Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 3 · Lecture 48
LECTƲRE XLVIII.
PHILIP. 3. Verſ. 1.2.
Moreouer, my brethren, reioyce in the Lord. It grieueth me not to write the ſame things vntounto you, and for you it is a ſure &c.
THe holy Apoſtle hauing in the firſt chapter of this Epiſtle, firſt ſignified his good minde towards the Philippians by retaining them in perfect memorie, by his longing after them all from the very heart roote in Ieſus Chriſt, and by his praying for them, and hauing afterward exhorted them that they ſhould not ſhrinke for his impriſonment, becauſe thereby the Goſpell was confirmed and not diminiſhed: In the ſecond Chapter as we hauehave heard, he firſt exhorted them vntounto humility, that putting apart all contention and vaine glory, they would hauehave euen the ſame minde that was in Chriſt Ieſus, who being God humbled himſelfe to be man, and became obedient to the death, euen the death of the Croſſe, and was therefore highly exalted &c. 2. Hauing grounded certaine exhortations vponupon that example of Chriſt his humilitie and obedience, as 1. That they would runne forward in that race of righteouſneſſe wherein God had freely placed them through Ieſus Chriſt, making an end of their ſaluation with feare and trembling; and then that they would doe all things with their neighbours without murmuring and reaſonings, that they might be blameleſſe and pure, and the ſonnes of God &c. The Apoſtle I ſay hauing grounded theſe exhortations vponupon that example of Chriſt his humilitie and obedience. 2. For their comfort and confirmation againſt certaine falſe Apoſtles crept in amongſt them, hee both promiſed to ſend Timothy ſhortly vntounto them, and likewiſe that himſelfe would ſhortly after that come vntounto them, and beſides ſent their Miniſter, Epaphroditus preſently vntounto them. Now in this 3. Chapter the Apoſtle inſtructeth the Philippians in the things wherein the falſe Apoſtles laboured to ſeduce them, and ſo armeth the Philippians againſt them till his comming vntounto them by confuting that falſe doctrine which they deliuered. The doctrine which the falſe Apoſtles deliuered was, that not Chriſt alone, and faith in his name, but circumciſion alſo and the workes of the law were neceſſarie vntounto iuſtification, and ſaluation. Which doctrine the Apoſtle doth at large confute in the Epiſtle to the Galathians, becauſe they had ſuffered themſelues to be ſeduced and bewitched by it. But here, becauſe the Philippians had manfully withſtood it, and giuen it no place amongſt them, the Apoſtle very briefly confuteth it, and proueth that our righteouſneſſe is onelyonly by Chriſt, and faith in his name, not at all by the works of the Law. The principall parts of this Chap…er are three: 1. He exhorteth them to beware of falſe Teachers, verſe 2. and inſtructeth them in that truth which the falſe Apoſtles gaineſay, verſ. 3. 2. The Apoſtle propoſeth himſelfe as an imbracer of that truth touching mans righteouſneſſe which they were to embrace, à verſ. 4. ad 15. Laſtly, hee exhorteth them to embrace and hold faſt the ſame truth with him, and to walke as they hauehave him for an enſample, from verſ. 15. to the end of the Chapter. Now before he come to the handling of any of theſe principall parts, 1. He ſetteth downe this exhortation, reioyce in the Lord, as a concluſion of that which went before, & as a ground of that which followeth. 2. He excuſeth h…mſelfe for writing now the ſame things by epiſtle which before he had taught them by word of mouth. That the exhortation is ſet downe partly by way of concluſion of that which he had ſpoken before, may appeare by the entrance vntounto it, in that he ſaith, Moreouer &c. For it is as if the Apoſtle had thus ſaid: hitherto ye hauehave been full of heauines partly for my bonds and impriſonment,Phil. 1.12.14. & partly for Epaphroditus your miniſter his ſicknes Now for my bonds, they, …s I hauehave told you, hauehave turned rather to the furthering of the Goſpell, inaſmuch as many of the brethren in the Lord are boldned through my bonds to ſpeake the word, and now ſo it is that I am in good hope ſhortly to be deliuered from my bonds, and to come vntounto you. Again, for Epaphroditus God hath had mercy vponupon him, and now he is returned vntounto you in good and perfect health. What therefore now remaineth my brethren, but that ye be glad and reioyce in the Lord, in the Lord I ſay whom before I hauehave deſcribed vntounto you, in that Lord who being in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God, yet made himſelfe of no reputation, and tooke on him the forme of a ſeruant, &c. Reioyce, for that there is no other cauſe but that ye ſhould reioyce, but reioice in the Lord who became man for you, died for your ſinnes, roſe againe for your iuſtification, ſetteth at the right hand of God to make requeſt for you, vntounto whom eueryevery knee in that day ſhall bowe, and confeſſe that he is the Lord, reioyce in him. Againe, it is partly ſet downe as a ground of that which followeth; as if the Apoſtle ſhould thus hauehave ſaid; I hauehave already as in a glaſſe preſented vntounto your view the great myſterie of godlineſſe, euen God manifeſted in the fleſh, iuſtified in the ſpirit, 1 Tim. 3.16.ſeene of Angels, preached vntounto the Gentiles, belieued on in the world, and receiued vp into glory. He it is, and he alone it is that is made of God vntounto you wiſedome, and righteouſneſſe, and ſanctification, and redemption that hee that reioyceth might reioyce in him. Reioyce therefore in him, and beware of ſuch as teach you to reioyce in any thing but in him. Thus ye ſee how this exhortation is partly a concluſion of that which went before, and partly a ground and foundation of that which followeth. The excuſe which followeth, is to meete with that conceit which the Philippians happily might hauehave vponupon his often admonition. Firſt by word, and now by writing, to beware of falſe Apoſtles. For thus the Apoſtle thought they might conceiue, and thinke with themſelues; you hauehave often when you were with vsus admoniſhed vsus of falſe Apoſtles and Teachers, when you taught vsus and preached vntounto vsus Chriſt Ieſus you ceaſed not to warne vsus to beware of ſuch as would ſeeke to ſeduce vsus from that truth which you taught vsus; and wee hauehave beene diligent ſo to doe, neither hauehave we giuen place to any of their doctrines: And therefore you needed not to hauehave troubled your ſelfe; this admonition needed not to vsus, The Apoſtle therefore to meete with this telleth them, that for him it is no griefe or trouble to him at all to write the ſame things vntounto them which before hee had taught them by word of mouth, and for them hee telleth them that it is a ſure and a ſafe thing that they be often admoniſhed of falſe Teachers, that ſo they may be the more warie of them. Thus much for the vnderſtanding of theſe words. Now before wee proceed any farther, let vsus ſee what obſeruations we may gather hence. For our vſe and inſtruction.
The 1. thing which here I note is the maner how the Apoſtle doth exhort the Philippians, which is in moſt milde, and kinde, and good ſort, ſpeaking vntounto them as vntounto his brethren, yea calling them his brethren: not that they were his brethren naturally according to the fleſh by carnall generation, but his brethren in Chriſt, begotten in one wombe of the Church the ſpouſe of Chriſt, vntounto one God the father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and father of vsus all, by one immortall ſeed the word of God, through one ſpirit whereinto we are all baptized, borne by ſpirituall generation not of bloud, nor of the will of the fleſh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Exhorting then the Philippians whom hee had begotten in the faith vntounto Chriſt by his miniſterie, hee ſpeaketh vntounto them as vntounto his brethren in Chriſt moſt mildly, and kindly, and louingly. So we ſee he doth in the ſecond Chapter and twelfth verſe, where exhorting them to humilitie and obedience, and to finiſh their ſaluation with feare and trembling, hee ſpeaketh thus vntounto them, wherefore my beloued, as ye hauehave alwaies obeyed &c. So in the next Chapter he ioyneth both theſe together, and a great deale more, and ſaith, Therefore my brethren, beloued and longed for, my ioy and my crowne &c. Moſt milde and louing exhortations. And wherefore vſeth hee ſuch mildneſſe in his exhortations vntounto them? No doubt the rather to winne them to hearken vntounto him and vntounto that whereto hee exhorteth them. For as ſharpe and bitter words often ſtirres vp ſtriefe and anger, ſo a ſoft tongue, milde and louing ſpeeches much auaile to effect that which a man deſires. Here then is a leſſon for vsus whom God hath ſet apart vntounto the holy worke of his miniſterie, that we ſhould not onelyonly be carefull to inſtruct …hem that heare vsus in the wholeſome words of truth, but that a meekneſſe alſo of ſpirit wee ſhould exhort them vntounto the things that belong vntounto their peace. A thing practiſed by Chriſt himſelfe, and practiſed likewiſe by the Apoſtles of Ieſus Chriſt, as by many places in the new Teſtament it may eaſily appeare. Here then happily you will ſay vntounto me, how is it then that many of you are ſo ſharpe and eager in ſpeech? how is it that ye follow not the practiſe of Chriſt, and of his Apoſtles? We are indeed ſometimes ſharpe, wee come ſometimes with a rodde, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes, yea ſometimes we bring an axe with vsus, and lay it to the roote of the tree to cut it downe, that it may be caſt into the fire, ſometimes we pluck vp, and roote out, and throw downe, ſometimes wee ſtrike, and wound, and kill, and herein wee follow the practiſe of Chriſt, and of his Apoſtles. Would it not ſeem a ſharp ſpeech vntounto you, if we ſhould lift vp our voices, and crie,Mat. 12.34. Ioh. 8.44. O generation of vipers, how can ye ſpeake good things when yee are euill? or if …e ſhould ſay, ye are of your father the Deuill, and the luſts of your father ye will doe: or if we ſhould ſay, ye fooles, Luc. 11 40.42.43. &c.did not hee that made that which is without, make that which is within alſo? or if we ſhould come with woe vponupon woe vntounto ſuch and ſuch men. And yet ſpeaking thus we ſhould ſpeake no otherwiſe then our Sauiour Chriſt did. Did not the Apoſtle likewiſe vſe ſharpe peaches vntounto the Galathians, when he ſaid vntounto them,Galat. 3.1.3. O fooliſh Galathians, who hath bewitched you that yee ſhould not obey the truth? are ye ſo fooliſh that after ye hauehave begunne in the ſpirit, yee would now be made perfit by the fleſh? And did not Iames likewiſe vſe great ſharpnes & boldnes of ſpeach againſt richmen, ſaying,Iam. 5.1.2.3.4.5.6. Go to now ye rich men, weepe and houle for your miſeries that ſhall come vponupon you &c. ye hauehave liued in pleaſure on the earth, and in wantones: ye hauehave nouriſhed your hearts as in a day of ſlaughter: ye hauehave condēned & killed the iuſt, and he hath not reſiſted you, therefore we be ſometimes ſomewhat rough and ſharpe ye ſee we do not therein ſwarue from the rule and practiſe of Chriſt, or his Apoſtles.Eccleſ. 3.1.3. To all things (ſaith the Preacher) there is an appointed time, and a time to eueryevery purpoſe vnderunder the heauen. A time to ſlay, and a time to heale; a time to breake downe, and a time to build &c. So I ſay there is a time to bee rough and ſharpe, and there is a time to be milde and gentle; there is a time to ſtrike and wound, and there is a time to comfort and to heale. The ſame God that came in a ſoft and ſtill voice vntounto Eliah, 1 Reg. 19.12. Num. 16.32. Leuit. 10.2.and not in the earthquake, not in the fire, came vntounto Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in the earthquake, and vntounto Nadab and Abihu in the fire, and the one ſort were deuoured by the earthquake, and the other ſort by the fire. When men are hardened in ſinne and will not be awaked out of the dead-ſleepe whereinto they are fallen, when men ſtop their eares at the voice of the charmer charme he neuer ſo wiſely, and will not hearken and obey; when men come to that height of impiety that either they ſay with the foole in their hearts, there is no God, or elſe make the queſtion whether there be knowledge in the moſt high, when the fruits of vngodlineſſe and vn…ghteouſneſſe, I ſay not beginne to ſhoote out their heads, and to ſhake their lippes, but to ſwarme like the graſhoppers in Egypt, then I trow it is a time to be ſharpe, to ſpeake out of mount Sinai in thunder and in lightening, to denounce the threatnings of the law, and the iudgements of Gods mouth againſt all vngodlineſſe and iniquitie, and to lay the axe vntounto the very roote of the tree to ſtrike, and wound, and to kill ſinne if it be poſſible. Againe, when the ſoule is afflicted and brought low through any plague or trouble, when the ſorowfull heart ſhrinketh in the way and groneth vnderunder the burthen of his ſinne, when men beginne to loath and deteſt thoſe wicked waies wherein they hauehave walked, and to long and thirſt after the things that belong vntounto their peace, then it is as a time to come in the ſpirit of meekneſſe, to ſpeake comfortably vntounto the heart, to raiſe vp them that are fallen with all kinde ſpeeches, and in all louing manner to lead them on a long beſides the water of comfort. As therefore the times doe require ſo we come with a rodde, or in the ſpirit of meekneſſe, and becauſe commonly in our congregations there be both ſome ſuch as neede to be wounded, and againe ſome ſuch as neede to be healed, therefore it is that in our Sermons we doe both ſharpely reproue, and mildly exhort. The ſinner that goeth on in the wickedneſſe of his way, and runneth headlong into many and noyſome luſts, we ſharply reproue, that we may reclaime him from the wickedneſſe of his way, and that wee may pull him as a brand out of the fire leſt he ſhould periſh in the day of Chriſt. But ſuch as are grieued becauſe they are out of the right way, and grope after it if happily they might finde it, them we reſtore with the ſpirit of meekneſſe, wee poure oyle into their wounds, with all mildneſſe wee exhort them, and we miniſter what word of comfort wee can vntounto them. Nay whatſoeuer ſharpneſſe at any time we doe vſe, yet ſtill we exhort you with all mildneſſe, whether it be that wee exhort you to continue in the grace wherein ye ſtand, and to hold faſt your hope vntounto the end, or to turne from the wickedneſſe of your way, and to make ſtreight ſteppes vntounto your feete, that that which is halting may be healed. And if the heart… of our people might be healed onelyonly by applying gentle medicines without cutting and launcing their ſores, onelyonly by pouring, ſupplying oyle without pouring vineger into their wounds, why ſhould any man thinke that we would vſe ſharpeneſſe of ſpeech? Nay it would be our ſoules ioy if our meditations for the things that we bring vntounto you might bee wholly and only ſet and ſetled on the ſweet comforts of the Goſpell, that all our ſpeeches vntounto you might be of the mercies of God vntounto vsus in Chriſt Ieſus. Our deſire is to preſent you pure and blameleſſe, not hauing ſpot or wrinckle, or any ſuch thing, in that day. Hauing this deſire, if any of our ſheep wander and go aſtray beare with vsus if with the good ſheep heard we ſometimes vſe the hooke, nay if ſometime… wee ſet our dogge after them, & pinch them to bring them in againe. But aboue all things hauehave care that wee may ſtill ſpeake vntounto you as vntounto our brethren, ſonnes of one father with vsus, children of one wombe with vsus, baptized by one ſpirit into one body with vsus, continuing in one fellowſhip of Gods Saints with vsus, and walking with vsus by one rule in the ſame way vntounto our Country and Citie which is aboue, where Chriſt which is our head hath taken poſſeſſion for vsus. Let vsus walke and talke as brethren, and let vsus proceed by one rule, that wee may minde one thing. And thus much of this obſeruation. It followeth.
Reioyce in the Lord] We hauehave ſpoken already of the manner of the Apoſtle his exhortation: Now in theſe words I note the matter of his exhortation, which is to reioyce, but not ſo ſimply, but to reioyce in the Lord. The like exhortation the Apoſtle alſo maketh in the next chapter, where he ſaith, Reioyce in the Lord alway, Phil. 4 4.againe I ſay, Reioyce. The like whereunto the Apoſtle alſo in another place maketh out of the Prophet,2 Cor. 10.17 Jer. 9 24. 1 Th. 5.16. where hee ſaith, Let him that reioyceth, reioyce in the Lord. In the Epiſtle to the Theſſalonians he only ſaith, Reioyce euermore; but the meaning is all one with that in the next chapter, Reioyce in the Lord alway. Hence then we may obſerue what and wherein the Chriſtian mans ioy and reioycing ought to be: his ioy and reioycing is and ought to bee in the Lord. To be glad, and to be merry, and to reioyce, is a thing which the heart of man very much euen naturally deſireth, ſo that there needeth no precept or exhortation at all that wee ſhould reioyce: but what and wherein our reioycing ſhould be, is a matter very well worthy our due and diligent conſideration. Looke abroad into the world, and ſee; a man ſhall there ſee gladneſſe of heart and reioycing enough: but what, and wherein? The rich and wealthy man hee reioyceth and cheereth his heart in his wealth and riches, in his lands and poſſeſſions, in the glory of his houſe, and in the ſtore that hee hath. The ſtrong man hee glorieth and reioyceth in hi… ſtrength, the wiſe man in his wiſdome, the great and honourable man in his greatneſſe and in his honour, the wanton in his pleaſures, the riotous perſon in his riotouſneſſe, and generally the wicked man in his wickedneſſe. Nay is it not with vsus as it was in the dayes of the Prophet Eſay with Ieruſalem? In the day that the Lord God of hoſts cals vntounto weeping and mourning, and to baldneſſe, and girding with ſackcloth, Eſa. 22.12.13.is there not ioy and gladneſſe, ſlaying oxen, and killing ſheepe, eating fleſh, and drinking wine, eating and drinking, for to morrow wee ſhall die? Doe wee not, as the Prophet Amos ſpeaketh, in this day wherein Gods iudgements lie ſo heauie vponupon vsus, and vponupon our whole land, doe wee not (I ſay) put farre from vsus the euill day, Amos 6.3.4.and approach to the ſeat of iniquitie, lying vponupon beds of Yuorie, and ſtretching our ſelues vponupon our beds, eating the lambes of the flockes, and the calues out of the ſtall, ſinging to the ſound of the viole, 5.6.drinking wine in boules, and anointing our ſelues with the chiefe ointments, but no man almoſt remembring the affliction of Ioſeph? Yes ſurely eueryevery where almoſt wee may ſee men following their wonted pleaſures, and reioycing themſelues in their wonted delights, as if the hand of the Lord were not vponupon vsus. But ſuch carnall and worldly reioycing is not good. Nay vntounto ſuch as thus reioyce, fixing their only ioy and delight on the things of this world, and on the vanities of this life, our Sauiour Chriſt pronounceth a woe, ſaying, Woe be to you that now laugh, Luk. 6.25.for yee ſhall waile and weepe. This is the fearfull iudgement of God vponupon them that reioyce in the fleſh, and not in the ſpirit. Vnderſtand therefore that there is a two-fold ioy and reioycing; one in the fleſh, another in the ſpirit; one carnall and ſenſuall, another ſpirituall and Chriſtian; one in the world, another in the Lord. The carnall and worldly reioycing is, when putting farre from vsus the remembrance of the euill day, wee reioyce more in the pleaſures of ſinne and the tranſitorie things of this world, then wee doe in the things that belong vntounto our peace. Such was the reioycing of him that when he had pulled downe his barnes, and builded greater,Luk. 12.18.19. and therein laid all his fruits and his goods, ſaid vntounto his ſoule, Soule thou haſt much goods laid vp for many yeeres, liue at eaſe, eat, drinke, and take thy paſtime. And ſuch is the reioycing of men commonly at this day, as already hath beene noted. And true it is which wiſe Salomon ſaith, Fooliſhneſſe is ioy to him that is deſtitute of vnderſtanding; that is,Pro. 15.21. euen wickedneſſe and ſinne is a matter of mirth and delight to the wicked and vngodly man.I…b 20.5. But it is as true which Zophar ſaith, That the reioycing of the wicked is ſhort, and that the ioy of hypocrites is but a moment.
Beſides this carnall and worldly reioycing, there is alſo a Chriſtian and ſpirituall reioycing, which is, when ſetting our hearts on the Lord as on our chiefeſt good, wee ſo reioyce in the things of this life, as that wee count them all loſſe and dung in compariſon of that reioycing which wee hauehave in Chriſt Ieſus; when remembring the mercifull goodneſſe and louing kindneſſe of our good God, nothing can ſo much daunt vsus, but that our heart daunceth for ioy, and our ſoules are rauiſhed with reioycing thereat. Wilt thou then reioyce, or know how and wherein to reioyce, O man that feareſt the Lord? Reioyce in the Lord: reioyce in thoſe ſpirituall bleſſings wherewithall God hath bleſſed thee in heauenly things in Chriſt Ieſus: reioyce in thine election in Chriſt Ieſus vntounto eternall life before the foundation of the world: reioyce in the workmanſhip of thy creation after Gods owne image, in thy redemption by the bloud of Chriſt Ieſus, when through diſobedience thou hadſt for euer caſt thy ſelfe away; in thine adoption through Ieſus Chriſt into the number of the ſonnes of God; in thy reconciliation with God the Father by the interceſſion and mediation of Chriſt Ieſus; in thy vocation vntounto the knowledge of the truth by the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus; in thine incorporation into the myſticall body of Chriſt Ieſus by the powerfull operation of the ſpirit; in thy iuſtification and free forgiueneſſe of thy ſinnes by faith in the bloud of Chriſt Ieſus; in thy ſanctification by the ſpirit of grace vntounto ſome meaſure of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe in this life; in thy regeneration vntounto a liuely hope in Chriſt Ieſus, and in the aſſured confidence of thy glorification after this life with Ieſus, who ſhall change thy vile body, that it may be faſhioned like vntounto his glorious body, &c. Herein is the Chriſtian mans reioycing, and here is matter of reioycing indeed. All reioycing in all things in the world whatſoeuer, what is it in compariſon of this reioycing? Surely as euen now wee heard out of Iob, it is ſhort, and but a moment. Nay I ſay more, Whatſoeuer men imagine with themſelues, yet indeed there is no true ioy, no ſound reioycing, but this reioycing in the Lord. Other ioyes in other things may happily for the time ſomewhat affect vsus, and pleaſe our fancies, and tickle our outward ſenſes, and delight our outward man: but that that warmes the heart, that that cheeres the ſoule, that that makes the inner man to pant and to leape for ioy, thats the ioy in the holy Ghoſt, and reioycing in the Lord. And this is it which ſtickes by a man in his life, and in his death forſakes him not. Yea, when in the throwes and pangs of death he ſhall ſay of all other ioyes whatſoeuer, I hauehave no pleaſure in them, then in this ioy his ſoule ſhall reioyce, through this ioy hee ſhall ioyfully wreſtle with death, and becauſe of this ioy hee ſhall not feare death, nor the graue, but deſire to bee looſed, and to be with Chriſt. Let the carnall, and worldly, and ſenſuall men therefore bragge and boaſt as much as they will, that they leade the only ioyfull and pleaſant liues, and let them obiect vntounto the godly Chriſtian as much as they will, a lumpiſh, and momiſh, and ſowre life, wherein he hath no ioy or pleaſure at all, yet ſhall the day come when they ſh…ll change their mindes, and ſigh for grife of minde,Wiſd. 5.3. and ſay within themſelues: Theſe are they whom ſometimes we had in deriſion, and in a parable of reproach.4. We fooles thought wee had the world at will, and thought their life madneſſe; but how are they counted among the children of God,5. and their portion is among the Saints. Thus, I ſay, ſhall they ſay when they ſhall perceiue that the life which they thought the only ioyfull life, was indeed the moſt miſerable life. So that when the count is indeed truly caſt, wee ſhall finde that onelyonly the true Chriſtian hath ſound ioy of heart, and that there is no ſound reioycing but this reioycing in the Lord.
Yea but how ſhall wee know this, that indeed wee doe reioyce in the Lord? For wee are inclined naturally to flatter our ſelues, and wee will ſay that wee reioyce in the Lord and perhaps thinke ſo too, when indeed wee doe not. How then ſhall wee know that wee doe truly reioyce in the Lord? The wicked indeed, whoſe hearts are ſet on other pleaſures, wherein no true ioyes are to be found, they know not what …t meaneth, yea it ſeemeth meere madneſſe and fooliſhneſſe vntounto them. But for vsus thus wee ſhall know that we reioyce in the Lord in whom alone true ioyes are to be found. 1. Conſider and ſee what longing and thirſting there is in thee after the hearing, and reading, and meditating in the holy word of life, what comfort and peace of conſcience thy ſoule findeth in the holy word of life, how thy heart is enlarged when thou heareſt or readeſt the ſweete promiſes of God in Chriſt Ieſus, what a gladneſſe vntounto thy ſoule it is that Chriſt is made of God vntounto vsus wiſedome, and righteouſneſſe, and ſanctification, and redemption, how ſtedfaſtly thou cleaueſt in thy heart vntounto thy God, and how ſoule-rauiſht thou art with the louelove of thy Chriſt by meditation in the word; conſider I ſay and ſee theſe things, and hereby thou ſhalt ſee whether thou doſt truly reioyce in the Lord.Ioh. 15.11. Theſe things, ſaith our Sauiour Chriſt, I hauehave ſpoken vntounto you that my ioy might remaine in you, and that your ioy might be full. If then thus we be affected toward the word of Chriſt that we long and thirſt thereafter euen as the chaſed heart after the water brookes, if wee finde in it ſuch peace, and comfort, and contentation of ſoule, if through it we belieue in Chriſt though we ſee him not, and in his promiſes, if we louelove him, & reioyce in him with ioy vnſpeakable and glorious, this is a certaine effect, and ſo a ſure proofe of our reioycing in the Lord. Nay if wee hauehave a good meaſure of this reioycing in and through the word, though not ſuch complement as we hauehave ſpoken of, yet euen this is a ſure argument of our reioycing in the Lord; for then alone ſhall this reioycing be fully perfect when wee ſhall ſee him face to face, and when wee ſhall know euen as wee are knowne, not in part onelyonly.
Another effect of this reioycing in the Lord is, that it cauſeth vsus to reioyce in tribulations, in afflictions, in tentations, euen in death, and in the panges and paines thereof. Conſider then and ſee how thou art affected in the day of thy trouble, what comfort thou findeſt in thy ſoule when in the world thou doſt ſuffer afflictions, what ioy thou findeſt in thine inner man when thine outward man is compaſſed about with ſorowes; conſider I ſay and ſee theſe things, and therby thou ſhalt alſo ſee whether indeed & truly thou doſt reioyce in the Lord: for as the Apoſtle ſaith, by Chriſt wee reioyce in tribulations, knowing that tribulation bringeth forth patience, Rom. 5 3.and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not aſhamed. If then when wee ſuffer afflictions in the world, we can be of good comfort becauſe our Chriſt hath ouercome the world; if when wee are reuiled and perſecu…ed, and all manne… of euill words are ſpoken againſt vsus falſly for Chriſt his ſake, wee can reioyce and be glad for that reward that is laid vp for vsus in heauen; if in the ſorrowes of death wee can patiently wait for the Lord, and gladly deſire to be looſed, and to bee with Chriſt, this is a certaine effect, and ſo a ſure proofe of our reioycing in the Lord: for therefore are wee not ouer come of ſorrowes in the middeſt of troubles, becauſe of that our reioycing in the Lord which is within vsus, and which no man can take from vsus. A third effect of thi… reioycing in the Lord is, that it cauſeth vsus to count all things loſſe and dung in compariſon of Chriſt, ſo that wee ſeaze him and poſſeſſe him not of a part alone of our reioycing, but of our whole reioycing, which is the effect ſpoken of in this chapter, as hereafter wee ſhall perceiue. Conſider then and ſee whether thy reioycing be entire in thy Chriſt, whether thou canſt finde any ſound ioy but in thy Chriſt, whether thou ſtand ſo faſt as that nothing ſhall take away any part of thy reioycing in thy Chriſt, and giuegive it to any other: conſider, I ſay, and ſee theſe things, and thereby alſo thou ſhalt ſee whether thou reioyceſt truly in the Lord. When many of Chriſt his Diſciples went backe, he ſaid vntounto the twelue, Will yee alſo goe away? I…hn 6.67 68.Then Simon Peter anſwered him, Maſter to whom ſhall wee goe? Thou haſt the words of eternall life. If then we whoſoeuer reioyce in other things, yet wee reioyce in Chriſt Ieſus, if wee cleaue ſtedfaſtly vntounto him, knowing that there is no ſound ioy without him, if wee make him both the deskant and the dittie of our ſong, and the whole matter of our reioycing, this is alſo a certaine effect and ſure proofe of our reioycing in the Lord, for by our reioycing in him wee die vntounto all other ioyes, knowing that there is no ſound ioy but in him.
Let vsus remember what great things hee hath done for vsus, and what cauſe we hauehave to reioyce in his holy name. He that gaue him to vsus, and him to death for vsus, he hath together with him giuen vsus all things alſo. Let vsus therefore reioyce in him, and let our reioycing in him ſhew it ſelfe by our reioycing in and through the word, by our reioycing in all our tribula…ions and afflictions, and by dying vntounto all other ioyes which are without him. In him is ſound ioy, and in him is all ioy; if we beleeue in him wee will reioyce in him, if we reioyce ioyce in him wee ſhall not feare death, but when death comes we ſhall deſire to be looſed, and to be with Chriſt.