Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 3 · Lecture 49
LECTƲRE XLIX.
PHILIP. 3. Verſ. 1.2.
It grieueth me not to write the ſame things vntounto you, and for you it is a ſafe thing. Beware of dogs, beware &c.
IT grieueth me not &c.] The Apoſtle thought that thus the Philippians might conceiue and thinke with themſelues: when you were with vsus and taught vsus, and preached vntounto vsus Chriſt Ieſus, you ceaſed not to warne vsus of f…lſe teachers, ſuch as would ſeeke to ſeduce vsus from that truth which you taught vsus, and we hauehave beene diligent ſo to doe, neither hauehave we giuen place to any of their doctrinea. And therefore you needed not to hauehave troubled your ſelfe, this admonition needed not to vsus. In theſe words therefore the Apoſtle meeteth with this, and excuſeth the matter, and telleth them, that for him it was no griefe or trouble at all to him to write the ſame things vntounto them which before he had taught them by word of mouth; and for them he telleth them that it was a ſure and ſafe thing for them to be often admoniſhed of falſe teachers, th…t ſo they might be the more warie of them. Now before wee proceede any farther, let vsus ſee what obſeruations we may gather hence for our vſe and inſtruction.
1. In that the Apoſtle beats ſo often vponupon that which he thought was ſo good, and ſo profitable for them to heare, vrging and preſſing euen the ſelfe ſame things both by word and alſo by writing. Hence we that are Miniſters of the Goſpell may learne this leſſon, not to be grieued to teach them that heare vsus often the ſame things, but as we perceiue the things whereof we ſpeake to be good and profitable to them that heare vsus, ſo to goe ouer them, and ouer them, and not to leaue them till they may make ſome good impreſſion in them There muſt be precept vponupon precept, as the Prophet ſpeaketh,Eſay 28.10 precept vponupon precept, line vntounto line, line vntounto line, there a litle, and there a litle: we muſt tell them one thing oftentimes, and beat vponupon the ſame thing ſo long till at length they may catch ſome hold of it. For that which we commonly ſay, a good tale may be twice or thrice told, is moſt true in this worke of the Miniſter, where that can neuer be too much taught, which can neuer be too well learned. And as we hauehave our Apoſtle Paul for a notable example herein to imitate, ſo hauehave we Moſ…s, and the Prophets, and other of the Apoſtles likewiſe. In Moſes, the Paſſeouer, the heauenly Manna, the Rocke in the wilderneſſe, the braſen ſerpent, thoſe manifold ceremonies, and ſacrifices of the law; what were they elſe but ſo many repetitions as it were, and ingemminations of one and the ſame leſſon to bee learned by the Iewes touching Chriſt Ieſus that lambe of God, whom alone they did all prefigure? looke likewiſe into all the Prophets, and ſee what all of them ſay in all their prophecies, and what each of them ſay in their ſeuerall prophecies. Doe not all the Prophets in all their prophecies beat wonderfully much vponupon theſe two points, the curſed idolatrie of the Iewes, and their vaine confidence in man and in the arme of fleſh? And doe not each of them in their ſeuerall prophecies, Eſay in his prophecie, Ieremie in his prophecie &c. very often and much beare vponupon theſe very points, vrging them and preſſing them ſometimes by threatnings, and ſometimes by promiſes, as if they would neuer giuegive ouer till they ſhould beate the conſideration of theſe things into their braines. I hauehave proteſted (ſaith the Lord by his Prophet) vntounto your fathers when I brought them vp out of the land of Egipt vntounto this day, I…r. 11.7.8.riſing earely and proteſting, ſaying, obey my voice: neuertheleſſe they would not obey, nor incline their eare &c. 35.15.And againe by the ſame Prophet hee ſaith, I hauehave ſent vntounto you all my ſeruants the Prophets, riſing vp earely and ſending them, ſaying, returne now eueryevery man from his euill way, and amend your workes, and goe not after other Gods to ſerue them, and yee ſhall dwell in the land which I hauehave giuen vntounto you, and to your fathers, but yee would not incline your eare, nor obey me. Whereby it doth appeare that all the Lord his ſeruants, euen all his Prophets were ſent alwaies almoſt with one leſſon vntounto the rebellious people of the Iewes. So likewiſe the Apoſtle Peter, Though (ſaith he) yee hauehave knowledge, 2 Pet. 1.12.and be ſtabliſhed in the preſent truth, he meaneth the truth which he then preſently deliuered vntounto them, yet (ſaith he) I will not be negligent to put you alwaies in remembrance of theſe things, he meaneth the ſame things whereof then he put them in minde. Whereby he ſignifieth that men euen well grounded and well ſtabliſhed in the truth cannot bee too often told, and too much put in minde of ſuch things as are good and profitable for their vſe and inſtruction. HaueHave we ſuch patternes as Moſes, and the Prophets, and the Apoſtles for imitation in this point? Let vsus then, when we fall vponupon a point good and profitable for them that heare vsus, let vsus I ſay, preſſe it, and beate vponupon it, let vsus come to it againe and againe, and let vsus not giuegive it ouer, till we hauehave made (if it be poſſible) ſome impreſſion of it.
Yea but this will be too too tedious and weariſome vntounto our auditorie, ſo often to be plodding vponupon one thing, ſo much to be preſſing the ſame thing be it neuer ſo good. They muſt be delighted with variety, and great diuerſitie of matter, or elſe they will be quickly weary in hearing of vsus. Here it is indeede: ſo dainty are the eares of our auditorie that they cannot away with it to heare the ſame things ſo often. They muſt hauehave nouelties, they muſt hauehave varietie of matter though when they hauehave heard they cannot make any account of that they hauehave heard. Yea to ſuch daintineſſe is our auditorie growne,Num. 11.5. that if we feede them onelyonly with Manna, onelyonly with the holy word of life, the heauenly foode of our ſoules, they will quickly grow to loath it,Num. 11.6. and to long and greedily to luſt after ſuch fiſh and fleſh as they were wont to hauehave euen in Egipt, nay if they may hauehave but cucumbers, and pepons, and leekes, and onyons, and garlike ſuch as they had in Egipt, they had rather hauehave it then ſtill to feede vponupon this dry Manna. So irkeſome are the ſame things vntounto our auditorie, be they neuer ſo good, and ſo deſirous are they to heare diuers things, though nothing ſo good and profitable vntounto them. In regard therefore of them we muſt not ſo often ſpeake of the ſame things, becauſe they like it not, as not either needfull, or not profitable for them. Heare then (I beſeech you) what our holy Apoſtle ſaith for your inſtruction in this point. For you (ſaith he) it is a ſure thing, a ſafe and good courſe for you, that yee be often told of the ſame things. See then the odds betweene your conceit, and the Apoſtle his reſolution. To heare often of the ſame things is a tedious thing to you: but the Apoſtle thinketh it a very ſure and ſafe thing for you. You muſt allwaies hauehave variety and that yee thinke beſt for you: but the Apoſtle thinketh it good for you to be often put in minde of the ſame things. The reaſons why it is good for you often to heare the ſame things are theſe. 1. By hearing the ſame things often your dull and vnexpert vnderſtandings are much holpen: For thus the things which happily at the firſt ſeemed hard to be vnderſtood, and which you were not able to comprehend and conceiue do afterwards become plaine and eaſie vntounto you. And this is the reaſon why ſometimes we do ſo long ſtand a teaching the ſame leſſon vntounto them that are yong cholers in the doctrine of faith, and inexpert in the word of righteouſneſſe. 2 By hearing the ſame things often you are ſtirred vp both vntounto greater carefullneſſe, and likewiſe vntounto greater warineſſe then otherwiſe happily yee would. For if the things be ſuch as you ſhould learne and follow after, yee …ill quickly ſee that they much concerne you, becauſe they are ſo often beaten vponupon, and therefore yee will be carefull to lay them vp in your hearts, and to practiſe them in your liues. And this was the reaſon why the Apoſtle Peter was ſo diligent to put them (vntounto whom he wrote) in minde of the …me thi…s, euen that the more diligent they ſaw him to put them in minde of the ſame things, they might be the more carefull to harken to thoſe things whereof he ſo often put them in minde. Againe if the things be ſuch as you ſhould beware and auoide, this often ſpeaking of them will make you the more warie of them, becauſe yee will eaſily coniecture that ſurely the danger is great when the caueats are ſo often and ſo carefully giuen. And this was the reaſon why our Apoſtle firſt when he was with them by word of mouth, and now againe by writing ceaſed not to warne the Philippians of falſe teachers, euen that the more carefull they ſaw the Apoſtle to giuegive them warning of falſe teachers, they might be ſo much the more warie of them. As then it ought not to grieue vsus to ſpeake the ſame things often vntounto you, ſo let it not bee weariſome vntounto you to heare the ſame things often of vsus. You ſee the Apoſtle ſaith it is a ſure thing, and a good thing for you, and yee heare the reaſons why it is good for you. Let this ſuffice to moderate that ouer great niceneſſe and daintineſſe that is in ſome, and that ſuch an ouer-itching humor that is in ſome after varietie that they cannot at all away with it to heare the ſame things often. When the things are of neceſſarie moment and behoofe for you, let it not be tedious vntounto to you to heare of them againe, and againe; and when things are ſo carefully and ſo often ſuggeſted vntounto you, aboue all things take heede that yee harken vntounto the things ſo ſuggeſted, leſt that come vponupon you which is mentioned in the place of Eſay before alledged, that is, leſt when there hath beene precept vponupon precept, precept vponupon precept, line vntounto line, line vntounto line, there a litle, and there a litle, and yet yee would not heare, afterwards it come to paſſe by the iuſt iudgement of God, that there be precept vponupon precept, precept vponupon precept, line vntounto line, line vntounto line, there a litle, and there a litle, but then hearing you ſhall heare and not vnderſtand, and ſeeing yee ſhall ſee and not perceiue. For it is a iuſt thing with God, that if yee will not heare when the booke of God is ſo wide opened vntounto you, and the ſame things ſo often gone ouer and ouer, afterwards the word be vntounto you as the words of a booke that is ſealed vp, that is, altogether vnprofitable, or elſe that it bee quite taken from you and giuen vntounto them that will hearken and obey. Let it therefore neither grieue them that ſpeake to ſpeake the ſame things often when they are good and profitable, neither let it ſeeme tedious and weariſome vntounto you that heare to heare the ſame things often when they are ſuch; and aboue all things hearken vntounto ſuch things ſo often ſuggeſted, leſt the things ſo often ſpoken vntounto you turne vntounto your farther iudgement. Now let vsus ſee what it was that the Apoſtle thought it not amiſſe for himſelfe ſo often to ſpeake of, and a ſure thing for them ſo often to heare of: it was the taking heede of falſe teachers, ſuch as would ſeeke to ſeduce them from that truth of Chriſt Ieſus which he had taught them. And this is the exhortation or admonition which now followeth, after this excuſe of the Apoſtle for himſelfe.
Beware of dogges &c.] This is the firſt principall part which we obſerued in this chapter, which in briefe is an exhortation or admonition to beware of falſe teachers; and eſpecially the Apoſtle giueth his caueat of thoſe falſe Apoſtles which were then crept in amongſt them, as the article vſed in the originall doth ſhew; who taught that not Chriſt alone and faith in his name, but circumciſion alſo, and the workes of the law were neceſſarie to iuſtification and ſaluation. Theſe falſe teachers who taught this erroneous and falſe doctrine, the Apoſtle here noteth by the name of doggs, of falſe teachers, and of the conciſion. He calleth them dogs in reſpect of certaine bad qualities wherein they did reſemble dogs. 1. In reſpect of their ſnarling and barking, becauſe as dogs they barked at him, and ſnarled at his doctrine, and that as much without reaſon as the dogge that barks not vponupon reaſon, but vponupon cuſtome.1 Sa. 16.9. And ſo we ſee Abiſhai called Shimei a dogge in reſpect of his cauſeles barking againſt Dauid. 2. In reſpect of their greedineſſe, becauſe as dogs they minded onelyonly their bellies, making (as afterward he ſaith) their belly their God. And ſo we ſee the Prophet called blinde watchmen, and dumbe dogges.Eſay 56.11 greedy dogges which could neuer hauehave enough. 3. In reſpect of their abſurdneſſe, becauſe as the dogge returneth to his vomit, ſo they of Iewes being made Chriſtians returned againe vntounto their olde Iudaiſme, not teaching Chriſt purely, but making a mixture of Iudaiſme and Chriſtianitie. Againe, he calleth them euill workers, 1. in reſpect of the workes which they vrged, becauſe by preaching the neceſſitie of workes vntounto ſaluation, and ioyning them with Chriſt as workers together with him of our ſaluation, they made thoſe workes which in themſelues were not euill, euill workes. For thoſe workes which as they are done according to the law are good, by this addition of neceſſitie, that not Chriſt alone, but they alſo are neceſſarie, as cauſes, vntounto ſaluation, are made euill workes. 2. In reſpect of the euill minde wherewith they vrged theſe workes, becauſe they vrged them in hatred of him, and to croſſe that which he had taught touching the ſole ſufficiencie of Chriſt his righteouſneſſe vntounto ſaluation. 3. In reſpect of their vnfaithfull working in the Lord his vineyard, becauſe together with good ſeede they did ſow tares in the Lord his field, ioyning with Chriſt the workes of the law in the worke of our ſaluation. Laſtly, he calleth them the conciſion, 1. by alluſion vntounto circumciſion which they vrged as neceſſarie to ſaluation,Act. 15.1. ſaying as it is in the Actes, Except yee be circumciſed after the manner of Moſes ye cannot be ſaued. 2. Becauſe by vrging circumciſion they did indeed cut the ſeamleſſe coate of Chriſt, and rent the vnitie of the Church, which had now receiued the circumciſion of Chriſt through baptiſme, and had left off that ceremonie of the law. 3. Becauſe by vrging circumciſion they ſhewed themſelues to be onelyonly cut in the fore-skinnes of their fleſh, but not to be circumciſed in the heart, by putting off the ſinnefull body of the fleſh through the circumciſion of Chriſt. Thus the Apoſtle vponupon theſe cauſes and reſpects noteth thoſe falſe Teachers which were crept in amongſt the Philippians, and of theſe hee warneth them againe and againe, euen three times, to beware.
Now touching the obſeruations hence to be gathered, here 1. I note that the Apoſtle ſpeaketh vntounto the Philippians in generall, that they ſhould beware of falſe Teachers. Whence I obſerue that not Clergie men alone, as they call them, but euen all the faithfull children of God may and ought to trie and iudge by the Scriptures whether their Teachers & Preachers doctrine be true, and ſo to reiect whatſoeuer they finde not proued by the Scriptures, or agreeable to the Scriptures. For how ſhould the Philippians beware of falſe Teachers? they ſhould examine and trie their doctrine, and receiue that which was agreeable to that which he had taught them, and reiect that which was not agreeable thereunto. So wee read it regiſtred to the perpetuall commendation of the men of Berea, Act. 17.11.that they ſearched the Scriptures to trie whether thoſe things which Paul preached vntounto them were ſo as he preached. For they hauing receiued the Scriptures in credit before, were ſo to accept of thoſe things which Paul preached vntounto them if they were conſonant to the holy Scriptures, according to that of the ſame Apoſtle,Gal. 1.9. If any man preach vntounto you otherwiſe then that ye hauehave receiued, let him be accurſed; then that ye hauehave receiued, 1. Then that which God had promiſed before by his Prophets in the holy Scriptures, as the ſame Apoſtle ſpeaketh. And as the men of Berea did,Rom. 1.2. ſo wee read he willed the Theſſalonians to doe, where he ſaid vntounto them, trie all things, 1 Theſ. 5.21and keepe that which is good: where it is plaine by verſ. 12. that he ſpeaketh not onelyonly to the Paſtors, but alſo to the flocke. So the Apoſtle Iohn in his Epiſtle vntounto the faithfull diſperſed Iewes ſaith, dearely beloued, belieue not eueryevery ſpirit, 1 Ioh. 4.1.but trie the ſpirits whether they are of God: for many falſe Prophets are gone out into the world. Where the Apoſtle deliuereth a generall doctrine that concerneth eueryevery one of the faithfull as he will auoide the ſeducing and deceits of falſe Teachers, which is that eueryevery man ſhould trie by ſuch rules as the Scripture ſetteth downe who is a true or falſe Teacher, which is true or falſe doctrine. And therfore we ſee that the Apoſtle rebuketh the Galathians very ſharpely, becauſe they had giuen place vntounto falſe Apoſtles which corrupted the pure doctrin of Chriſt,Gal. 3.1. and had ſuffered themſelues to be ſeduced by them. By which his ſharpe reproofe of them, hee plainely ſheweth that they ſhould hauehave tried and examined the doctrine which thoſe falſe Apoſtles brought by that which he had taught them, and ſo reiected that which was not agreeable vntounto wholeſome doctrine. And what elſe meane thoſe often admonitions in the Prophets vntounto all the Iewes to beware of falſe Prophets:Ier. 23.16. heare not, ſaith Ieremy, the words of the Prophets that prophecie vntounto you, and teach you vanitie: they ſpeake the viſion out of their owne heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord, heare them not. How then?Eſa. 8.20. what is to be done? Eſay telleth thee: To the law, and to the teſtimonie: if they ſpeake not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light in them. This then is to be done, when the falſe Prophets and Teachers ſpeake vntounto you heare them not, ſo as to reſt on what they ſay, but ſo heare them as that yee examine them by the law and by the teſtimonie; and if they ſpeake not according to this word ſurely they hauehave no knowledge, but are blinde leaders of them, and ſo account of them. Thus then both by the commendable example of the men of Berea, and by the precept of the Apoſtles, Iohn, and our Apoſtles, and by the ſharpe reproofe of the Galathians, and by the warrant of the Prophets, it doth and may appeare that euen all the faithfull children of God may and ought to trie and iudge by the Scriptures whether their teachers doctrine be true, and ſo to reiect whatſoeuer they finde not agreeable to the Scriptures.
Yea but it will be ſaid, that this were to make the ſheepe iudges of their ſhepheards, and the people to controll their Miniſters. No, not ſo: but the people muſt heart their Miniſters, and obey them, and be ordered by them, which they will the more cheerefully doe, when by ſearching the Scriptures they ſhall finde their Miniſter and Teachers doctrine to be the doctrine of the holy Ghoſt, and not the inuention or tradition of men. If the teachers bring not the truth thus their errors will indeed be deſcried, and no reaſon that when they bring not the truth their doctrine ſhould be receiued as ſound and good. But if they bring the truth, by this ſearch of the ſcriptures the truth which they bring is with the greater lacritie reuerenced and embraced, and themſelues the more honoured and eſteemed. Learne ye then, men and brethren, to make this vſe of this doctrine: 1. To beware of ſuch as teach you otherwiſe then now we hauehave taught you. Beware of ſuch as will tell you that yee are not to meddle with the ſenſe of the Scripture, or to iudge of ſuch doctrine as ye heare whether it be true or falſe, but yee are onelyonly to trie the ſpirits by taking knowledge of them to whom God hath giuen the gift of diſcerning ſpirits, and by obeying the Church, to whom Chriſt hath giuen the ſpirit of truth, and this Church, ſay they, is the Church of Rome. By this that ye hauehave heard ye ſee that ſuch are falſe Teachers deceiuing and being deceiued. 2. Learne hence to be diligent in re…ding, and in hearing the Scriptures, that ſo ye may be able to trie the ſpirits.Ioh. 5.39. In the Scriptures, as ſaith our Sauiour, wee thinke to hauehave eternall life; and by meditating therein wee ſhall eaſily skill of thoſe that would lead vsus out of the right way that guideth to eternall life. Let vsus therefore exerciſe our ſelues in the doctrine of the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt which we hauehave receiued, and let vsus marke them diligently which cauſe diuiſion and offences contrarie to the doctrine which we hauehave learned, and let vsus auoid them, yea if any come vntounto vsus and bring not this doctrine,2 Ioh. 10. let vsus not receiue him, nor bid him God ſpeede, let vsus hauehave no familiarity with him, but let vsus abandon all fellowſhippe with him.
The 2. thing which here I note, is the Apoſtles often iteration of this caueat vntounto the Philippians, admoniſhing them aga…ne and againe, euen three times to beware of falſe Teachers. Whence we may obſerue how needfull a matter it is for vsus to take heed of falſe Teachers, which ſeeke to ſeduce vsus from that doctrine which wee hauehave learned in the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus. Which thing as this often iteration of this caueat may confirme vntounto vsus, ſo this circumſtance alſo euen in this matter, that the Apoſtle hauing often before by word of mouth warned them of falſe Teachers, yet aduentured the reproofe if they ſhould blame him for warning them againe by writing. Againe, when our Apoſtle tooke his laſt farewell of ſeeing the Epheſians any more, how carefully did he warne them of falſe Teachers? Take heede, ſaith hee,Act. 20.28 29.31. vntounto your ſelues &c. For I know this, that after my departing ſhall grieuous wolues &c. Therefore watch and remember that by the ſpace of three yeares I ceaſed not to warne eueryevery one both night and day with teares. He beginnes with, take heede vntounto your ſelues; hee ends with, watch and remember &c. as if this taking heede of falſe Teachers were a thing moſt needfull for them to be diligent in. And our Sauiour Chriſt,Mar. 8.15. Take heed and beware of the leauen of the Phariſes, and of the leauen of Herod. Where willing his Diſciples to beware of the contagious doctrine of thoſe that laboured to ſubuert his Goſpell, the word of our ſaluation, he ſatisfieth not himſelfe with ſaying take heede, or, beware, but for the better impreſſion of his caueat he ioyneth both together, and ſaith, take heede and beware. In which places the very carefull admonitions of our Sauiour Chriſt, and of our Apoſtle, expreſſed by ſo many ingeminations, ſometimes of beware, beware, beware; ſome times of take heed, watch, and remember; ſometimes of take heede and beware doe moſt euidently ſhew what a needfull thing it is for vsus to take diligent heede of falſe Teachers, leaſt any of vsus bee ſeduced by their inticing ſpeeches from that doctrine which wee hauehave learned in the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus. And ſure it is a thing no leſſe needfull for vsus now then at any time heretofore it hath been to beware of falſe Teachers. For hauehave we not now many eueryevery where which creepe into houſes,2 Tim. 3.6. and lead captiue ſimple women laden with ſinnes, and led with diuers luſts? hauehave we not now many eueryevery where which compaſſe ſea and land to make one of their profeſſion, Math. 23.15.ſo to make him twofold more the childe of hell then they themſelues are? hauehave we not now many eueryevery where by whom the way of truth is euill ſpoken of, and ſuch as with fained words would make marchandize of your ſoules? hauehave we not now men ariſing euen of our owne ſelues, and ſpeaking peruerſe things to draw diſciples after them? yes, my brethren, Rome and Rhemes ſweare many, and ſend them vntounto vsus as to draw vsus from our allegiance vntounto our Soueraigne, ſo to corrupt our ſincere mindes with their poyſoned doctrines. And theſe wander vp and downe ſecretly and in corners, ſpeaking euill of the way of truth, and leading back againe as many as they can vntounto the abominations of Egipt. Againe others there are ariſing of our ſelues, who whether ſeduced by others, or through malecontentedneſſe, or by the iuſt iudgement of God blinded that they cannot ſee the light, or howſoeuer elſe bewitched; but many others are euen ariſing of our ſelues who priuily ſow curſed tares in this field of the Lord, who firſt cloſely ſlaunder the truth, and the moſt godly and Chriſtian profeſſors thereof, and then afterward cloſing in farther with you, draw you on by little and little till at length be drunke with the cuppe of their fornications. Many ſuch, I ſay, there are amongſt vsus, and therefore very needfull it is for vsus to take heed and beware of them.
Yea, but how ſhall we know them? they profeſſe Chriſt, and the ſame Apoſtolique Creed with vsus, they admit the Canonicall Scriptures as we doe, they ſay they condemne idolatrie and ſuperſtition as we doe, how then ſhall we know them? They come indeed in ſheepes clothing, but inwardly they are rauening wolues, by their fruits yee ſhall know them. They may well be called, as theſe falſe Teachers among the Philippians, dogs, euill workers, the conciſion. For my 3. note therefore and obſeruation from theſe words, I will briefly hence gather certaine notes whereby yee may know and diſcerne falſe Teachers.