Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 3 · Lecture 64
LECTƲRE LXIV.
PHILIP. 3. Verſ. 15.16.
Let vsus therefore as many as be perfect be th… … ded: and if ye be otherwiſe minded, God ſhall reueale &c.
NOw the Apoſtle hauing thus in particular told the Philippians what he thought of Chriſt, and likewiſe of all things without Chriſt, … goeth from the particular vntounto the generall and exhorteth that this truth which he ha… profeſſed may be generally receiued, and approued. And if any of them will not happily preſently receiue this truth, yet he ſignifieth his hope that God will afterwards reueale it to them that they may embrace it wi…h him, and in the meane time till God reueale it and make it knowne vntounto them, he exhorteth that ſuch grounds of the truth as already they had might with one accord be receiued and maintained. This I take to be the generall meaning of theſe words in theſe two verſes. Now let vsus yet a little more particularly ſift and examine the meaning of them.
Let vsus, ſaith the Apoſtle &c.] This ſpeech, yee ſee, is exhortatiue in that he ſaith, let vsus be thus minded; and ye ſee like wiſe that the exhortation is made by way of concluſion from the particular example of the Apoſtle vntounto the Philippi… generall, in that he ſaith, Let vsus therefore as many as be perfe…; and ye ſee that it is to bring ouer his own priuate example vn…o a generall doctrine in that he ſaith, Let vsus therefore as many …s be perfect be thus minded. Let vsus therefore: therefore, why? euen becauſe I your Apoſtle by whom ye hauehave beleeued am …hus minded as I hauehave told you, let vsus therefore as many as bee perfect be thus minded. Thus minded? How? to renounce all confidence in the fleſh, to iudge all our owne righteouſnes by workes whatſoeuer to be but dung, to reioyce only in Chriſt Ieſus, and his righteouſneſſe which is through faith, to thirſt after the knowledge of Chriſt, and of the vertue of his reſurrection, and acknowledging our want of perfection in the knowledge of Chriſt, inceſſantly to runne forward in the Chriſtian race vntounto perfection forgetting that which is behind, and endeauouring our ſelues vntounto that which is before, and following hard towards the marke for the prize of the high calling of God in Chriſt Ieſus, let vsus be thus minded, euen as many of vsus as be perfect. Yea, but who were thoſe? were there any ſuch? Did not the Apoſtle immediately before deny that he was perfect? How then doth he now ſay, let vsus as many as be perfect &c. We muſt vnderſtand that the Apoſtle doth not here ſpeake of any that were perfect indeed either in knowledge, or in obedience, but he ſpeaketh partly vntounto thoſe that thought they were perfect, and partly vntounto thoſe that by their holy walking ſhewed that they were in the way to perfection, that both they that thought themſelues perfect, and they likewiſe that by their holy walking ſhewed plainely that they were in a better way to perfection than others, would thinke as he did touching the points before mentioned, and controuerſed betwixt him and the falſe Teachers. Yea but is not his exhortation generally vntounto all? Why then doth he require it of them that be perfect? His exhortation is indeed generall vntounto all that all would thinke as hee did touching the points mentioned before from verſe 3. to this 15. But leſt any man ſhould thinke that he ſpake eſpecially vntounto the vulgar ſort of men, and preſcribed this rule only vntounto thoſe that were babes in Chriſt, therefore he ſheweth preciſely that this is a rule which whoſoeuer among them thought himſelfe to be, or were more perfect than others ought to keepe, euen to be ſo minded as Paul was in the things mentioned aboue. And beſides it was not ſo needfull to ſpeak vntounto them by name as it were that knew and acknowledged their owne wants, that they ſhould not thinke themſelues perfect, as to them that either thought themſelues, or were thought of others to be perfect. VntoUnto them principally as by name the admonition was moſt needfull that they ſhould be ſo minded as Paul was, as in the reſt of the points, ſo in the acknowledgement of their owne imperfection, and in the purſuit after perfection. It followeth.
And if ye be otherwiſe minded &c.] This ſheweth that the Apoſtle thought or rather knew that he ſhould not be able to perſwade all to be of the ſame minde with him in the things mentioned, but that ſome through the ſuggeſtions of the falſe Teachers would thinke otherwiſe then hee thought of thoſe points. Yet ſee how kindly he dealeth with thoſe, If, ſaith he, ye be otherwiſe minded ſo that ye do not yet thinke as I your Apoſtle do of theſe points, euen of Chriſtian perfection, but rather are of another iudgement, yet I doubt not but as God hath begunne to reueale his ſonne Ieſus Chriſt vntounto you by my preaching, ſo hee will alſo in his good time reueale and make knowne vntounto you this ſame thing wherein ye now diſſent in iudgement from mee, and will not ſuffer you to bee holden of this error; he will I doubt not in his good time by the miniſterie of his ſeruants through the powerfull operation of the holy ſpirit open the dimme eyes of your darke vnderſtanding, that ye may ſee both that ye erre in this wherein ye diſſent from me, and that this is the truth whereunto I now exhort you. To gather then the ſumme of the Apoſtles meaning in theſe words, it is as much as if the Apoſtle had thus ſaid: I am thus minded, as I hauehave told you, touching mine owne righteouſnes which is by workes, touching the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt which is through faith, and touching Chriſtian perfection in generall. Let vsus therefore euen all of vsus, not only thoſe which are but babes in Chriſt, or of the vulgar ſort, but euen as many as either think our ſelues, or are thought by others to be perfect be thus minded as I am touching theſe points: and if any of you diſſent in iudgement from mee, and doe not thinke as I doe touching Chriſtian perfection. God will, no doubt, in his good time by the miniſterie of his ſeruants through the powerfull working of the holy Ghoſt open the dimme eyes of your darke vnderſtanding, that ye may ſee both your owne error in diſſenting from me, and the truth of that whereunto I exhort you. Which being the Apoſtles meaning, as I take it, in this verſe, now let vsus ſee what obſeruation wee may gather hence for our vſe and inſtruction.
1. Therefore in the Apoſtles exhortation when he ſaith, let …s as many as be perfect be thus minded, I note that as many as follow after Chriſtian perfection are to be ſo minded touching workes, and touching Chriſt as the Apoſtle was; inaſmuch as they are not perfect that thinke themſelues already perfect either in the knowledge of Chriſt, or in holy obedience, but they rather that acknowledging that they hauehave not yet attained vntounto perfection, doe renounce all things without Chriſt, reioyce only in Chriſt, & feeling a ſenſe of the knowledge of Chriſt, and of the vertue of his reſurrection in themſelues, labour daily more and more to grow with all ſpirituall growth therein in certaine hope of the prize of the high calling of God in Chriſt Ieſus. Hence then I obſerue what Chriſtian perfection is, namely a gift of the holy Ghoſt wherby we renounce the fleſh, reioyce in Chriſt, and hauehave ſuch a ſenſe of the knowledge of Chriſt, and of the vertue of his reſurrection in our ſelues, that acknowledging our want of perfection therein we labour to grow and encreaſe daily more and more therein, and ſo inceſſantly runne after perfection in them, that as good runners we forget that which is behind, and endeauour our ſelues to that which is before, and follow hard towards the marke for the prize of the high calling of God in Chriſt Ieſus. So that vntounto Chriſtian perfection there are foure things neceſſarily requiſite. The firſt whereof is, iuſtification by the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt imputed to vsus through faith without workes. For ſo onelyonly are we perfit if we be found in Chriſt Ieſus, not hauing our owne righteouſnes which is by workes, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, euen the righteouſneſſe of God through faith. And therefore the Apoſtle telleth the Coloſſians in the next Epiſtle, that he and Timothie preached and taught eueryevery man in all wiſdome,Col. 1.28.2.10. that they might preſent eueryevery man perfect in Chriſt Ieſus. And in the next Chapter he telleth them that they are compleate in Chriſt, in whom dwelleth all the fulneſſe of the godhead bodily. Both which places plainely ſhew that were perfect; but how? not in our ſelues, but in Chriſt Ieſus. And in him onelyonly are we perfect, becauſe onelyonly being in him no… our ſinnes, but Chriſt his righteouſneſſe is imputed vntounto v… and becauſe all perfection is originally in him, and is only deriued vntounto vsus as we are in him. Being then in him our ſ…nne and imperfections are hidde and couered, being in him his righteouſneſſe and obedience are imputed and reckoned vntounto vsus, and being in him that perfection which originally is in him is deriued vntounto vsus, and ſo onelyonly are our imperfections couered, his righteouſneſſe imputed, and his perfection deriued vntounto vsus as we are in him. For if any man be not in him he is caſt out as a branch and withereth.Ioh. 15.6. This then is neceſſarily requiſite vntounto Chriſtian perfection that we be in Chriſt Ieſus, not hauing our owne righteouſneſſe by workes, but his righteouſneſſe by faith. And from this as from the fountaine doe all thoſe other things which are neceſſarie vntounto Chriſtian perfection iſſue and ſpring.
The 2. thing neceſſarily requiſite vntounto Chriſtian perfect… on is our regeneration & ſanctification by the ſpirit of God, for ſo onelyonly are we perfit if by the power of the quickening ſpirit working on our ſoules & ſpirits we hauehave a feeling knowledge of Chriſt Ieſus in our owne ſoules, and doe feele in our ſelues a dying vntounto ſinne and a liuing vntounto righteouſneſſe by the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection. And therefore the holy Ghoſt exhorting vsus often to be perfect, doth alſo exhort vsus to cleanſe our ſelues from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and ſpirit, 2 Cor. 13.11 7.1.and to grow vp vntounto full holineſſe in the feare of God; to mortifie the deedes of the fleſh, and to be renued in the ſpirit of our mindes. And why? No doubt one cauſe is, becauſe otherwiſe we cannot be as he exhorteth vsus to be, perfect. For what perfection can there bee where there is no dying vntounto ſinne which is our bane and imperfection, and no liuing a holineſſe and righteouſnes, which is the onelyonly way vntounto perfection? Our ſinnes doe make a ſeparation betweene vsus and our …od in whom alone we are perfect,Eſ. 59.2. and it is the ſpirit of ſan…ification whereby wee are engraffed into Chriſt Ieſus, in …hom only we are perfect. This then is alſo requiſite vntounto …hriſtian perfection, that we feele in our ſelues a mortificati… of the old man, and a quickening of the new man through …e power of the ſpirit by the vertue of Chriſt his death and …ſurrection.
The third thing neceſſarily requiſite vntounto Chriſtian per…ction is a feeling and acknowledgement of our owne imper…ction both in knowledge, and in obedience: for ſo only doe …e grow vntounto Chriſtian perfection, if in an holy feeling of …r wants and imperfections wee poure out our complaints …nto our God, and acknowledge our wants vntounto the Lord. It …as the conceit of their perfect knowledge, that made the …orinthians that they knew nothing as they ought to know: …nd it was the conceit of their owne perfect righteouſneſſe …at made the Phariſes that they neuer ſought the true perfect …ghteouſneſſe of Chriſt Ieſus. But Dauid hauing ſaid,2 Sā. 12.13 I hauehave …ned againſt the Lord, Luc. 18.14.ſtreight-way the Prophet Nathan ſaid …nto him, the Lord alſo hath put away thy ſinne: And the Publi…ane hauing ſmitten his breaſt, and ſaid, O God bee mercifull …nto mee a ſinner, the holy Ghoſt giueth him this teſtimonie that …e d…parted to his houſe iuſtified rather then the Pharſie, or if wee …ke the ſenſe of the place, he departed home to his houſe iu…ified, and not the Phariſie.Luc. 23 41.42.43. And the Theefe vponupon the croſſe …auing firſt confeſſed and ſaid, we are indeede righteouſly here, …r we receiue things worthy of that we hauehave done; and afterwards …raied and ſaid, Lord remember me when thou commeſt into thy …ingdome, by and by Ieſus ſaid vntounto him, verily I ſay vntounto thee … day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe. And generally this is …rue, that onelyonly they follow Chriſt who deny themſelues, on…y they come vntounto God who feele their wants in themſelues, …nely they ſeek vntounto God who are confounded in themſelues, …nd conſequently only they come vntounto Chriſtian perfection …hoſe hearts are touched with the feeling of their imperfe…tions. This then is alſo requiſite vntounto Chriſtian perfection …hat in an holy feeling of our owne wants wee acknowledge our imperfection in eueryevery grace of God.
The 4. thing neceſſarily requiſite vntounto Chriſtian perfection is, an earneſt endeauour & conſtant care to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Chriſt Ieſus. For ſo onelyonly are we perfect in ſome degree if wee follow hard after perfection, and if with an enflamed deſire after the good things of God we labour to encreaſe daily more and more in all holineſſe and righteouſneſſe. And therefore the Apoſtle exhorteth ſaying,Heb. 12.14. foreign. Follow hard, for ſo the word ſignifieth, fol… hard after peace with all men, and holineſſe, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord. Where the Apoſtle doth not limit his exhortation by any circumſtance of time, but follow in thy nonage, follow in thy ripe age, follow in thine old age, ſtill follow; for ſtill it is ſaid vntounto thee, follow hard after peace and holineſſe. And why? euen becauſe none ouertaketh but he that follo… eth.Mat. 5.6. And our Sauiour pronounceth a bleſſing vponupon the hea… … them that hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe. Which ſhewe… that where there is this feruent deſire to grow vp in godlines, and this hungring and thirſting in our ſoules after the thing… that belong vntounto our peace there is a bleſſing vponupon the hea… of eueryevery one that doth ſo. And why did our Apoſtle follow hard that he might comprehend euen as hee was comprehended of Chriſt Ieſus, but becauſe they onelyonly at length attaine vntounto perfection who in the meane time follow hard after it. This then is alſo requiſite vntounto Chriſtian perfection that wee labour to grow vp in godlineſſe, and to encreaſe in all manner holy conuerſation. That all theſe things are neceſſarily requiſite vntounto Chriſtian perfection this generall exhortation inferred by way of concluſion vponupon the things mentioned in the particular example of our Apoſtle ſheweth moſt plainly; as alſo that in theſe things alone doth Chriſtian perfection conſiſt, vnleſſe any man will take vponupon him more exactly to deſcribe it than the Apoſtle hath done.
Hence then wee may learne to deſcrie the notable groſſeneſſe of that Monkiſh perfection which our aduerſaries tell vsus ſo much of.Luc. 18.21. For aske our aduerſaries, or aske a Monke whether he be perfect, he rubs no more at his anſwer then the young man in the Goſpell did, but he, he is perfect, and why ſhould any man aske the queſtion whether he be perfect. And … proofe hereof he will tell you, that beſides keeping of …ods commandements, whereunto wee are all bound both … precept, and likewiſe by promiſe in our baptiſme, beſides …is he hath vowed chaſtitie, pouertie, obedience, pilgrimage, …fficient badges of his perfection. He meddles not with the …ings of this life, nay he cares not for them, nay he hath forken all to follow Chriſt. The Phariſie that is no extortioner, … vniuſt man, no adulterer, that faſts twiſe in the weeke, that …ues tithe of all that euer he poſſeſſeth, is no body vntounto him. …he young man that had kept all the commandements from …s youth is no body vntounto him. Hee hath wholly ſequeſtred …mſelfe vntounto contemplation, and giuen himſelfe vntounto God, … that the leaſt thing that he doth, euen his ſitting, his ſtan…ing, his eating, his ſleeping, euen the leaſt thing that he doth … better and more acceptable vntounto God then the beſt workes …ther of the firſt or ſecond table, which the faithfull being …aried doe performe. Thus doth he boaſt of his perfection, … if he were the man, and none but hee, that were deare in …ods ſight, and that were worthy to reſt in his holy tabernacle. …ut how farre wide is he of the true and Chriſtian perfection …deed? It is not the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt Ieſus that hee …ands vponupon, but vponupon his owne righteouſneſſe by his owne …oly and vnſpotted life. He doth not caſt downe himſelfe in …y ſenſe and feeling of his owne wants and imperfections, …t hee dares to ſtand and to ſhew himſelfe in the preſence of …e moſt high. Hee doth not daily more and more die vntounto …nne, and liue vntounto God, but he is as dead vntounto ſinne, and li…ing vntounto God, as if hee were already in the boſome of God. …ee doth not endeuour to runne forward from perfection to …erfection, but hee hath already attained vntounto that whereat …ther men are to runne. So that as it is ſaid of ſome,Rom. 1.22. that when …hey profeſſed themſelues to be wiſe, they became fooles, ſo may it …e ſaid of theſe, that when they profeſſe themſelues to be per…ect, they ſhew plainly that they are void of all Chriſtian per…ction, at leaſt if the Apoſtles deſcription of Chriſtian per…ection may preuaile before theirs: for by the Apoſtles de…cription it is cleare that indeed they are not come vntounto any perfection in the ſchoole of Chriſt, but are quite void of all Chriſtian perfection.
The ſecond vſe which we may make of the former obſeruation, is, that thence we may learne to trie what perfection we are growne vntounto in the ſchoole of Chriſt. For doe wee reioyce only in Chriſt Ieſus, renouncing all our owne righteouſneſſe which is by workes, and quietly repoſing our ſelues in his righteouſneſſe through faith in his bloud? Doe wee feele in our ſelues a dying vntounto ſinne, and a liuing vntounto God in righteouſneſſe through the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection, by the power of the ſpirit regenerating vsus vntounto a liuely hope in Chriſt Ieſus? Doe wee in our ſoules feele and from our hearts acknowledge our regeneration and our ſanctification by the contagion of the fleſh to be ſo vnperfect, as that wee finde in our ſelues many wants and many imperfections? Doe wee labour and endeuour to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt, to be perfect as he is perfect, to be holy as hee is holy, and to proceed from ſtrength to ſtrength vntill we become perfect men in Chriſt Ieſus? Here is the ſubſtance of that perfection which o… good God requireth of vsus in this life. If it be thus with vsus, we may aſſure our ſelues that we hauehave well profited in the ſchoole of Chriſt, and that we are growne vntounto very good perfection. There was a time indeed when it was ſaid vntounto vsus, This doe, and thou ſhalt liue; and againe, Curſed is eueryevery one that continueth not in all things that are written in the booke of the law to doe them and in this time there was no perfection but in the perfect fulfilling of the whole Law of God; ſo that all of vsus were vnderunder the curſe, and all of vsus were in thrall vntounto that mortall enemie of mankinde the deuill, becauſe it was impoſſible for vsus to fulfill the Law of God. But when it pleaſed the euerlaſting King of glory in infinite mercy towards vsus to ſend his owne Sonne in the ſimilitude of ſinfull man for ſinne to condemne ſinne in the fleſh, then this thrall vntounto Satan, this curſe of the Law, this yoke of the Law which neither we nor our fathers were able to beare, was taken from our ſhoulders: for that which the Law required of vsus, but which was impoſſible for vsus to performe,Rom. 8.3. that Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe fulfilled in our fleſh, that the righteouſneſſe of the Law might be fulfilled in vsus which walke not after the fleſh, but after the ſpirit And now if by faith wee put on Chriſt Ieſus and his righteouſneſſe, and by the vertue of his reſurrection die vntounto ſinne, and liue vntounto righteouſneſſe, and acknowledging our owne wants and imperfections, doe ſtudie and endeuour daily more and more to liue righteouſly, and ſoberly, and godly in this preſent world, this is the perfection which Chriſt requireth of vsus.
A bleſſed ſending of ſuch a Sonne, and a bleſſed birth of ſo ſweet a Sauiour, worthy to be celebrated by a perpetuall remembrance for euer. The ſending of him vntounto vsus was the greateſt token that euer was of God the Fathers louelove towards vsus; and his comming into the world in the ſimilitude of ſinfull fleſh was the ioyfulleſt comming that euer was; ſo ioyfull, that an Angell from heauen brought the tidings thereof, and therein of great ioy that ſhould be to all people; that a multitude of heauenly ſouldiers praiſed God thereat, and ſaid, Glory be to God in the high heauens, and peace in earth, and towards men good will; that certaine wiſe men came then from the Eaſt Country to worſhip him; that the ſhepheards when they had ſeene the babe with his mother, publiſhed abroad the thing that was told them by the Angell of that childe; that Simeon taking him in his armes, praiſed God and ſaid, Lord now letteſt thou thy ſeruant depart in peace, &c. and that Anna ſpake of him to all that looked for redemption in Ieruſalem. Of which moſt …oyfull birth wee at this time doe celebrate a moſt ioyfull remembrance, and ſhould ſo celebrate it euen as theſe holy Saints of God did, not in exceſſe of banquetting and feaſting, not in immoderate gaming and ſporting, not in idleneſſe or wantonneſſe, but in honouring of his name, in ſinging vntounto him praiſe and thankſgiuing, and in telling of his ſaluation from day to day. So did they celebrate his birth as wee hauehave heard, and ſo ſhould wee celebrate the remembrance of his birth. All other celebration is rather an heatheniſh imitation then any religious obſeruation. Let vsus therefore as at all other times, ſo at this time ſound out his praiſes in the middeſt of the great congregation, who hauing fulfilled that for vsus in his fleſh which wee could not, doth now require of vsus no more then he giueth vsus: for he requireth of vsus perfection, and he giueth vsus perfection, not an abſolute perfection, but ſuch as he requireth of vsus in this life.
To come then againe vntounto our point, will we trie how wee hauehave profited in the ſchoole of Chriſt, and vntounto what perfection wee are growne? Sift the points and ſee. If wee hauehave faith in Chriſt Ieſus, whereby wee take hold of his righteouſ…eſſe, if wee feele in our ſelues the vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection by the death of ſinne, and the life of righteouſneſſe, if in heart and voice through a Chriſtian feeling thereof we acknowledge our owne imperfection, and if thereupon wee labour to increaſe in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe with all godly increaſing, then hauehave wee well profited in the ſchoole of Chriſt, and then are wee growne vntounto good perfection. For, as I told you before, this is the ſubſtance of that perfection which God requireth of vsus in this life. Howbeit, this withall wee muſt note, that there be degrees in this perfection: for when by Gods mercy we are come ſo farre, that the ſpirit beareth witneſſe vntounto our ſpirit, that in ſome meaſure we hauehave attained vntounto all theſe points of Chriſtian perfection, yet may we not here ſtand ſtill, but we muſt goe forward from grace vntounto grace. Vntill wee come vntounto the marke at our races end wee muſt runne forward, and daily grow from perfection to perfection. We muſt labour daily to increaſe in faith, that we may daily more and more be eſtabliſhed in the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt. We muſt daily ſubdue the fleſh vntounto the ſpirit, that wee may daily more and more be begotten by the ſpirit vntounto a more liuely hope in Chriſt Ieſus. We muſt daily caſt downe our ſelues before the Lord, that hee may daily more and more lift vsus vp. We muſt daily follow hard towards the marke, that wee may be daily more and more holy in all manner of conuerſation. And therefore it is that wee doe ſo often communicate at the Lords Table, namely that our faith and obedience may by degrees bee daily more and more ſtrengthned and increaſed. There needs but once entring into the Church by the Sacrament of Baptiſme; but being entred into the Church, our ſoules muſt be often fed and nouriſhed vntounto euerlaſting life by the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. And faith is at once begotten in vsus by the miniſterie of the word, but both our faith and our obedience muſt be of…en and confirmed increaſed both by the miniſterie of the word, and by the holy vſe of the Lords Supper. By an holy …nſtitution therefore of the Lord we doe often come vntounto this …oly Table, that ſo often as wee eat of this bread and drinke …f this cup, we may ſo often both renew the remembrance of Chriſt his bleſſed death and paſſion, and ſo often hauehave our weake faith holpen and ſtrengthened. For a… herein we con…inue the remembrance of that his bleſſed death and paſſion …ntill his comming againe, ſo hauehave wee hereby a ſure pledge …nd full aſſurance of our incorporation into the body of Chriſt Ieſus to be made one with him, and he with vsus. But …efore we come vntounto this holy Table, it is neceſſary if we will …aue our faith holpen and ſtrengthned thereby, that we duly …nd diligently examine our ſelues, and in all holy reuerence …repare our ſelues thereunto. We muſt proue our ſelues, as …he Apoſtle willeth, whether we are in the faith, that is, whe…her we beleeue that the puniſhment of our ſinnes is fully diſ…harged in Chriſt Ieſus, and that whatſoeuer ſaluation he hath …urchaſed for his children belongeth euen to vsus alſo. For this …aith we muſt hauehave before wee come hither, our comming hi…her being not to hauehave this faith wrought in vsus, but to hauehave this …hich already wee doe beleeue more fully aſſured vntounto our …oules and conſciences. Againe, wee muſt trie and ſearch in …ur owne ſoules what contrition and ſorrow of heart there is …n vsus for our ſinnes paſt, what deteſtation and loathing of …inne we finde in our ſelues, and what purpoſe and reſolution of heart there is in vsus to forſake our old wayes, and in the …hole courſe of our life hereafter to conforme our ſelues vntounto Gods will ſet downe in his holy word. For vnleſſe theſe things be in vsus, we are no meet gueſts for this holy and heauenly Table. We muſt alſo ſearch and ſee whether we be in peace and …oue with all men: for if thou bring thy gift vntounto the Altar, Mat. 5.23 24and there remembreſt that thy brother hath ought againſt thee, there thou muſt leaue thine offering, and goe, and firſt be reconciled vntounto …hy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. If hauing thus examined our ſelues we come vntounto this holy Table, then here we hauehave ſealed vntounto vsus our communion with Chriſt, then here we hauehave aſſured vntounto vsus all the benefits of Chriſt his death and paſſion. That therefore hereby wee may receiue all holy increaſe of our faith, let vsus with all holy reuerence come at this time vntounto this Table. And in the whole courſe of our life let vsus labour by degrees to proceed from perfection to perfection. Let vsus daily ſtirre vp eueryevery good grace of God in vsus, that ſeeking by continuance in well-doing, honour, and glory, and immortalitie, we may in the end receiue the priſe of the high calling of God in Chriſt Ieſus. And to conclude with this of our Apoſtle, let vsus as many as would bee perfect bee th… minded as our Apoſtle was touching our iuſtification, touching our regeneration, touching the acknowledgement of our imperfection, and touching an holy purſuit after perfection.