Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 3 · Lecture 58
LECTƲRE LVIII.
PHILIP. 3. Verſe 10.
And the vertue of his reſurrection, and the fellowſhip of his afflictions &c.
THat I may know him, and the vertue] That is, and that I may know the vertue of his reſurrection, .i. that I may daily more and more feele in my ſelfe the vertue of Chriſt his death & reſurrection, .i. that I may daily more & more die vntounto ſinne, and liue vntounto righteouſneſſe by the power of the ſpirit which raiſed vp Chriſt Ieſus from the dead. For by reſurrection in this place I vnderſtand both Chriſt his death and reſurrection: and by the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection, I vnderſtand not that power whereby Chriſt ouercame death, and roſe againe from the dead, but that regeneration, that dying vntounto ſinne, and liuing vntounto righteouſneſſe which the Holy Ghoſt worketh in vsus by the power of Chriſt his death, and reſurrection. The third vantage then which the Apoſtle reckons vponupon by diſclaiming al righteouſnes by his own works, and reioycing onelyonly in Chriſt Ieſus is, that hereby he ſhall know the vertue of Chriſt his reſurrection in himſelfe, whereby he ſhall daily more and more die vntounto ſinne, and liue vntounto righteouſneſſe, which vertue of his reſurrection he greatly deſired to know, and which otherwiſe he could not know. So that it is as if the Apoſtle had thus ſaid: I doe iudge all my owne workes whatſoeuer to be but dung, and quite renounce all confidence in my owne righteouſneſſe, to the end that being iuſtified by the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt through faith in him, I may know, and daily more and more feele in my ſe…e by the powerfull operation of the Holy Ghoſt the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection, whereby I may die vntounto ſinne, and liue vntounto God in righteouſnes and true holineſſe. Thus much for the ſenſe. Now for the obſeruations.
And that I may know the vertue.] Here firſt I note the Apoſtles great deſire to know and to feele in himſelfe by the worke of the holy Ghoſt the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection. He reckoned this knowledge amongſt the chiefe vantages which he had in Chriſt Ieſus, and for this vantage ſake he made no reckoning at all of his owne righteouſneſſe by any workes that hee had wrought. Such a longing and thirſting deſire hee had to know the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection. He knew Chriſt his death and reſurrection, that he died, and was buried, and that hee roſe againe the third day; but hee deſired to know the vertue of his death and reſurrection. He knew likewiſe this vertue of Chriſt his death, that thereby he had vanquiſhed ſinne, death, and the deuill, and this vertue of his reſurrection, that thereby hee had purchaſed for him righteouſneſſe, life, and euerlaſting ſaluation: but he deſired to know and to feele in himſelfe the death of ſinne by the vertue of his death, and the life of righteouſneſſe and holineſſe by the vertue of his reſurrection. This vertue alſo of Chriſt his death and reſurrection he knew, in that hee felt in himſelfe by the power of the ſpirit a dying vntounto ſinne, and a liuing vntounto righteouſneſſe: but hee deſired to feele this vertue of his death and reſurrection in himſelfe daily more and more, that hee might daily more and more die in the old man, and be quickened in the new man, that in eueryevery combat betweene the fleſh and the ſpirit, the fleſh might daily more and more be ſubdued to the ſpirit.
Whence I obſerue, what a vehement and earneſt deſire there ſhould be in vsus all to know and to feele in our ſelues the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection, and in whom there is ſome feeling thereof, to know and to feele it in themſelues daily more and more. Wee all of vsus know that Chriſt died for our ſinnes, and that he roſe againe for the full accompliſhment of our iuſtification: wee know that by the power of his death wee are deliuered from the firſt and from the ſecond death, from the death of ſinne in this life, and from the death of damnation for ſinne after this life, and that by the power of his reſurrection wee hauehave our part both in the firſt and in the ſecond reſurrection, in the firſt reſurrection from ſinne vntounto righteouſneſſe, and in the ſecond reſurrection from the power of the graue vntounto life euerlaſting. Wee know that wee are buried with Chriſt by baptiſme into his death, that like as he was raiſed vp from the dead by the glory of the Father, ſo wee alſo ſhould walke in newneſſe of life. We know that if we be grafted with Chriſt to the ſimilitude of his death, dying vntounto ſinne by the power of his death, euen ſo wee ſhall be to the ſimilitude of his reſurrection, liuing vntounto God by the power of his reſurrection. Theſe things (I ſay) wee know, at leaſt we ſhould know, and I wiſh that they were farre better and more knowne then they are. But there is a further knowledge of the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection, which in our ſoules wee muſt long and thirſt after. This is the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection that we muſt long and thirſt after, to know and to feele in our ſelues the death of ſinne, and the life of God, to know and to feele in our ſelues that the ſtrength of ſinne is abated in our fleſh, and that the life of God is renewed in the ſpirit of our minde, to know and to feele in our ſelues a loathing of ſinne, and a louelove of righteouſneſſe, to know and to feele in our ſelues a mortification of the fleſh with the affections and the luſts, and a quickening in our ſpirit by the fruits of the ſpirit, to know and to feele in our ſelues that delight which ſometimes wee tooke in vnrighteouſneſſe, in vncleanneſſe, in couetouſneſſe, in pride, in crueltie, in contention, or the like ſinnes, to be cooled, and a deſire to liue righteouſly, and ſoberly, and godly in this preſent world, to bee kindled in vsus. For hereby we know in our ſelues the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection, if we feele in our ſelues this mortification of the old man, and this quickening in our inner man: when his death workes the death of ſinne in vsus, when his reſurrection workes the life of God in vsus, then wee know in our ſelues the vertue of his death and reſurrection. The ſacrament hereof is the ſacrament of baptiſme: for when wee are baptized, wee are baptized into the ſimilitude of his death, that like as he died once for ſinne, ſo we ſhould euer die vntounto ſinne, and into the ſimilitude of his reſurrection, that like as he roſe from the dead, ſo wee which were dead in ſinne ſhould not henceforth ſerue ſinne, but liue vntounto God in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe. Euen our baptiſme doth witneſſe vntounto vsus, that ſo many of vsus as are baptized into Chriſt Ieſus, wee ſhould die vntounto ſinne, and liue vntounto God in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe. Which death vntounto ſinne, and life vntounto God, ſeeing the holy ſpirit of God doth worke in vsus by the power of Chriſt his death and reſurrection, how ſhould we not moſt earneſtly deſire to know and to feele in our ſelues the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection?
But doe wee deſire to know and to feele in our ſelues the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection? Doe we with our Apoſtle in this place reckon this knowledge amongſt our chiefeſt vantages? Nay alas we know it not, neither care we to know it: for what dying vntounto ſinne and liuing vntounto God is there amongſt vsus? In whom is the ſtrength of ſinne abated, and the life of God renewed in the ſpirit of his minde? Doth the Atheiſt leaue his Atheiſme, and embrace godlineſſe? Doth the couetous perſon leaue off to ſet his affection on the things which are on the earth, and ſet his affection on the things which are aboue? Doth the cruell oppreſſor leaue off to grinde the faces of the poore, and beginne to be mercifull? Doth the vſurer leaue off to lend his money vponupon vſurie, and beginne to lend freely? Doth the ſwearer leaue off to ſweare, and beginne to feare an oath? Doth the filthy whore-monger and adulterer leaue off his vncleanneſſe, and beginne to liue chaſtly? Doth the contentious perſon leaue off to brawle and contend with his neighbour, and beginne to louelove quietneſſe? Doth the drunkard leaue his drunkenneſſe, and beginne to liue ſoberly? &c. Doth any prophane and wicked perſon leaue off his prophaneneſſe and wickedneſſe, and beginne to liue righteouſly and godly in this preſent world? Nay ſo farre are wee from dying vntounto ſinne, and liuing vntounto God, that contrariwiſe wee liue vntounto ſinne in ſinne, and wee are dead in reſpect of the life of God. If wee would denie it, yet doe the iudgements of God teſtifie it vntounto our faces. Hath not the ſword beene ſhaken againſt vsus by the hand of a cruell and mercileſſe enemie now a long time? Hath there not beene cleanneſſe of teeth in all our cities, ſcarceneſſe of bread in all our places, euen a great dearth and famine throughout this whole land now a long time? Hath not grieuous ſickneſſe and mortalitie, great plagues and ſtrange diſeaſes taken away many thouſands of our people? And is not the hand of the Lord ſtill ſtretched out againſt vsus? Doe not dearth and famine on one hand, and ſickneſſe and mortalitie on another hand, ſtill deuoure our people? And are not theſe the meſſengers of Gods fierce wrath againſt vsus for our ſinnes? Yes certainly euen for our ſinnes and iniquities are all theſe things come vponupon vsus. And becauſe he hath ſmitten vsus, and wee are not healed, becauſe hee hath laid his puniſhing hand vponupon vsus, and wee hauehave not turned from the wickedneſſe of our wayes vntounto him, therefore his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is ſtretched out ſtill. No man knoweth the vertue of Chriſt his death, or careth to know it, but eueryevery man walketh after the wayes of his owne heart, and drinketh iniquitie like water. No man knoweth the vertue of Chriſt his reſurrection, or careth to know it, but eueryevery man in ſtead of riſing vp vntounto holineſſe of life, riſeth vp to eat, drinke, and play, and therefore doth the hand of God lie ſtill ſo heauie vponupon vsus. O my brethren, at length let vsus follow the counſell of the Apoſtle, let vsus morti…e our earthly members, fornication, vncleanneſſe, the inordinate affection, euill concupiſcence, and couetouſneſſe which is idolatrie, and let vsus bring forth the fruits of the ſpirit. Let vsus crucifie the fleſh with the affections and the luſts, and walke in the ſpirit: Let vsus put off the old man which is corrupt through the deceiueable luſts, and let vsus put on the new man which after God is created in righteouſneſſe and true holines. For this let vsus all know, that whoſoeuer in this life dieth not this death which is vntounto ſinne, no man ſhall deliuer his ſoule from the hand of the ſecond death after this life: and whoſoeuer hath not his part in the firſt reſurrection, which is from ſinne vntounto righteouſneſſe, he ſhall hauehave no part in the ſecond reſurrection, which is vntounto glory and life euerlaſting. And ſuch as doe know and feele in themſelues the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection, them I exhort in the bowels of Chriſt Ieſus, that with the Apoſtle they deſire and labour to know and to feele this vertue in themſelues daily more and more. Stand faſt againſt all the aſſaults of the deuill, and quit your ſelues like men: embrace holineſſe, and follow after righteouſneſſe. While yee liue, the fleſh will rebell againſt the ſpirit, but ſtriue daily more and more to ſubdue the fleſh vntounto the ſpirit. Conſider with your ſelues with all godly care what ſinne it is that moſt doth haunt you, couetouſneſſe, or licentiouſneſſe, or pride, or hatred, or ſwearing, or lying, or the like, and fight againſt that, labour daily more and more againſt that, ſeeke daily more and more to cruſh that in the head. Againe, conſider with your ſelues what good thing yee are too dull and ſlacke vntounto, hearing of the word, or liberalitie to the poore, or patience in aduerſitie, or the like, and labour daily more and more vntounto that, follow daily more and more after that, ſeeke daily more and more after that. In a word, ſtirre vp eueryevery good grace of God in you, and refraine your feet from eueryevery euill path, that ye may know and feele in your ſelues the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection, and doe this daily more and more, that ye may feele in your ſelues this vertue daily more and more.
The ſecond thing which here I note, is, from what root this knowledge of the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection iſſueth and ſpringeth, and that is, from the righteouſnes of faith: for ſtill wee muſt remember that theſe foure laſt vantages whereof the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, doe ſo follow the renouncing of all our owne workes, and the reioicing only in Chriſt Ieſus, as that they all iſſue from the firſt vantage that we hauehave thereby, namely from the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt through faith. Whence I obſerue, that only they that are iuſtified by the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt through faith, doe feele in themſelues by the powerfull operation of the holy Ghoſt the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection, whereby they die vntounto ſinne, and liue vntounto God in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe. And to this the Apoſtle ſeemeth to giuegive witneſſe, where hee ſaith, that our hearts are purified by faith:Act. 15.9. for it is as if hee ſhould hauehave ſaid, wee are purified and purged from dead workes to ſerue the liuing God: but how is it? It is by faith in Chriſt Ieſus. So that the Apoſtles meaning is, that only they that are iuſtified by faith in Chriſt Ieſus, are purged from dead workes to ſerue the liuing God. For if this purification bee by faith, then only they that hauehave faith are thus purged. So our Sauiour alſo ſaith,Ioh. 15.4. As the branch cannot beare fruit of it ſelfe, except it abide in the vine, no more can yee except yee abide in mee. Whence it is moſt plaine, that they onelyonly that are ingrafted into Chriſt Ieſus by a true and liuely faith in him, whereby they take hold of his righteouſneſſe, bring forth the fruits of the ſpirit, dying vntounto ſinne, and liuing vntounto God in newneſſe and holineſſe.
Why is it then that there is ſo little knowledge amongſt vsus of the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection? The reaſon is, only the faithfull children of God know it. The reſt they hauehave no root in themſelues, they want that true and liuely faith whence ſuch knowledge ſhould ſpring. Let this then ſerue to rowſe vsus out of the dead ſleepe of ſinne, and to awake vsus vntounto righteouſneſſe. That the death and reſurrection of Chriſt worke no better vponupon vsus, that wee ſubdue not the fleſh vntounto the ſpirit, that we ſerue ſinne, and giuegive not our members ſeruants vntounto righteouſneſſe in holineſſe, it is a plaine argument of the want of faith in vsus. And therefore our Sauiour made it an argument againſt Iudas that hee beleeued not, becauſe he would betray him.Ioh. 6.64. But there are ſome of you, ſaith our Sauiour, that beleeue not: For (ſaith the Euangeliſt) Ieſus knew from the beginning who they were that beleeued not, and who ſhould betray him. Where the argument is that Iudas had a traiterous heart, therefore he beleeued not. In like manner let vsus make the argument againſt our ſelues: Our hearts are ſett on miſchiefe, we drinke iniquitie like water, wee die not vntounto ſinne, but wee ſuffer ſinne to raigne in our mortall bodies, wee liue not vntounto God in righteouſneſſe, but wee giuegive our members ſeruants vntounto vnrighteouſneſſe; wee feele no vertue at all of Chriſt his death or reſurrection in our ſelues, therefore we beleeue not. The concluſion is hard; but if it bee altered, the premiſſes muſt be altered. Let vsus ceaſe to doe euill, and learne to doe well; let vsus die vntounto ſinne, and liue vntounto God; let vsus mortifie our earthly members, and be filled with the fruits of righteouſneſſe, and then ſhall wee hauehave a good teſtimonie vntounto our ſelues of our righteouſneſſe by faith. In a word, iuſtification which is by faith, and regeneration which is by the ſpirit killing our old man, and quickening our new man are ſo linked the one with the other, as that they are affirmed, and denied both together. For if we be iuſtified by faith, then are we regenerate by the ſpirit, and if wee be regenerate by the ſpirit, then are we iuſtified by faith: And againe, vnleſſe wee be iuſtified by faith wee are not regenerate by the ſpirit, and vnleſſe we be regenerated by the ſpirit, we are not iuſtified by faith. As therefore we deſire to hauehave our iuſtification by faith ſealed vntounto our ſoules, ſo let vsus deſire to know and to feele in our ſelues the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection, by dying vntounto ſinne, and liuing vntounto God in righteouſneſſe and true holines. It followeth.
And the fellowſhippe of his afflictions &c.] This is the next vantage which the Apoſtle reckons vponupon by renouncing all his owne workes as loſſe and dung, and reioycing onelyonly in Chriſt Ieſus, the knowledge in himſelfe of Chriſt his afflictions, euen ſuch as he did ſuffer in the daies of his fleſh, and ſuch as he doth daily ſuffer in his members. And the reaſon he addeth why he would know in himſelfe the fellowſhip of Chriſt his afflictions, namely ſo to be made conformable vntounto Chriſt his death. It is then as if the Apoſtle ſhould hauehave ſaid, I make no reckoning of mine owne righteouſneſſe by workes, but my deſire is, that being iuſtified by the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt through faith, in ſuch afflictions as Chriſt ſuffered in his owne perſon for the glory of God and the good of his Church, and ſuch as ſtill hee ſuffereth in his members for his owne glory, & the good of his Church. I may hauehave fellowſhip and bee partakers with them, becauſe I deſire to be made comformable vntounto Chriſt his death, i. like vntounto Chriſt who is dead, and through many afflictions is entred into his kingdome. What then? did the Apoſtle deſire outward afflictions in his body? yea hee counted it a great vantage to ſuffer afflictions ſuch as Chriſt had ſuffred in his own perſon, and ſuch as hee did ſuffer in his members, for the glory of Chriſt, and the good of his Church.
Hence then I obſerue that affliction and trouble for Chriſt his ſake, and the good of his Church ſhould not ſeeme grieuous vntounto God his children, but rather they ſhould count it a vantage vntounto them to be afflicted for his ſake. Thus the holy Ghoſt almoſt eueryevery where teacheth vsus.Mat. 5.12. Reioyce, ſaith our Sauiour, and be glad when men reuile you, and perſecute you, and ſpeake all manner of euill ſayings againſt you for my ſake falſly. And the Apoſtle Iames, Iam. 1.2.Count it exceeding ioy when ye fall into tentations. i. afflictions and tribulations whereby ye are tempted. And the Apoſtle Peter, Thinke it not ſtrange concerning the fiery triall, 1 Pet. 4.13which is among you to proue you, but reioyce, inaſmuch as you are partakers of Chriſt his ſufferings &c. And leſt the holy Ghoſt ſhould ſeeme without all reaſon to will vsus to reioyce in afflictions, and to count them vantage vntounto vsus, hee hath ſet do…ne many reaſons why afflictions ſhould not daunt vsus, or ſeeme grieuous, but rather ioyous vntounto vsus. As 1. affliction hath been alwaies the lot of Gods children. It beganne we ſee euen with Abell, Gen. 4 8.whom his brother Caine ſlew. Iacob, and Ioſeph, the children of Iſraell, Dauid, Iob, the Prophets, the Apoſtles of Chriſt what afflictions ſuffered they? Reioyce, ſaith our Sauiour, when they perſecute you: for ſo perſecuted they the Prophets which were before you: yea ſuch perſecutions and affliction… both Patriarches, and Prophets, and Apoſtles, and all the holy men of God hauehave ſuffered. 2. Afflictions are profitable inſtruments which God vſeth thereby to draw vsus to the obedience of his will.Hoſ. 5.15. For ſo ſaith the Lord by his Prophet, In their affliction they will ſeeke mee diligently. Ier. 31.18.So ſaith Ieremy, that before the Lord corrected and chaſtiſed him by afflictions he was a… vntamed calfe. Pſ. 119.67 71.And Dauid, before I was afflicted I went wrong, but now I keepe thy word: And againe, it is good for mee that I hauehave beene afflicted, that I may learne thy ſtatutes. 3. Afflictions are a token of Gods louelove and fauour towards vsus. For as the Apoſtle ſaith.Heb. 12.6. Whom the Lord loueth he chaſteneth, and he ſcourgeth eueryevery ſonne that he receiueth. Sometimes we wander aſtray out of the right way wherein we ſhould walke, and then as a good ſhepheard he ſends his dog after vsus to pinch vsus, and to ranke vsus in our right order againe. 4. Afflictions make w… like vntounto Chriſt, as both the Apoſtle ſheweth here, and in the Epiſtle to the Romanes,Rom. 8.29. for as Eſay had prophecied of him, ſo he was full of ſorowes: he wanted no ſorowes, but he was full of ſorowes. 5. The afflictions of Gods children they are Chriſt his afflictions: whereinſoeuer they ſuffer hee ſuffereth …th them. And therefore when Saul perſecuted them that …lled vponupon his name he called vntounto him from heauen, ſay…ng, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? becauſe he perſecuted …is children he counted that he perſecuted him. 6. It pleaſeth …he Lord through afflictions to bring his children vntounto the …ingdome. For it is ordained that through many afflictions …e ſhould enter the kingdome. No chaſtiſing, Heb. 12.11ſaith the Apo…tle, for the preſent ſeemeth to be ioyous, but grieuous, but afterward … bringeth the quiet fruite of righteouſneſſe vntounto them which are …ereby exerciſed. And againe Peter ſpeaking to this purpoſe …aith, Wherein ye reioyce, 1 Pet. 1.6.7.4.13.though now for a ſeaſon ye are in heaui…eſſe, that the triall of your faith being made much more precious …hen gold that periſheth, though it be tried with fire, may bee found …nto your praiſe, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Ieſus Chriſt. Theſe and many moe reaſons the holy Ghoſt com…endeth vntounto vsus in the holy Scriptures wherefore wee ſhould …eioyce in afflictions, and why wee ſhould count them a van…age vntounto vsus.
Art thou then afflicted and brought low through any op…reſſion, through any croſſe or trouble? There hath no ten…ation taken thee, but ſuch as appertaineth to the children of God: If thou belong vntounto him he thus afflicteth thee that he may keepe thee in obedience vntounto his will, that hee may trie thy faith and thy patience, that thou maiſt know his louelove towards thee, that thou maiſt be made like vntounto him, and that after thou haſt ſuffered with him thou maiſt alſo reigne with him. Wheat by the flaile is purged from the chaffe, flowre by the ſeiue is purged from the branne, and gold by the fire …s purged from the droſſe. If we will be good wheat for the Lord his barne, the flaile muſt go ouer vsus, and wee muſt be winowed. If we will be fine floure wee muſt be boulted and ſifted: if we will be pure gold we muſt bee purged in the fire. OnelyOnly let our care be that we ſuffer not as euill doers, but as Chriſtians for Chriſt his ſake, & for the good of his Church
O Lord as thou haſt by the death of thy Sonne deſtroyed the death of ſinne, and by his. &c.