsus, is, that wee would runne for…ard in the race of righteouſneſſe, which leadeth vntounto ſalua…on, with all humbleneſſe of minde, and in all obedience vn… God: for when the Apoſtle ſaith, make an end of your owne …luation, therein he exhorteth thus much in effect, that as we …aue begun in the ſpirit, ſo we would goe forward and make … end in the ſpirit; as wee hauehave entred the way of righteouſ…eſſe which leadeth vntounto life, ſo we would perſeuere and con…nue in the ſame way, and follow hard toward the marke for be price of the high calling of God in Chriſt Ieſus. For by …luation the Apoſtle here meaneth not, as often elſewhere he …oth, that glory and immortalitie which is laid vp for vsus in …eauen, and which is the end of our calling, but hee meaneth …e whole courſe of godlineſſe which leadeth vntounto ſaluation, …e whole path of a Chriſtian life which God hath ordained vsus … walke in. So that when hee ſaith, make an end of your owne …luation, it is as if the Apoſtle had ſaid, let it not ſeeme enough …nto you to hauehave begunne well, but continue to walke in …hoſe good workes which God hath ordained you to walke …n: as ye hauehave begunne to walke in the way that leadeth vntounto …luation, ſo make an end therein, and runne vntounto the end …he race that is ſet before you. When the Apoſtle addeth, make an end of your owne ſaluation with feare and trembling, hee …heweth the manner how we muſt runne in the way of righte…uſneſſe which is ſet before vsus, to wit, in all humbleneſſe of …inde and reuerence,Pſal. 2.11. as dutifull children ſeruing the Lord …n feare, and reioycing in him with trembling, as the Prophet …peaketh. Likewiſe when he ſaith, So make an end, &c. there…y he meaneth, that wee muſt runne in this race of righteouſ…eſſe in all obedience vntounto God: for ſo much is implied in the …ord So, as may appeare by the coherence of this word with …he former, whereon it doth depend. As yee hauehave alwayes …beyed, ſaith the Apoſtle; whom? to wit, God, and his word: As yee hauehave alwayes obeyed God and his word, ſo in the like …bedience to God and his word, make an end of your owne ſalua…ion with feare and trembling. The ſubſtance then of the Apo…tle his exhortation in this place is this, that wee would runne forward in the race of righteouſneſſe, which leadeth vntounto ſaluation, with all humbleneſſe and reuerence, and in all obedience vntounto God.
Now beſides the ſubſtance of the exhortation, there are many circumſtances whereby the exhortation is amplified and enlarged, and which are together with the exhortation to be opened and declared. To compriſe then the whole, in theſe words of the Apoſtle I conſider theſe points: firſt the ground whereon the Apoſtle doth build his exhortation which is the humilitie and obedience of Chriſt, noted in the word wherefore; for it is as much as if the Apoſtle ſhould hauehave ſaid, Seeing ſuch was Chriſt his humilitie, and ſuch his obedience, as yee hauehave heard, therefore my beloued follow his example, and as yee hauehave alwayes obeyed, &c. Secondly, the Apoſtle his kinde intreatie of the Philippians, ſo to winne them to harken to his exhortation in that he calleth them his beloued wherefore my beloued. 3. The Apoſtle his commendation o… their former obedience vntounto God, and to his word, that ſo he might ſtirre them vp to continue their obedience, in theſe words, as ye hauehave alwaies obeyed, to wit, God, and his word 4. The Apoſtle his milde inſinuation of a change in them now in his abſence from that which was before in his preſence, in theſe words, not as in my preſence only &c. 5. The Apoſtle his exhortation, to runne forward in the way of righteouſneſſe which leadeth vntounto ſaluation, in theſe words, make … end &c. Laſtly, the manner how they ſhould runne in this race, which is firſt in obedience vntounto God, ſignified in the word, ſo, ſo make an end &c. and then with all humbleneſſe and reuerence, ſignified in theſe word, with feare and trembling. Theſe bee generally the points to be obſerued out of theſe words of the Apoſtle. Now let vsus a little more particularly looke into each of them, and ſee what Vſe wee may make of them.
Wherefore my beloued] In this word, wherefore, is noted as I told you, the ground whereon the Apoſtle doth builde the exhortation that followeth. For it is aſmuch as if the Apoſtle ſhould thus hauehave ſaid; ſeeing ſuch was Chriſt his humilitie and ſuch his obedience, as alreadie ye hauehave heard, therefore my beloued &c. The ground then of the Apoſtle his exhortation vntounto a reuerent and humble obedience towards God in …ding a godly life, is the humilitie of Chriſt, and his obedi…ce vntounto his father. The obſeruation hence is this, that the …militie of Chriſt, and his obedience to his father ought to a ſufficient motiue and reaſon vntounto vsus, why we ſhould run the race of holineſſe, and righteouſneſſe that is ſet before with all humbleneſſe of minde, and in all obedience to…rds God. So the Apoſtle thought when hee made this the …ound of this his exhortation: and ſo our Sauiour himſelfe …ought, as appeareth by that exhortation vntounto the people in …e end of one of his ſermons,Mat. 11.29 Learne of mee that I am meeke …d lowly in heart. And great reaſon, men and brethren, why …e ſhould ſo thinke alſo. For wherefore was Chriſt humbled? as it for himſelfe? Nay hee might ſtill hauehave kept that glory …hich he had with the father before the world was, and if hee …d not at all deſcended from the boſome of his father, none …ould any way hauehave impeached him for the ſame. For it was …o robbery for him alwaies to be equall with God, as our A…oſtle ſpeaketh. It was not then for himſelfe that hee was …umbled, but he humbled himſelfe for vsus, tha the might ſaue … which had loſt our ſelues; and that hee might reconcile vsus …nto God, breaking downe the partition wall that was betwixt …im and vsus by reaſon of our ſinnes. So ſaith the Apoſtle Paul, 1 Tim. 1.15.…his is a true ſaying, and by all meanes worthy to be receiued, that Chriſt Ieſus cmae into the world to ſaue ſinners. And ſo ſaith S. …ohn, We hauehave and aduocate with the Father Ieſus Chriſt the iuſt, Ioh. 2.1.2.…d he is the reconciliation of our ſinnes. Againe,Eſa. 53.9. Why was he obedient vntounto the Father to fulfill the law? was it for himſelf? Nay be euer did any wickedneſſe, neither was any guile found in his mouth. …t was not for himſelfe, but for vsus, that he might redeeme vsus …hich were vnderunder the law, and purchaſe righteouſneſſe for vsus. So ſaith the Apoſtle, God ſent forth his ſonne made of a woman, Gal. 4.4.5.…nd made vnderunder the law, that he might redeeme them which were …nder the law; and as the ſame Apoſtle ſaith to the Romanes,Rom. 8.4. That the righteouſneſſe of the law might be fulfilled in vsus. Seeing …hen it was for vsus that Chriſt was humbled, and that hee was obedient vntounto the law, and vntounto the death, great reaſon it is …hat his humility and obedience ſhould be a ſufficient motiue to perſwade vsus vntounto humilitie and obedience in the whole courſe of our life. Should it bee, my brethren, a ſufficient motiue vntounto vsus? and why is it not? Why it is not I know not, but that it is not eueryevery man ſeeth it. Our high conc… our ſelues, whether it be of our wiſedome, or of our riche or of our honour, our contentions and vaine-glory, our delight in our owne waies, and our neglect to walk in the waie… of the Lord; theſe and the like teſtifie vntounto our faces that Chriſt his humility, and obedience little preuaile with va… perſwade vsus vntounto theſe holy duties. O my brethren, let this be an healing of our errour. So often as wee heare or read that Chriſt thus humbled himſelfe for vsus, that he became man for vsus, that he bare our infirmities, that he was led as a ſheepe v… to the ſlaughter for vsus, that he made his ſoule an offering for our ſinne, and that he made his graue with the wicked in his death for vsus; let theſe be ſo many remembrancers vntounto vsus to plucke downe our proud peacockes feathers, to put away wrath, contention, pride, vaine-glory, and in all meekneſſe of minde to ſubmit our ſelues one vntounto an other, and all of v… vntounto our God. So often as we heare or read that Chriſt became obedient vntounto his Father in all things that the law required of him, that he fulfilled all righteouſneſſe, and neuer gaue ouer to doe the will of his Father till hee had taſted and drunke of deaths cuppe, and all for vsus; let this ſuffice to ſl… vsus vp to walke in all dutifull obedience vntounto our heauenly Fathers will. Yea let vsus thus hereupon reſolue with our ſelues and ſay vntounto our owne ſoules, hath the ſonne of God, my Chriſt, and my God, vouchſafed to deſcend from his high throne of glory, to be clothed with my fleſh and my skinne to ſuffer hunger, cold, pouerty, and manifold tentations for mee, to be ſlaundered, reuiled, buffeted, ſpit vponupon, condemned, nailed on the croſſe, and to be buried for me, and ſhall beare my ſelfe aboue my brethren, ſhall I walke with a ſt… necke, and diſdaine my inferiors, or ſhall I not make my ſelfe equall to them of the loweſt degree, and paſſe the time of my dwelling here in feare, and in all lowlineſſe of minde? Hat… the ſonne of God, my Chriſt, and my God, fulfilled all righteouſneſſe; done his fathers buſines, and yeelded all obedience vntounto his father for mee, and ſhall I kick againſt him with …e heele, ſhall I draw my necke from vnderunder his yoke, and re…ſe to walke in the waies of his lawes, or rather ſhall I not …nforme my ſelfe in all obedience to his holy will, and doe at which is good and right in his eyes? This vſe wee ſhould …ake of Chriſt his humility, and obedience vntounto his father, …d to this end he maketh it the ground of his exhortation in is place. It followeth,
Wherefore my beloued] The 2. thing which I obſerued in …eſe words of the Apoſtle: was his kinde and louing entrea…e of the Philippians, ſignified in that he calleth them his be…ued. Which kinde entreatie of them he vſeth the rather to …inne them to harken vntounto his exhortation. Here then is a …te for vsus whom God hath ſet apart vntounto the holy worke of …s miniſtery, to wit, that we ſhould not onelyonly bee carefull to ſtruct them that heare vsus in the wholeſome words of truth, at that likewiſe we ſhould ſeeke in all kinde and louing ſort … winne them vntounto that wherein we doe inſtruct them. Here…pon are thoſe kinde and loueſome ſpeeches ſo often vſed in …e writings of the Apoſtles, my brethren, my beloued, my babes, … little children, dearely beloued, deare brethren, I beſeech you, …ethren by the mercies of God, and the like. Not to ſpeake of …ther places, this one place of our Apoſtle might ſuffice ſuf…ciently to inſtruct vsus in this leſſon: where the Apoſtle doth …ot onelyonly exhort the Philippians to walke in the way of godli…eſſe with humbleneſſe of mind, and in obedience vntounto God, …nd ſtrengthen his exhortation both by the example of their …wne former obedience, and by the example of Chriſt his …umility and obedience; but in all kinde and louing ſort hee …ropoſeth his exhortation, calling them, his beloued, that ſo …e might the rather winne them to harken to his exhortation. or euen ſo the diſpenſers of God his holy myſteries ſhould …ot onelyonly labour in a godly care to teach them that heare …hem the words of truth in all euidence of the ſpirit, and to …onfirme and ſtrengthen the ſame out of the ſacred worth of …ruth, but further they ſhould ſeeke with all kinde ſpeaches, …nd in all louing manner to lead them foorth vntounto the waters of comfort, and to bring them vntounto Chriſt Ieſus. And here happily a man that ſhould long beate vponupon this point, and to large it to the full, might hauehave great applauſe in many place eſpecially there where the exception againſt their Teacher i… that he is too ſharpe, and that hee preſſeth the iudgement of God againſt ſinne too ſore, and too vehemently. Here the… I beſeech you a leſſon for you that are hearers our of thi… place.
As we that are the miniſters of the Lord for your comfort are hence taught to ſtriue in all kinde and louing ſort to bring you vntounto Chriſt Ieſus; ſo you that heare vsus are likewiſe he… to learne ſo to cary your ſelues as that we may ſpeak vntounto you as vntounto our brethren, and vntounto our beloued. If the louelove … God be not in you indeed, how can wee ſpeake vntounto you a vntounto our beloued? If your honour not God, nor keepe his commandements, how can we ſpeake vntounto you as vntounto … children? If ye be not ioyned with vsus in one faith, and in one hope in Chriſt Ieſus, how can wee ſpeake vntounto your as to o… brethren? Nay I ſay more vntounto you, if ye know not vsus that labour amongſt you, and are ouer you in the Lord, and ad… niſh you, if ye hauehave vsus not in ſingular louelove from our works ſa… how can we ſpeake vntounto you as vntounto our beloued? If when … labour to beget you in the faith, and to preſent you before God blameleſſe in that day, you either ſtoppe your eares the voice of our charming charme we neuer ſo wiſely, or ſpeak euill of vsus as of euill doers, can wee ſpeake vntounto you as v… our babes and little children? If you embrace not the tr… which we preach vntounto you, but rather hate vsus for the meſſage which we bring vntounto you, can we ſpeake vntounto you as vntounto on deare brethren? Nay certainely, if yee will hauehave vsus to co… vntounto you with kinde ſpeeches, and in all louing manner, wi… my beloued, my little children, my deare brethren, th… muſt ye ſtudy ſo to approue your ſelues both vntounto God and men, as that we may ſpeake vntounto you as vntounto our beloued vntounto our brethren &c. Otherwiſe, as Chriſt came not … all with this, feare not little flocke, but vntounto ſome with this, O generation of vipers, how can ye ſpeake good things, when yee … euill: And as the Apoſtle came not to all with this, I beſeech you brethren by the mercies of God, but vntounto ſome with this, O fooliſh Galathians, who hath be witched you that yee ſhould not obey truth; ſo ye muſt looke that as ſometimes wee come in …e and in the ſpirit of meekneſſe, ſo ſometimes wee ſhould …me vntounto you with a rodde, and with a woe vntounto ſuch as o… not the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus that they might be ſaued …n and brethren our hearts deſire is that ye may be ſaued in … day of Chriſt, and we watch for your ſoules as they that …ſt giuegive accounts vntounto God for them: hauehave ye care that wee …y do it with ioy, and not with griefe. We are loth to come …o you with a rodde, we had rather come in louelove, and in the …rit of meekneſſe; hauehave yee care that wee may come vntounto …u, and that we may ſpeake vntounto you as vntounto our beloued. … we ſometimes ſharply reproue ſinne, it is for your ſakes, at we may reclaime the ſinner from wandring out of the …ht way: and againe, if ſometimes wee reſtore ſuch as are …en with the ſpirit of meekeneſſe, it is for your ſakes, that …e may binde vp the broken hearted, and miniſter a word of …mfort vntounto the troubled, and afflicted ſoule. Both, I meane …arpneſſe and meekneſſe, the rodde and louelove, both, I ſay, in …eir due places is needfull, and wiſe diſcretion in them both moſt needfull. And ſo I come to the 3. point.
At ye hauehave alwaies obeyed] What? the Apoſtle in falling owne vntounto him, and kiſſing his feete, as is now done vntounto at man of ſinne? Nay the Apoſtle herein commendeth …eir former obedience vntounto God, and vntounto his word after …ch time as they had receiued the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus. …nd this he doth to ſtirre them vp to continue their obedi…nce, that as they had begunne well, ſo they might now go …orward as they had begunne. Whence wee are taught, that …is not enough to beginne well, and for a time to embrace …e truth, and to obey the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus, and after…ards to quence the ſpirit, and to ſuffer our ſelues to bee en…ngled in the filthineſſe of the world, but hauing begunne in …e ſpirit we muſt go forward in the ſpirit, and hauing begunne …o louelove and like the truth we muſt not fall from our firſt louelove, …ut hold faſt the ſame, and continue therein. Whereupon …re thoſe often exhortations in the Apoſtles to continue in …he faith, to continue in the grace of God, to continue in the things that we hauehave learned, to hold faſt the profeſſion of o… hope without wauering, and with full purpoſe of heart … cleaue vntounto the Lord. The reaſon hereof is, the ſchoole … Chriſt is not a ſchoole of idleneſſe, or a ſchoole of non proficiencie, but the ſchollers of Chriſt his ſchoole they muſt follow the truth in louelove, and they muſt in all things grow vp … him which is the head,Eph. 4.15. that is Chriſt as the Apoſtle ſhewed. And therefore our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe told the Iewes … beleeued in him,Ioh. 8.31. ſaying, if ye continue in my word, yee are … my diſciples; and ſhall know the truth. They, no doubt, … whom he ſpake, had begunne well, and had embraced … truth, but he telleth them that if they will be his ſchollers they muſt continue as they hauehave begunne, and they muſt grow forward and encreaſe in all knowledge, and ſpirituall vnderſtanding. A leſſon as needfull to be taught in theſe our d… as any other. For wee ſee by our owne experience that the word of the Lord is of ſuch maieſtie, and ſo powerfull, that draweth oftentimes the verieſt miſcreants that be vntounto a liking of it, and cauſeth them many times to doe many things we. But as it is in the parable of the ſeede in the Goſpell,Mat. 13. ſome receiue the word with ioy, but when perſecution comes the… are offended: other heare the word, but the cares of the world and the decietfulneſſe of riches choke it, that it made vnfruitfull; in others the euill one commeth and catcheth the word that was ſowen in their heart, and in a great many the liking of the word, and the obedience thereunto is but like vntounto a flaſh of lightening, come and gone againe almoſt in a moment. For a day, or for a monethmonth, or happily for a yeere or two they will harken, and obey, they will make a good ſhe… of louing and liking the word, and many things they will doe well. But after a while they will loath this heauenly Mann…, and in their hearts returne vntounto the fleſh pots of Egypt, 2 Pet. 2.22.21.or, a Peter ſpeaketh, with the dogge they will returne vntounto his vomit, and with the ſow vntounto her wallowing in the mire. Men and brethren, we muſt not be like vntounto ſuch men. For, as Peter ſpeaketh in the ſame place, it had beene better for ſuch men not a hauehave knowne the way of righteouſneſſe, then after they have knowne it to turne from the holy commandement giuen vntounto them. We muſt hauing taſted of the good word of God, …nd hauing begunne to forſake the corruptions that are in the world through luſt, continue in the grace of God, and grow …orward from grace vntounto grace till wee be perfit men, and …ome vntounto the meaſure of the age of the fulneſſe of Chriſt. Hauing begunne to hauehave a liking of the word, and to deſire …he preaching thereof, we muſt take heede that wee grow not weary of it; but the more we hauehave it, the more our ſoules muſt …ong after it, and the more we heare it, the more wee muſt grow in obedience vntounto it, to frame our liues according thereunto. We muſt not here ſtand at a ſtay, much leſſe muſt wee go backward; we muſt go forward, and wee muſt pricke hard vntounto the marke of the high calling that is ſet before vsus. For in the way of godlineſſe that is moſt true which is ſo common, not to goe forward in that way is in truth to goe backward. But I ſhall hauehave occaſion againe to ſpeake of this point in handling the exhortation.
To leaue therefore this point, here it may be demanded …how the Apoſtle ſaith that the Philippians had alwaies obeyed, as yee hauehave alwaies obeyed. For in that the Apoſtle doth admoniſh them, eueryevery man to eſteeme other better then himſelfe, as verſe 3. and to doe all things wihout murmuring and reaſoning, as verſe 14. he plainely ſignifieth that there were many faults amongſt them, euen contention, vaine-glory, murmuring, reaſoning, and the like. How then doth he giuegive them this teſtimonie, that they had alwaies obeyed? Lied the Apoſtle vntounto them, or did he flatter them? God forbid: let God be true, and eueryevery man a lyer. He lieth not vntounto them, neither doth he flatter them, and yet their obedience vntounto God, and vntounto his word, was not perfect; for no doubt ſuch faults were amongſt them, as already we hauehave ſpoken of. In this ſenſe then we are to vnderſtand the Apoſtle, when he commendeth the Philippians as hauing alwaies obeyed God and his word; not as if there had nothing lacked in their obedience: for in many things we ſinne all; Iam. 3.2.and if wee ſay that we hauehave no ſinne, we deceiue our ſelues, 1 Ioh. 1.8.and the truth is not in vsus: but therefore are they ſaid alwaies to hauehave obeyed, becauſe howſoeuer their obedience in it ſelfe was vnperfect, yet was it vntounto them reputed as perfect, becauſe through faith they were ingrafted in Chriſt, and for his ſake their very deſire to liue godly was accepted with God as a life moſt holy. For ſuch is the fruit of our communion with Chriſt, that being ingrafted into his bodie, and made bone of his bone, and fleſh of his fleſh, through him, and for him, our faith in him is accounted to vsus for righteouſneſſe, and our very deſire to liue goldy in this preſent world, is accounted vntounto vsus for holineſſe of life. If there were no other proofe for this point, but euen this whereof I ſpeake, that the Apoſtle here maketh reckoning of the Philippians as hauing alwaies obeyed, though there lacked much in their obedience, becauſe they beleeued in Chriſt, and deſired to liue godly, it were enough: but the ſcriptures eueryevery where witneſſe the ſame.
Here then we hauehave an exceeding great comfort in Chriſt Ieſus, that howſoeuer our obedience be vnperfit, yet if we beleeue perfitly in Chriſt Ieſus, and ſtudie to liue ſoberly, and righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world, it is accounted as if we had alwaies obeyed. Our iniquities are forgiuen, one ſinnes are couered, our infirmities are paſſed ouer, our vnrighteouſnes is not imputed vntounto vsus; only that which we hauehave well done is had in remembrance, and if we hauehave giuen but a cup of cold water in his name, it looſeth not the reward. This is that which doth and may vphold our weary and fainting ſoules, which otherwiſe would fall vnderunder their burthens; and this is that which may & ought to perſwade vsus to follow peace with all men, Heb. 12.14.and holineſſe, without which no man ſhall ſee God.
Not as in my preſence onelyonly, but now much more in mine abſence] In theſe words the Apoſtle lightly toucheth a defect in their obedience, that it was not altogether ſuch now in his abſence from them, as it was when he was preſent with them; but he doth not touch it as with purpoſe much to note them for it, but his drift rather is in theſe words to inſtruct them in the qualitie of their obedience, that it ought not to be fained, as ſeruice onelyonly to the eye, but it ought to be ſincere, and from a pure heart, as vntounto the Lord who ſeeth all, and is preſent eueryevery where.
Here one or two things may be noted but only by the way, becauſe the Apoſtle doth onelyonly lightly touch them, and as it were by the way aduiſe vsus of them. 1. In that the Apoſtle …mplieth a change in them now in his abſence from them, which was nto in his preſence with them, thence we may note …ow requiſite the preſence of the Paſtor with his people is. True it is, that the Apoſtle was not their Paſtor, but ſent to reach vntounto the Gentiles in all places, and Epaphroditus was …heir Miniſter, who remained with them after Pauls departure …rom them. But if in Paules abſence from them, when yet …heir Miniſter was preſent with them, they began in a ſhort …pace ſomewhat to decline, how can we thinke but that they muſt needes decline where their Paſtor is neuer with them? Where prophecying faileth the people periſh; and when the Paſtor is not preſent, the Wolfe commeth, and the flocke is ſcattered.
2. In that the Apoſtle onelyonly lightly toucheth a defect in …heir obedience, but not with purpoſe much to note it in …hem, we may note what care is to be taken, that we doe not ſharply cenſure eueryevery defect or fault which is in the godly. Some things in them muſt be lightly paſſed ouer, and they muſt be drawne on with all kindneſſe and meeknes to runne on in the race that is ſet before them. The godly is admoniſhed by a word, but the wicked goeth on in his folly, and careth not what is ſaid.
But chiefly hence we are to note the qualitie of our obedience vntounto our God, that it ought not to be fained, as ſeruice to the eye, but ſincere, and from a pure heart, as vntounto him that ſeeth all, and is preſent eueryevery where. Which of vsus is there that will commend that ſeruant, which is onelyonly an eye-ſeruant, which will worke well in his maſters ſight, but not at all when he is abſent? Nay we will all condemne ſuch a ſeruant. But let vsus take heede that therein we do not giuegive iudgment againſt our ſelues. If onelyonly we make an outward ſhew of holineſſe, and ſerue not the Lord with our whole hearts, making his law our delight, and a ſingle obedience therevnto our chiefe deſire, what are we but eye-ſeruants, and our portion what ſhall it bee but the portion of hypocrites? Beloued, our God whom we ſerue is not as man: he ſeeth all things, he is preſent eueryevery where, he ſearcheth the hearts and the reynes, and he vnderſtandeth all our thought long before they be conceiued. It is no halting with him. Whatſoeuer we doe in the darknes, it is vntounto him as if it were done in the light: for the darknes and light to him are both alike. Gehazi may offend when Eliſha ſees not, and may hope to conceale it from him, becauſe he ſees it not. But if Eliſha can deſcry his fault, how much more can our God deſcry all our waies, how hidden ſoeuer they be? Let vsus therefore walke before him with a ſingle heart; let vsus ſerue him in ſpirit and in truth; let our obedience vntounto him, and vntounto his law ſpring from a pure heart, from a good conſcience, and from an vnfeigned faith. Such obedience he requireth of vsus; and ſuch obedience is the way wherein we muſt walke to our heauenly Ieruſalem.