Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 3 · Lecture 67
LECTVRE LXVII.
PHILIP. 3. Verſe 17.
Brethren, be followers of mee, and looke on them which walke ſo as yee hauehave vsus for an enſample. For many walke &c.
NOw the Apoſtle goeth forward, and hauing before propoſed his owne example vntounto the Philippians, thereby both to inſtruct their vnderſtanding in matters of doctrine, and likewiſe to ſtirre them vp vntounto all holy deſires in the whole courſe of their life, now he exhorteth them to follow his example, and the example of ſuch as he is, that in him they may hauehave a patterne to rectifie their iudgements in the truth, and to follow after Chriſtian perfection in all holy conuerſation of their life. Here then firſt wee hauehave the Apoſtles exhortation vntounto the Philippians; ſecondly, certaine reaſons to moue them to hearken vntounto his exhortation. The exhortation in theſe words, Brethren, &c. The reaſons in the verſes following vntounto the end of the chapter. His exhortation conſiſteth of two parts: firſt, that the Philippians would be followers of him;foreign. neither doth the word ſimply ſignifie followers, but that they would bee followers …ogether of him. Which may hauehave a double meaning, either …hat they would all with one mind, and with one heart iointly …ogether follow his example, or elſe that as other Churches which hee had planted in the faith followed his example, ſo …hey likewiſe together with them would follow his example Howſoeuer that be meant, it is cleere that the Apoſtle would hauehave the Philippians to looke at him, and as they had heard him to be minded, and ſeene him to walke, ſo he would hauehave …hem to follow him in wholeſomeneſſe of doctrine, and integritie of life. Hee knew that examples, as ordinarily they are wont to doe with men, might much preuaile with them. Leſt therefore they ſhould happily be drawne away by the exam…ples of the falſe teachers, hauing it may be a greater ſhew of holineſſe in their life then they had ſoundneſſe of iudgement in the truth, he draweth them vntounto his owne example, and exhorteth them to be followers of him. The ſecond part of his exhortation is, that they would follow the example of them that were like vntounto him, being ſo minded towards the truth as he was, and walking ſo in holy conuerſation of life as he did. For vntounto the former part of his exhortation, that they ſhould be followers of him, there might happily exception be taken, that he was much abſent from them, that hee was now in priſon, that it was hard to tie them to the imitation of one man, to one mans example. Hee doth not therefore tie them to the imitation of himſelfe alone, but hauing exhorted them to be followers of him, he ſaith,foreign. and looke on them with a diligent eye vntounto them, as vntounto the marke whereat yee ſhoot, which walke ſo, ſo ſoundly grounded in the truth, and ſo earneſtly endeuouring after Chriſtian perfection in this life, as yee hauehave vsus for an enſample, in whoſe doctrine is nothing but pure, in whoſe life is nothing but holy. So that he allowes them to follow the example of other then himſelfe, but with all hee doth not leaue it vntounto their choice to follow whom they will, but markes them out what manner of men they ſhould chuſe for examples to follow, namely ſuch as were like him, and ſuch as of whom they might truly ſay, he walke; ſo hee embraceth the ſame truth, and ordereth his whole life as our Apoſtle did. The ſumme then of his exhortation is as i… he had thus ſaid, Brethren, ye hauehave heard and know how I am minded towards the truth, and how I follow hard towards perfection in my life. Bee yee followers of mee in both theſe things, and walke ſo as yee hauehave mee for an enſample Neither doe I tie you only to my ſelfe to follow mee, but looke who they are that walke ſo, ſhewing themſelues an enſample of good workes, with vncorrupt doctrine, with grauitie, integritie, and with the wholeſome word which cannot be reproued, as yee hauehave mee for an enſample; and looke diligently on them, and follow them as they follow mee, and both of vsus Chriſt. Which being the meaning of theſe words in this exhortation, let vsus now further ſee what notes wee may gather hence for our vſe and inſtruction.
The firſt thing which I note is, that the Apoſtle would hauehave the Philippians to follow the example not of whomſoeuer each man in his priuate fancie did beſt like of, but of him, and of ſuch others as walked ſo as they had him for an enſample Whence I obſerue, that in the courſe of our Chriſtian walking wee are to follow the example of ſuch as by their holy walking ſhew plainly that they hauehave beene brought vp in the ſchoole of Chriſt, and that they are the faithfull children of God. An ordinary thing it is for men to looke at the example of others, and ſo to walke as they hauehave others for example: for the example of others going before vsus is a great inducement vntounto vsus to doe the like, whether the thing be good or euill. Wee ſee the manifold examples of holy men mentioned in the holy word of God, euen ſo many and ſo diuers, as that whether wee looke for direction in the generall courſe of Chriſtianitie, or in the particular calling wherein wee are placed, we cannot want multitude of examples to direct vsus. And wherefore hath the holy Ghoſt ſet them downe but for our vſe, that wee might ſo walke as wee hauehave then: for examples: For,Rom. 15.4. as the Apoſtle ſaith, whatſoeuer things were written aforetime, were written for our learning. The Prince in Ioſiah, the Counſellor in Huſhai, the rich man in Abraham, the poore man in the Shunamite, the great Officers of great men in the …unuch of Candaces the Queene of Ethiopia, Act. 17.the captiue in …aniel and the three children, the baniſhed in Ioſeph, the affli…ed in body or goods in Iob, the ſouldier in Cornelius, the mer…hant in thoſe merchants that holpe to build the wals of Ieru…lem, the artificer in thoſe that wrought in the worke of the …emple, the husbandman and thoſe that are occupied about …ttell, in Noah and the Patriarkes, women in Sara and thoſe …at are mentioned in the Acts, the Magiſtrate in Moſes and …oſua, the Miniſters of Chriſt in the Apoſtles of Chriſt, hauehave …otable examples after which they may walke, and be directed … their ſeuerall Chriſtian duties. No courſe of life, no ſtate of …alling, no condition of either ſex, but may hauehave examples in …e word for all holy direction in eueryevery holy courſe. And if …ee looke euen into our owne times wherein wee liue, we ſhall …ot heare of that dutie enioyned vntounto vsus, but wee ſhall heare … ſee thoſe that hauehave to their high praiſe both with God and …en performed it before vsus. This then wee muſt know, that …eſe examples both old and new are in this manner ſet before …ur eyes to the end that wee might be lead thereby vntounto thoſe Chriſtian duties which the Lord our God requireth at our …ands which make profeſſion of his glorious Goſpell. For of his we may be ſure, that if the multitude of holy examples …herewith we are beſet, ſhall not preuaile with vsus to doe the …ke, they ſhall aſſuredly be ſo many witneſſes againſt vsus to …he increaſing of our condemnation.
Now herewithall we muſt note, that the life of ſuch holy …aints of God as either hauehave liued before vsus, or doe now pre…ently liue with vsus is not, nor may be any certaine or perpetu…ll rule vntounto vsus of religion, piety, or Chriſtian life. For none …f all the Saints of God, were they neuer ſo holy, neuer ſo …eare in Gods ſight, but they hauehave had their blemiſhes in their …ues budding out of that naturall corruption which they …rew from the loynes of our firſt Parents. Noah that preacher …f righteouſneſſe is noted for drunkeneſſe: luſt Lot with in…eſt: Abraham the father of the faithfull with lying: Iſaac the …eed promiſed by God with the ſame fault: Iacob that wreſted …ith God and preuailed with the ſame fault: Ioſeph preſerued from many dangers by Gods prouidence with prophane ſwearing: Moſes vntounto whom God ſpake face to face with murmuring: Dauid a man after Gods owne heart with murther & adulterie: Peter with denying his Maſter Chriſt: Paul with boaſting of his reuelations: Iames and Iohn with ambition: and the like is to be ſaid of all other the Saints of God: none that may not iuſtly be noted with ſome blemiſh in their life: ſo that none of all their examples may be vntounto vsus the rule of our life. OnelyOnly the word which is a lanthorne vntounto our fee…e and a light vntounto our ſteppes is the rule of our life. All examples of men if they be looked into wilbe found too crooked to make a ſtraight-rule. OnelyOnly the example of Chriſt Ieſus both God and man is without all exception a perfect example, all whoſe actions are our inſtructions, and whoſe whole life is a thorow direction for our whole life.
In the imitation then and following of the Saints of God, to make an holy vſe thereof, wee muſt obſerue theſe rules. 1. That we do not otherwiſe follow the example of them then they follow the example of Chriſt. So the Apoſtle teacheth vsus where he ſaith,1 Cor. 11.1. be ye followers of me euen as I am of Chriſt. I… then Paul be exalted through the abundance of Reuelations, wheras Chriſt hath taught vsus to be meeke and lowly in heart; or if Peter denie his Maſter whereas Chriſt hath told vsus that whoſoeuer denieth him before men he will alſo denie him before his father which is in heauen, here we muſt leaue Peter and Paul, and follow our Maſter Chriſt. Him we muſt alwaies follow, and Peter and Paul, and other of Gods Saints as they follow him, but not otherwiſe. If they be feruent in louelove as Chriſt was, meeke and lowly in heart as Chriſt was, patient in trouble as Chriſt was, ready to forgiue as Chriſt was, bee earneſt in praier as Chriſt was, if they go about his buſines that ſent them as Chriſt did, in theſe and the like wherein they follow Chriſt we are to follow them. The 2. rule to be obſerued in the imitation of the Saints of God, that wee follo… them no in things peculiarly belonging vntounto them, but in the things which they did as Chriſtians. For ſo to follow Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe in the things which peculiarly belong vntounto himſelfe were very abſurd; as to follow him in faſting fortie daies and fortie nights, in walking vponupon the ſeas, in cauſing …e ſurging waues to ceaſe with his word, in cleanſing the Lea…ers, raiſing the dead, and the like whereby he ſhewed him…elfe to be the true Meſſias. And ſo likewiſe to follow Abra…am in offering vp of his ſonne Iſaac, to follow Moſes in ſmi…ng the ſtonie rocke that waters may runne in drie places, to …llow the Apoſtles in preaching from city to city and not to …ttle in any one place were an imitation ſo fooliſh as that it …ould want all ground of reaſon and warrantize. And there…ore when Iames and Iohn ſaid vntounto Chriſt, wilt thou that wee …ommand that fire come downe from heauen as Elias did?Luc. 9.54.55. Chriſt rebuked them and ſaid, ye know not of what ſpirit yee are: … if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, Elias did ſo indeed, but ye are not …erein to follow Elias. We are therefore to obſerue what they …id by peculiar office, authoritie, or commandement, and …ot to labour to follow them therein, and what they did gene…ally as Chriſtians, and therein to follow them as they fol…ow Chriſt.
The 3. rule to be obſerued in the imitation of the Saints …f God is, that in earneſt deſire to be like vntounto them we reſem…le as neere as we can ſuch holy actions of faith towards God, …nd louelove towards all Saints as they were moſt renowned for. For to eate and drinke, to talke and walke, to borow and lend, and the like which nature teacheth are no actions of imitation, but to louelove one another as Dauid and Ionathan did, to redeeme our owne peace and quietneſſe with ſome loſſe as Abraham did, to be faithfull in the Lords houſe as Moſes was, …o cloth the naked, to feed the hungry, to iudge the fatherleſſe and widow as Iob did, to delight in the Law of the Lord, and to exerciſe our ſelues therein day and night as Dauid did, to ſerue the Lord with faſting and praier as Anna did, to ſit down at Ieſus feete and heare his preaching as Mary did, to reſtore with vantage that which was taken by forged cauillation as Zaccheus did, theſe and ſuch like are the actions wherein wee ſhould earneſtly deſire to reſemble the Saints of God as neere as we can. And if we marke it, in the places where we are preciſely exhorted to follow the example of the Saints of God we are exhorted to follow them in theſe and the like things, as in beleeuing that faith is imputed vntounto vsus for righteouſneſſe as it was to Abraham, Rom. 4.23 1 Cor 4.16.11.1. 2 Theſ. 3.8.in ſuffering affliction for Chriſt his ſake, in not ſeeking priuate profit, but the profit of many that they may be ſaued, in labouring carefully, and not walking inordinately, in following after perfection Chriſtianly, and embracing the truth zealouſly as in this place of our Apoſtle. Moe rules I doubt not might be noted, but theſe being obſerued we ſhall make an holy vſe of following the example of the Saints of God in the whole courſe of our life.
But if we do conſider what holy vſe we make of ſuch examples of the Saints of God as either hauehave beene or are, it will appeare that many of vsus make little or no benefit at all of them. For not to ſpeake of great Princes, and Councellors, whom it were to be wiſhed that they were like vntounto good Ioſias, and faithfull Huſhai, our rich men doe they not more reſemble that rich man in the Goſpell, that was clothed richly, and fared delicately eueryevery day, but neuer regarded poore Lazarus that lay at his gate full of ſores begging ſome crummes that fell from his table,Luc. 16. then Abraham? The poorer ſort doe they not more reſemble thoſe foure Lepers that firſt entred into one Tent and ſpoyled it,2 Reg. 7.8. and then into another and ſpoyled it, then the good Shunemite? Our Artificers and Tradeſ-men do they not more reſemble Demetrius and his company mentioned in the Actes that made more account of their gaine,Act. 19.24 and of their bellies then of Paul, of the Preacher, or of the preaching of the word, then thoſe that wrought in the worke of the Temple? Our Countrey-men and they that are occupied about their cattle and their grounds, do they not more reſemble thoſe that could not diſcerne betweene their right-hand and their left-hand, that had no knowledge in the waies of God,Ionah. 4.11. or the things that belonged vntounto their peace, then Noah, or the Patriarches? Our Magiſtrates doe they not more reſemble thoſe of whom Salomon ſpeaketh,Pro. 29.2. that when they riſe vp men hide themſelues, when they beare rule the people ſigh, then Moſes, or Ioſua? Our Miniſters do not they reſemble more thoſe, of whom the Apoſtle ſaith, that they ſought their owne, Phil. 2.21.and not that which was Ieſus Chriſts, than the Apoſtles of Chriſt? Surely ſo it fareth with too too many that they are more like the worſt then the beſt. For if it be ſo …at happily we doe looke at the examples of the Saints of …od, what do we? For examples of the Saints of God menti…ned in the word of God, either we ſay that they are onelyonly to …e wondred at but not to be imitated, or elſe we follow them … the things wherein we ought not. If Samſon ſay,Iud. 15.11. as they did …to me ſo hauehave I done vntounto them, by and by we perſwade our …lues that we may lawfully be reuenged of our enemies. If …liſha curſe them that mocke him euen vntounto the death, 2 Reg. 2.24.and tearing … pieces by beares, by and by we think we hauehave a good defence …r vsus if we curſe thoſe that wrong vsus euen vntounto hell. And if Moſes or Ieremie draw backe the ſhoulder when the Lord cals …em, by and by we thinke we may be excuſed if we doe not …waies hearken when the Lord doth call vsus to this or that …utie. And ſo likewiſe in the reſt: either we thinke them on… to be admired but not to be imitated, or if we doe imitate …em it is either in the things that wee ſhould not, or as we …ould not, only looking vntounto ſome thing which they did, …t not conſidering the manner, or the cauſe, or ſome other …rcumſtance of doing that they did, or that they ſinned in …at they did.
Againe for examples of ſuch of Gods Saints as liue among …s, and whoſe practiſe we may ſee daily before our eyes when …e are told of them, wee ſcorne that their actions ſhould bee reſidents for vsus to follow; yea ſuch is our corruption that of…entimes we are not aſhamed to ſay, doe ſuch and ſuch men …uour ſuch a godly work, further ſuch an holy action, coun…enance ſuch a religious exerciſe, we will hinder it, wee will …roſſe it, we will cruſh it, or elſe we will take the foyle: nay to …et them ſee and know how little we care to be like them, doth …a… king when there ſhould be mourning for the heauie hand …f God vponupon vsus grieue them, doth ſwearing, and prophaning …f the Lords day grieue them, we will doe theſe things the ra…her to deſpiſe them. If they be men fearing God, eſchewing …ui…l, and doing the thing that is good we will hauehave ſome ex…eption againſt them wherefore wee will not follow their ex…mple And commonly we will brand them with the name of …uſtere and preciſe men, and then will we be ſo farre from following their example as that wee will both croſſe what good they intend if we can, and beſides wee will grieue them either by our ſelues or others as much as we can. This is the vſe that generally we make either of old or new examples, paſt or preſent.
But beloued it ſhould be farre otherwiſe as already we hauehave heard. Yea a great cauſe it ſhould be vntounto vsus of thankfulneſſe vntounto our God for his great merciemercy towards vsus, in that he hath vouchſafed to beſet vsus with ſo many old and new examples of his holy Saints, whereby we might be drawne to walke in ſuch an holy courſe as they walked. Let vsus therefore be thankfull vntounto our God for them, and to teſtifie our thankefulneſſe let vsus alwaies remember them, and in our liues follow the holy practiſe of them. For, for that purpoſe were they written which are commended in holy Scripture vntounto vsus. And as I told you let vsus be ſure of this that if the multitude of holy examples paſt and preſent wherewith we are compaſſed ſhall not preuaile with vsus to be followers of them, they ſhall moſt vndoubtedly be ſo many witneſſes againſt vsus to the encreaſing of our iuſt condemnation. Thus much of this note.
The 2. thing which I note is from the perſon of him that exhorted the Philippians, which was Paul their Apoſtle, who had taught them the truth in Chriſt Ieſus, and had wa…ked in all holy conuerſation amongſt them. Whence I obſerue that the Miniſters of Chriſt are not onelyonly to teach the truth of Chriſt Ieſus with vncorrupt doctrine, with grauitie, integrity, and with the wholeſome word which cannot be reproued, but withall to be ſuch examples vntounto their flockes as that they may ſay with the Apoſtle, Be ye followers of me, and of ſuch … walke ſo as ye hauehave me for an example. This our Apoſtle required of Timothie, 1. Tim. 4.12where he ſaid vntounto him, Let no man deſpiſe thy youth, but be vntounto them that beleeue an enſample in word, in conuerſation, in louelove, in ſpirit, in faith, and in pureneſſe. And likewiſe of Titus where he ſaid,Tit. 2.7.8. aboue all things ſhew thy ſelfe an enſample of good workes with vncorrupt doctrine, with grauitie, integr… and with the wholeſome word which cannot be reproued, that hee which withſtandeth may be aſhamed, hauing nothing concerning yo… to ſpeake euill of. And that which the Apoſtle required of Ti…othy and Titus, and in them of all the Miniſters of Chriſt, …at the Apoſtle requireth of all, where he ſaith,1 Pet. 5.2.3. feed the flocke … God which dependeth vponupon you, caring for it not by conſtraint but …illingly, not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde, not as though yee …ere Lords ouer Gods heritage, but that ye may be enſamples to the …cke. And this the very names giuen vntounto them in the holy …cripture requireth of them, in that they are called a citie ſet … a hill, that is looked vntounto farre and neere, lights that muſt …ine before men by good workes, ſhepheards that muſt feed … the word, and by example, guides that muſt direct by the …holeſome word of truth, and by holineſſe of life, watchmen …at muſt not faile to giuegive warning both by doctrine, and by …fe &c. Yea the diuerſitie of the diſpoſitions of their flock re…uireth this of them. For though Lydia attend vntounto the …ings which Paul ſpeakes, and hearing beleeueth, though …me receiue inſtruction by hearing the holy word of life, yet …uſt they generally be drawne on both by the wholeſome …ord, and by example of an holy life, or elſe they will profit …ut little, or nothing at all. For ſo it is generally that the Mi…iſters life and behauiour is regarded as much, if not more, as …is doctrine. And doth not reaſon it ſelfe require, that as the …nowledge of Gods will is firſt reuealed vntounto them, and by …heir miniſterie vntounto the people, ſo they ſhould bee the firſt …nd moſt forward in the execution of eueryevery Chriſtian duty, … the end that it may appeare that they teach others no …ourſe of life, but that which they themſelues do with all care…lneſſe walke in? yes ſurely, both precept, and the names …iuen vntounto them, and the nature of them that are to be inſtru…ted, and reaſon it ſelfe requireth this of Chriſt his Miniſters …hat they feed the flocke of God which dependeth on them …oth by the holy word of truth, and likewiſe by holy exam…le of life. And doing thus, their example of life of all o…hers that liue with vsus ought to be followed. The ſheepe of …ll others ought to heare their Paſtors voice, and they that are …o be led in the way are to follow of all others them that are …ppointed to be their Guides, when their ſhepheards & their Guides ſhine as holy lights before them, and hold out the word of life vntounto them.
Exception I know will eaſily be taken, and I wi…h it might not iuſtly be taken, but it will bee excepted and ſaid, that if Miniſters were ſuch as now we ſpeake of, yee would follo… them, and walke as ye had them for an enſample. But how few ſuch Miniſters be there? How many bee there that are both wicked in life, and vnable to teach? How many be there of thoſe that doe teach that though they can ſpeake ſmoothly and finely, as they thinke, yet do more hurt by their lewd and wicked example of life in one yeare, then their doctrine … doe good in their whole life? True it is, the complaint is too iuſt of too many: and better it had beene they had beene ſtifled in their cradles then thus they ſhould hauehave opened men… mouthes againſt them to the ſcandall of their calling. For though they ſhall ſay in that day, Lord, Lord, hauehave wee not prophecied in thy name: for I let the lewd and vnlearned beaſts go, and leaue them to their iudgement that runne before they be ſent: though I ſay they ſhall ſay in that day, Lord▪ Lord hauehave we not prophecied and preached in thy name, y… ſhall it be ſaid vntounto them,Mat. 7.23. I neuer knew you, depart from me, ye… that worke iniquitie. Whatſoeuer they preached, if they wrought iniquitie, they ſhall not be able to ſtand in the iudgement, nor in the congregation of the righteous.
But, beloued, it ſtandeth you vponupon to looke vntounto it ho… iuſt your exception is againſt his life whoſe doctrine is ſound. For oftentimes the Miniſters of Chriſt which teach the truth purely are charged to offend in example of life, when as in truth their life is no way to bee reproued. But admit that his life be not anſwerable to his teaching: this ſhould be no reaſon for thee to giuegive leſſe credit or obedience to the doctrine of truth which he deliuereth. For our Sauiour hath taught thee to hearken vntounto him if he ſit in Moſes ſeate,Mat. 23.3. and to doe as he ſaith, though thou may not doe as he doth, if hee ſay well, and doe not accordingly. It is his doctrine not his life that thou muſt looke vntounto. O but thou wilt ſay why ſhould I beleeue him, or doe as he ſaith when he doth cleane contrarie himſelfe: ſurely that which he ſaith is but for faſhions ſake he knoweth ſome neerer way to heauen then he tels vsus of, elſe he would neuer doe cleane contrary, and therefore th… …ilt venture aſwell as he, and doe as he doth how bad ſoeuer … be. Well, dally as thou liſt in a matter of no dalliance. If …hen he ſaith well and doth ill thou care not what he ſay, but …o as he doth, thy bloud ſhall be required at his hands, but …ou ſhalt die in thy ſinnes: and ſee thou what thou haſt gai…ed by thy dalliance. I wiſh indeed that no ſuch exception …uld iuſtly be taken againſt the doctrine or life of any in the …iniſterie. For certainely ſuch as both by the wholeſome …ord, and by an holy life preach vntounto the people be the holy Miniſters whoſe labours are found fruitfull. But if their life … not agreeable to their teaching, doe ye take heed how ye …eglect the word of ſaluation preached and taught vntounto you. …nd they whomſoeuer the Lord hath bleſſed with ſuch Tea…ers as go in and out before them in ſoundneſſe of doctrine, …d holineſſe of life, let them take heede how they follow … their example, and hearken vntounto their voice. If yee ſhall …oſely and cunningly ſeeke their diſturbance, to withdraw our ſelues from the light and eaſie yoke of hearkening vntounto …em, and following them, your iudgement ſhall bee iuſt …hatſoeuer it ſhall be. But bleſſed ſhall ye be if ye hearken …to their voice, and ſo walke as yee hauehave them for an …ſample.