Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 3 · Lecture 66
LECTƲRE LXVI.
PHILIP. 3. Verſ. 16.
Neuertheleſſe in that whereunto we are come. Let … proceede by one rule, and let vsus minde one thi…g.
NEuertheleſſe in that &c.] In which words the Apoſtle exhorteth that in the meane time till God reueale vntounto the Philippians that truth which he hath profeſſed, ſuch grounds of the truth as already they had receiued might with one accord be retained and maintained. This is the generall ſcope and meaning of the Apoſtle in theſe words. But it will not happily be amiſſe for the better vnderſtanding of them to vnfold and open the meaning of them yet a little more particularly. They depend, as ye ſee, vponupon that which went before. For the Apoſtle hauing before exhorted the Philippians to be ſo minded as hee was in the points before mentioned, had alſo ſaid, and if yee be otherwiſe minded, God ſhall alſo reueale it. Now ſaith he, neuertheleſſe … that whereunto we are come, as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, but in the meane time till God reueale this truth vntounto you wherein yee now diſſent from mee, in that whereunto we are come, i. for ſo farre as we are come, for ſuch grounds of the truth, for ſuch articles of the faith and Chriſtian religion as already wee doe generally embrace and agree vponupon, let vsus proceed in them by one rule, and let vsus minde one thing. The word which the Apoſtle vſeth when he ſaith,foreign. let vsus proceede by one rule, is a militarie word, borrowed from the marching of ſouldiers vntounto the battell, whoſe manner it is to keepe their ranke, and without any outraying to march along after the preſcript rule of their Generall, or Leader. So that it is as if the Apoſtle had thus ſaid vntounto them, let vsus for ſo farre as we are come, like vntounto good ſouldiers which turne not aſide, but march on along after the preſcript rule of their Generall, ſo let vsus walke without turning aſide to the right-had, or to the left-hand after that one rule, let vsus beleeue and liue as we are directed by …t one rule of his word vnderunder whoſe banner we doe fight; … vsus ſo farre as we are come walke as Chriſt Ieſus hath taught … in his holy word. The ſame phraſe of ſpeech is vſed to the …e purpoſe, where it is ſaid,Gal. 6.16. as many as walke according to this …e, i. As many as make this word of truth, this Goſpell of …riſt Ieſus now preached and taught vntounto you the rule and …are of their faith, & life, from which they will not ſwarue, …turne aſide to the right-hand or to the left, peace ſhall bee …on them, and mercy, and vponupon the Iſraell of God. Let vsus …ceede by one rule, and let vsus minde one thing] i. Let there bee … diſſentions amongſt vsus, but let vsus be knit together in one …nde, and in one iudgement, being of like affection one to…rds another in Chriſt Ieſus.foreign. For ſo the phraſe of ſpeech …re vſed ſignifieth, to be of one minde, of one iudgement, of …e affection one towards another ſo that nothing bee done …rough contention amongſt vsus, as it plainely appeareth both … the 2. verſe of the 2. Chapter of this Epiſtle, and by diuers …her places where the ſame phraſe is vſed. The ſumme of all …s if the Apoſtle had thus ſaid: God will in his good time …eale his truth vntounto them that bee as yet otherwiſe minded …an I am. But in the meane time till God reueale it, let vsus … ſuch grounds of the truth as already we agree vponupon, pro…ede both in faith, and in life as we are directed by that one …le of his word vnderunder whoſe banner we fight, not turning a…e from it to the right-hand, or to the left-hand, and let vsus … knit together in one minde, and in one iudgement, ſo that …thing be done through contention among vsus. This I take … be the ſimple and plaine meaning of theſe words. Now let … ſee what profitable notes we may gather hence for our own …e and inſtruction.
The 1. thing which hence I note is, touching the cauſe of …iſſenſions in the Church of God, whence it is that there are …ch diſſenſions and diuiſions in the Church of God, whereby …e vnity and peace of the Church is rent a ſunder and bro…en. Not to ſearch farther into the cauſes thereof than this …e ſcripture giueth occaſion, out of this Scripture I note 3. …auſes of the diſſenſions in the Church of God. The 1. is, becauſe we doe not with patience expect and waite till God … his good time reueale vntounto vsus that truth which as yet is hid … from our eyes. For ſuch oftentimes is our inconſiderate hea… … dineſſe, that if we ſeeme vntounto our ſelues to apprehend this … that point of doctrine through the ſuggeſtions and perſuaſions of this or that man, by and by we aduenture the defence and maintenance thereof, though I…l hauehave preached, though the Church of God hauehave beleeued otherwiſe. We looke … what it is that the Church hath receiued, but what it is that … hauehave apprehended, or if we doe, rather we ſtriue to bring the Church to that which we hauehave apprehended, than wee … yeeld vntounto that which the Church indeed hath receiued; … howſoeuer that we teach may hazard the peace and quite of the Church, yet will we not ſtay our ſelues, and expect… God may farther reueale his holy truth vntounto vsus. And … hath beene heretofore, and is at this day one great cauſe of diuiſion and diſſenſion in the Church. I might inſtance i… diuers hereſies wherewith the Church hath beene troubled and which hauehave in part beene cauſed becauſe the auth… thereof would not waite till God ſhould reueale the truth vn… them. If that auncient father Tertullian had waited till God had reuealed vntounto him that truth which afterward he did … ueale vntounto him, he had not beene ſo tainted with the errors o… the Millenaries, and the Montaniſts as he was, neither ha… troubled the Church therewith ſo much as hee did. And i… ſome at this day that trouble the peace of the Church with their ſtrange doctrine would both pray vntounto the Lord for the reuelation of his truth, and patiently waite till the Lord ſhould reueale his truth vntounto them, we ſhould be more free from diſenſions than we are.
The 2. cauſe of the diſſenſions in the Church of God, … becauſe we do not proceede by one rule in that whereun… we are come. For ſuch oftentimes is our vntowardlineſſe, that in the generall grounds of Chriſtian religion where… we doe agree we will be ſlinging out of ranke, and not proceed by that one rule of his word vnderunder whoſe banner we do… fight. In the primitiue Church all the Churches of Chr… were come vntounto that, that they beleeued the reſurrection of the dead, and that they acknowledged iuſtification by the …ghteouſneſſe of Chriſt, yet then they proceeded not by one …le in theſe things, but ſome denied the reſurrection of the …ead of which ſort were Hymeneus and Philetus, 2 Tim. 2.17and ſome …ught that vntounto Chriſt there muſt be ioyned the workes of …e Law to be made righteous before God. Whereupon fol…wed then great diſſenſions in the Church. In the reformed Churches of Chriſt at this day generally we are come to this, …at we profeſſe that predeſtination vntounto life is not by fore…ght of faith or workes, but by the alone good pleaſure of al…ightie God; that the children of God cannot finally fall …om faith or grace; that the children of God may and ought … aſſure themſelues of their ſaluation; that it is not in man to …ue himſelfe if he will; that Chriſt hath freed vsus from the of hell by ſuffering the paines of hell for vsus. And if …e ſhall not proceede by one rule in theſe things, but one …ape out from another, what elſe can follow but great diſſenſions in our Churches? And is it not a cauſe of many diſſenſi…ns betwixt the Romiſh Church and vsus that we doe not both …roceede by one rule in that whereunto we are come? Wee …re come to this that we agree in the Articles of the Chriſtian …aith, that we both beleeue in the Trinitie, that wee both be…eeue one Catholique and Apoſtolique Church, that we both …cknowledge one Baptiſme for the remiſſion of ſinnes, that …e both looke for the reſurrection of the dead, and the life …f the world to come. And yet what diſſenſions betwixt vsus …nd them euen about theſe thing…? And why? becauſe they do not proceed by one rule of the holy word of life with vsus, but …hey flie out into Traditions, Councels, Fathers, Decretals, Conſtitutions, and Legends, and keepe no order with vsus in marching along after the preſcript rule of our Generall Chriſt …eſus.
The 3. cauſe of the diſſenſions in the Church of God is, becauſe we doe not all minde one thing. For ſuch oftentimes …s our waywardneſſe that when in the ſubſtance of the doctrine we agree with the Church, yet will we picke a quarrell either at the Profeſſors of the truth, or at ſome ceremonie, or at ſome defect in the diſcipline of the Church whereby we will make a ſchiſme in the Church. What a ſtirre made Corah, Dathan and Abiram in the congregation of Iſraell? And whence was it? They could not abide Moſes and Aaron, but tooke exceptions againſt them ſaying,Num. 16.3. Yee take too much vponupon you, ſeeing al the congregation is holy, eueryevery one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye vp your ſelues aboue the congregation of the Lord? What contentions likewiſe were there in the Church of Corinth, and how did they one ſwell againſt another?1 Cor. 1.12.11.4.21. And whence was it? One held of Paul, another of Apollos, another of Cephas, another of Chriſt, one would pray and prophecie bare-headed, another with his head couered, and when they came vntounto the Lords ſupper one was hungrie, and another was drunken. This diſtraction in minde and iudgement bredde among them ſo great diſſenſions, as that it may ſeeme to hauehave beene one ſpeciall cauſe why the Apoſtle wrote the former Epiſtle to the Corinthians, euen to repreſſe their diſſenſions cauſed by their diſtractions in minde, and i… iudgement. And this at this day is the cauſe why the Browniſts and Baroiſts ſeparate themſelues from our aſſemblies, and making a ſchiſme and diuiſion will not preſent themſelues in our congregations. They doe not charge vsus with corruption of doctrine, but becauſe of ſome things in ſome ceremonies, and in our outward diſcipline they cannot, they ſay, be of one minde with vsus, and therefore they breake out from vsus. Thus ye ſee what the cauſes of the diſſenſions in the Church of God are, at leaſt ſuch as this place of Scripture ſeemeth vntounto mee to point at. The 1. becauſe in things that are not yet reuealed vntounto vsus we doe not with patience expect and waite till God in his good time reueale vntounto vsus that truth which as yet is hidde from our eyes. The 2. becauſe in things that are reuealed vntounto vsus we do not proceed by that one ru…e of his word vnderunder whoſe banner we fight, but fling out ſome of vsus vntounto traditions, decretals, conſtitutions, legends, and the like. The 3. becauſe we doe not minde one thing, but are too readie to fall at oddes, and through contention to make a ſchiſme, and to rent the ſeamleſſe coate of Chriſt.
The 2. thing which hence I note is, touching the remedies of the diſſenſions in the Church of God, at leaſt of ſuch diſſenſions as ſpring from theſe cauſes before mentioned. The …medies according to the number of the cauſes are three, …h ſore requiring a ſalue, and each cauſe of diſſenſion ſtan…ng in neede of a remedy againſt it. The 1. remedie againſt …ſenſions cauſed by not waiting till God reueale things not … reuealed, is when any truth is not yet reuealed vntounto vsus …h patience to waite till God in his good time reueale his …ly truth vntounto vsus. For this we know that he who praied thus to his Father, Sanctifie them with thy truth, thy word is truth, Ioh. 17.17.…d was heard in the things which he praid for, will reueale … truth vntounto vsus ſo farre as ſhall be neceſſarie for vsus. But in the …an time either we ſhould ſo ſpeak of the things that are not …ealed vntounto vsus as ſubmiting that we ſpeake vntounto the iudge…ent of the Prophets, as the Apoſtle willeth,1 Cor. 14.32. or elſe we ſhould …ld our peace, and hearken vntounto him vntounto whom God hath …ealed his truth, as the ſame Apoſtle willeth in the ſame …ace, ſaying, If any thing be reuealed to another that ſitteth by, 30.… the firſt hold his peace. A rule to the practiſe whereof the …poſtle ſeemeth vntounto me to exhort where he ſaith,Rom. 12.3 Let no man …eſume to vnderſtand aboue that which is meete to vnderſtand, but … him vnderſtand according to ſobrietie, as God hath dealt to eue… man the meaſure of faith. For he which will ſeeme to vnderunder…and before it be reuealed vntounto him, how doth he vnderſtand …cording to ſobrietie? how doth hee not vnderſtand aboue …at which is meete to vnderſtand? But the Apoſtle would …aue eueryevery man to vnderſtand according to ſobrietie, and no …an to vnderſtand aboue that which is meete to vnderſtand, …nd conſequently would hauehave all men with patience to waite …ll God ſhall reueale that vntounto them which as yet is hid from …heir eyes. In the practiſe of which rule if wee would bee as …arefull as we are skilfull in the knowledge of it many of vsus, …he Church ſhould be freed from diſſenſions wherewith it is …roubled. As many of vsus therefore as louelove the peace of Sion, …n the things that are not yet reuealed vntounto vsus let vsus with pa…ience expect till God in his good time reueale them vntounto vsus, …nd in the meane time let vsus either ſubmit that we ſpeake vn…o …he iudgement of the Prophets, or elſe let vsus hold our peace & hearken vntounto them vntounto whom God hath reuealed his truth.
The ſecond remedie againſt diſſenſions cauſed by not proceeding by one rule in the things reuealed, is, in the things that are reuealed and generally agreed vponupon amongſt vsus, to proceed by one rule, euen that one rule which God hath preſcribed vsus in his word, and not to decline from that either to the right hand or to the left.Gal. 6.16. For, as the Apoſtle ſaith, as may as walke according to this rule, peace ſhall be vponupon them, and mercy, and vponupon the Iſrael of God. Whence it is cleere that ſo we ha…e peace both with God and amongſt our ſelues, if wee walke according to the rule ſet downe by the Prophets and Apoſtles. For that is the rule which hee ſpeakes of, and whereof hee had ſaid before,1.9. If any man preach vntounto you otherwiſe then that ye ha… receiued, let him be accurſed. So that as the Lord commanded Ioſua, Ioſ. 1.7.we may not depart or turne away from it to the right h… or to the left. To this purpoſe alſo is that of our Apoſtle, where he ſaith,Rom. 16.17 I beſeech you brethren marke them diligently which cauſe diuiſion and offences contrary to the doctrine that ye hauehave learned. In which place the Apoſtle would hauehave the Romans conſtantly to hold faſt that doctrine which they had learned, ſignifying withall that they ſhould not want thoſe that would labour to cauſe diuiſion and offences amongſt them. But thus they ſhould auoid them, if they would continue in the things that they had learned. Whence it appeareth that it is a notable way to auoid diuiſions and diſſenſions, to beleeue and liue after the rule of the word. By which rule if our aduerſaries would hauehave proceeded with vsus, they ſhould not by their diuiſion hauehave ſo much troubled the Church; or if yet they would proceed by this rule with vsus, many diſſenſions wherewith the Church is troubled might eaſily be appeaſed. And if amongſt our ſelues and in our owne Churches wee would proceed by this one rule, and not leape out vntounto conueniences, Chriſtian policies, danger of innouations, and the like, whatſoeuer blemiſhes almoſt we hauehave by any diſſenſions amongſt vsus might quickly be wiped out. As many of vsus therefore as louelove the peace of Sion, let vsus in the things that are reuealed vntounto vsus proceed by one rule, euen that one rule which God hath preſcribed vntounto vsus in his holy word, and let vsus not turne away from it to the right hand or to the left, and ſo ſhall peace bee within our wals, and plenteouſneſſe within her palaces, ſo …ll we ſee Ieruſalem in proſperitie all her life long.
The third remedie againſt diſſenſions cauſed by diſtraction … minde and iudgement, is, all to minde one thing, to be knit …gether in one minde and iudgement. A remedie which the …poſtle often preſcribeth to repreſſe ſuch diſſenſions as aroſe … the Churches that he had planted. I beſeech you brethren, 1 Cor. 1.10.…ith he, by the name of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that yee all ſpeake …e thing, and that there be no diſſenſions among you; but bee yee …it together in one minde, and in one iudgement. He would hauehave …o diſagreeing in words amongſt them, becauſe that ingen…ers diſſenſion of minde, and ſo repugnancie of iudgement, …hich is the mother of ſchiſme and hereſie. In a word, hee …ould hauehave no diſſenſions amongſt them, and therefore hee …ould hauehave them all ſpeake one thing, hee would hauehave them …it together in one minde, and in one iudgement. And as …ere he beſeecheth the Corinthians by the name of Chriſt Ieſus …hat they minde one thing, ſo in the epiſtle to the Romans hee …aketh a moſt earneſt praier vntounto God for them, that they …ight be like minded one towards another. Now, ſaith hee, …he God of patience and conſolation giuegive you that yee be like minded …e towards another, according to Chriſt Ieſus, Rom. 15.5.6.that yee with one …inde and with one mouth may praiſe God, euen the Father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. So neceſſary hee thought the conſent of mindes and iudgements, and ſuch a notable remedie hee …hought it to be againſt all diuiſions and diſſenſions, that hee powreth out this moſt earneſt praier vntounto the Lord, that hee …ould worke in them this conſent of mindes and iudgements, that they might minde one thing. Where withall it is to bee noted, that he praieth that they be like minded one towards another according to Chriſt Ieſus: as alſo in this next chapter …he praieth Euodias, and beſeecheth Syntiche, Phil. 4.2.that they bee of one accord in the Lord. For otherwiſe if wee be like minded, but not according to Chriſt Ieſus, if we be of one accord, but not in the Lord, our conſent is not an vnitie, but a conſpiracie, ſuch as was the conſent of the high Prieſts, Scribes, and Phariſies when they condemned our bleſſed Sauiour, and of the people of the Iewes, when all the multitude cried at once, ſaying, Crucifie him, crucifie him, away with him, and deliuer to … Barabbas; and of that laſt Councell held at Trent, when ſo many things were ſo Antichriſtianly concluded againſt the true, ancient, Catholike, and Apoſtolike faith. If then as we hauehave one Lord, one faith, one baptiſme, one God and Father of all, which is aboue all, and through all, and in vsus all, ſo wee would bee like minded one towards another according to Chriſt Ieſus, diſſenſions were eaſily baniſhed if they were, and eaſily kept out if they were not. Which rule if wee had kept, or could keepe ſo well as we ſhould, they whoſe diſſenſion… are ſo notoriouſly knowne betweene their Franciſcans and Dominicans, their Thomiſts and Scotiſts, their Canoniſts and Diuines, ſhould not be able to twit vsus ſo much with our diſſenſions as they doe: neither ſhould the Browniſts and Baroiſts hauehave beene ſuch an offence as they hauehave beene, if in that whereunto wee are come they had beene of one accord with vsus in the Lord. As many of vsus therefore as louelove the peace of Sion, let vsus be knit together in one minde, and in one iudgement in the Lord, let vsus ſpeake one thing, and let vsus be of like affection one towards another. So ſhall the peace of our Ieruſalem bee as the light of the Sunne, and her proſperitie as the noone day. Let vsus by all meanes auoid all diſſenſions and diuiſions, and endeuour to keepe the vnitie of the ſpirit in the bond of peace. And therefore in the things that are not yet reuealed vntounto vsus, let vsus with patience wait till God in his good time reueale them vntounto vsus; let vsus in the things that are reuealed vntounto vsus proceed by one rule, that one rule of Gods word, not declining from it to the right hand, or to the left, and let vsus bee like minded one towards another according to Chriſt Ieſus, that with one minde and one mouth we may praiſe God, euen the Father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. So, and ſo alone ſhall we build, that neither hammer, nor axe, nor any toole of iron ſhall be heard in the Lords houſe whiles it is in building. And thus much of the remedies.
The third thing which I note, is, that the Apoſtle ſaith, i… that whereunto wee are come let vsus proceed by one rule, &c. which ſheweth, that howſoeuer one came ſhort of another, yet hee would hauehave eueryevery one of them ſo farre as they were come to goe forward, and as in marching againſt the enemie the ſtronger to encourage the weaker, and the weaker to ranke with the ſtronger, and both to proceed by one rule of their great Generall Chriſt Ieſus. Whence I obſerue, that neither they that are weaker then others in faith, in knowledge, or in obedience, are to be diſcouraged, or to ſit them downe becauſe they are weake, nor they that are ſtronger then others in faith, in knowledge, or in obedience, are to bee puft vp in themſelues, or to contemne them that are weaker becauſe they are ſtronger, but eueryevery man is according to the meaſure of grace that is giuen him to walke by that rule which God hath preſcribed him, and one to helpe another in fighting a good fight, and finiſhing their courſe. All of vsus are ranked to runne, and billed to fight, albeit vntounto all of vsus be not giuen like ſpeed to runne, or like ſtrength to fight, and all of vsus muſt runne and fight, though we cannot runne with the ſpeedieſt, or fight with the ſtrongeſt. And ſhall wee either be diſcouraged and ſit downe becauſe we cannot match with the beſt, or ſwell and diſdaine becauſe we are not as others, but as good as the beſt? It is as if the foot ſhould be diſmaied and denie to goe becauſe it is not the head; and as if the head ſhould diſdaine to direct the ſteps becauſe it is aboue the foot. The father of the childe that was poſſeſſed with a dumbe ſpirit, ſaw (no doubt) his owne weakneſſe to be great when our Sauiour ſaid vntounto him, If thou canſt beleeue, Mar. 9.23.all things are poſſible to him that beleeueth. Yet he fainted not, but holding on a good courſe hee ſaid, Lord I beleeue, helpe mine vnbeleefe. 24.And our holy Apoſtle knew right well how ſtrong he was in the ſpirit, and how he abounded in the graces of the ſpirit: yet hee diſdained not to become as weake vntounto the weake,1 Cor. 9.22. that he might winne the weake, and gaine them vntounto Chriſt. And both theſe marched in their ranke, and fought well, inaſmuch as the weake fainted not becauſe he was weake, nor hee that was ſtrong diſdained not the weake becauſe he was ſtrong.
Let no man therefore be diſcouraged or faint becauſe he is weake and vnable to runne with the formoſt. Some in marching forward muſt be before, and ſome behinde. Let not him that is behinde faint, but march forward. Let him march after the rule preſcribed him by his Generall, let his word be a lanterne vntounto his feet, and a light vntounto his paths, to direct his going in the way of his commandements. To hauehave ſtrength to runne with the formoſt is a great grace of God, and to bee ſought after by all manner praier and ſupplication in the ſpirit. But if thou walke forward in that weakneſſe of thine according to the meaſure of grace that is giuen thee by the rule which thy God hath preſcribed thee, this ſhall bring thee peace at the laſt, and guide thee vntounto the hauen where thou wouldeſt be. Let not thine heart therefore bee troubled nor feare. In what weakneſſe ſoeuer it is that thou walkeſt, bleſſe thy God that hath ſet thee in the way, and proceed as hee giueth grace in the way.