Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 3 · Lecture 68
LECTƲRE LXVIII.
PHILIP. 3. Verſ. 18.
For many walke of whom I hauehave often told you, and now tell you weeping, that they are the enemies … the croſſe of Chriſt.
NOw follow the reaſons to moue the Philippia… to hearken vntounto his exhortation, which was to be followers of him, and to looke on ſuch as walked ſo as they had him for an enſample.
For many walke &c.] This is the firſt reaſon which the Apoſtle vſeth to moue the Philippians to hearken vntounto his exhortation. His reaſon, ye ſee, is drawne from a contrarie example, and the danger that followeth ſuch walking as theſe many vſe which he ſpeaketh of. Why then would the Apoſtle hauehave the Philippians to follow his example, and the example of ſuch as walked as he did? Becauſe there were many ill walkers whoſe example if they followed they were to looke for the like end that is deſtined vntounto them, euen damnation: ſuch as were thoſe whom in the beginning of this Chapter he called dogges, euill workers, the conciſion; whom hee now againe deſcribeth by fiue notes; As 1. th… they are the enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt: 2. That their end is damnation: 3. That their God is their belly: 4 That their glory is to their ſhame: 5. That they minde earthly things. In that he ſaith many walke, hee ſignifieth the more danger of them becauſe they are many. Againe in that hee ſaith that he had often told them of them, hee ſignifieth both his owne continuall care ouer them, and the greatneſſe of the danger by thoſe euill walkers, which cauſed him ſo often to tell them of them. Againe, in that he now tells them of the… weeping, he ſignifieth both his owne intire affection towards them, and likewiſe his griefe and ſorow of heart that eithe… there ſhould be any ſuch enemies of the Goſpell to trouble them, or that they ſhould giuegive any eare vntounto them. Againe, in that he noteth them to be the enemies of the Croſſe of Chriſt, he ſignifieth their corruption in doctrine, and in life. In doctrine, for that by vrging the neceſſity of circumciſion and the workes of the Law vntounto righteouſneſſe and ſaluation, they made the croſſe of Chriſt to bee of no effect, and aboliſhed the worke of our redemption by Chriſt Ieſus. For, Gal. 2.21.as the Apoſtle ſaith, if righteouſneſſe be by the Law, which theſe men taught, then Chriſt died without cauſe. In life, for that they would not ſuffer perſecution for the croſſe of Chriſt, and therefore applied themſelues to the humour of the Iewes, and preached vntounto them circumciſion, and the law. In both theſe then, that by their doctrine they detracted from the merits of Chriſt his Croſſe, and redemption by his bloud, and auoided to ſuffer perſecution for the croſſe of Chriſt, the ſmart whereof they felt that ſincerely preached Chriſt crucified, in both theſe I ſay they ſhewed themſelues to be enemies vntounto the croſſe of Chriſt. Againe, in that he noteth their end or reward for the recompence of ſuch their walking to be damnation or deſtruction, he ſignifieth how needfull it is for the Philippians if they feare their end to feare likewiſe ſo to walke as they do, ſo to beleeue and liue as they doe. Againe, in that he noteth their God to be their belly, he ſignifieth what principally they reſpected in preaching of Chriſt, namely their profit, their pleaſure, and their eaſe. They preached Chriſt, not ſincerely, and purely, for Chriſt his ſake, but with reference to pleaſe others, and to ſeeke their owne good. Inaſmuch therefore as they were louers of pleaſure, of profit, of eaſe more than louers of good, the Apoſtle ſaith that their God was their belly, that being each mans God which he beſt loueth. Again, in that he noteth their glory to be to their ſhame, he ſignifieth either that they glory in thoſe things as in circumciſion, and the ordinances of Moſes whereof they ought rather to bee aſhamed, as ſome thinke, or that the vaine glory and eſtimation which they ſeeke after amongſt men, neglecting the true glory of Chriſt Ieſus ſhal turne to their confuſion and ſhame, as I rather thinke the words to be vnderſtood. Laſtly, in that he noteth them to minde earthly things, he ſignifieth their ſtudy and delight, and all their affections to be ſet on honours, wealth, friends, commodities, and the things which are on the earth, and not on the things which are aboue. So that … we marke it, as in the whole there is a generall reaſon to moue the Philippians to follow him, and ſuch as he was, becauſe of many falſe Teachers which walke inordinately, ſo in each point of this generall reaſon as it is ſet down there is a ſeuerall reaſon to the ſame purpoſe. For why would he hauehave them to follow his example, and the example of ſuch a… hee was? Becauſe many walked to and fro: Which ſheweth that they might eaſily fall vponupon thoſe which were bad being many, of whom he had told them often, which ſheweth as his care, ſo the greatneſſe of the danger if they ſhould fall vponupon them & follow them, and of whom now when he wrote this Epiſtle to them he told them weeping, which ſhewes as his affection towards them, ſo his griefe that either there ſhould be ſuch, or that they ſhould hearken vntounto ſuch, that they are the enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt, derogating from the merits of Chriſt his croſſe, and auoiding perſecution for the croſſe of Chriſt, whoſe end is damnation, which, may iuſtly feare any from following them, whoſe God is their belly, which ſheweth that they ſeeke their owne, and not that which is Ieſus Chriſts, whoſe glory is to their ſhame, which ſheweth the confuſion that ſhall come vponupon that eſtimation which they ſee…e after amongſt men, which minde earthly things, which ſheweth their worldly mindes and earthly cogitations. EueryEvery o… which ſeuerall points ought to ſtand for a reaſon with the Philippians to moue them to hearken to hi exhortation. And now that we ſee the meaning and force of theſe words in this reaſon of the Apoſtle, let vsus alſo ſee what notes we may gather hence for our owne vſe and inſtruction.
The firſt thing I note is, that the Apoſtle ſaith, hee told them often of theſe enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt, whereof he now telleth them. And ſo in the beginning of this chapter, he ſaid that it grieued him not to write the ſame things vntounto them whereof before he had told them. And what was that? That they ſhould beware of dogges, of euill workers, of the conciſion. Whereby the Apoſtle ſheweth his owne continuall care ouer them, and likewiſe the greatneſſe of the danger by theſe enemies of the Goſpell of Chriſt, which cauſed him ſo often to tell them of them. Whence I obſerue the great care which ought to be in the Paſtor ouer the people committed to h s charge, once and againe, continually to warne and admoniſh them of ſuch things as may bee dangerous and hu…tfull vntounto them. Our bleſſed Sauiour, the good ſhepheard, and great biſhop of our ſoules hath by his owne example taught vsus to doe ſo: For as we read, he ceaſed not to tell his Di…ciples of rauening wolues, of ſuch as would deliuer them vp to the councels, and would ſcourge them in their ſynagogues, of being baptiſed with his baptiſme; he ceaſed not to …arne them to beware of the Scribes and Phariſies, to beware of the leauen of the Phariſies, to take heede and beware of co…etouſnes. Our holy Apoſtle likewiſe as a follower of Chriſt profeſſeth vntounto the Epheſians, A…t. 20.31.that he ceaſed not to warne eueryevery one both night and day with teares, of grieuous wolues which after his departure would enter in amongst them, not ſparing the flocke: and often he warneth the Churches vntounto which he writeth to beware of diuiſion and diſſenſion. Will they then that hauehave the ouerſight of any people walke as they hauehave Chriſt, and our holy Apoſtle for an enſample. It may not grieue them to te…l their people often of ſuch kinde of men, and ſuch manner things as may be dangerous and hurtfull for them.
And this often beating vponupon the ſame thing, what ought it to teach you men and brethren? Surely if we tell you often of ſome thing whereof we would hauehave you to take heede and beware, it may be an argument vntounto you that the greatneſſe of the danger, and the grieuouſneſſe of the ſinne cauſeth vsus ſo often to vrge it, and to beat vponupon it. Doe we then often tell you of profaning …he Lords day, of negligence in comming to this and the like places to heare the word of the Lord, of giuing your members weapons of vnrighteouſneſſe vntounto ſin, and the like? Doe we often warne you to beware of thoſe that compaſſe ſea and land to make one of their prof…ſſi…n, and when he is made they make him twofold more the chi…de of hell then they themſelues are, of thoſe that through couetouſneſſe ſeeke with fained words to make merchandize of your ſoules, of thoſe that liue at eaſe in Sion, and put farre from them all remembrance of the euill day, and the like? Aſſure your ſelues the danger is great if yee doe not hearken, and the puniſhment of your ſinne lieth at your doore, if you reforme not that ſinne whatſoeuer it be whereof yee are ſo often told. Looke well therefore vntounto it whenſoeuer yee are often told of any thing to be reformed, and thinke not with your ſelues that it is but a ſmall matter, and that there needs not halfe ſo much adoe about it; but perſwade your ſelues that it much concerneth you to redreſſe it. And whether it be for any manner of thing to be reformed, or for any kinde of perſon to be auoided, deferre not too long to hearken to that which is told ſo often.
Againe, this often telling you of the ſame thing to be reformed or auoyded, may put you in minde of that naturall corruption which hangeth ſo faſt on you. Much ado to bring vsus to the mortification of the olde man, and though we be told againe and againe of ſuch ſinnes as hold vsus captiue at their owne pleaſure, yet can we be content to put of from day to day, and with the ſluggard to ſay, yet a litle ſleepe, a litle ſlumber, …. 6.10.a litle folding of the hands to ſleepe. But let vsus know that this is a part of naturall corruption to ſtand in neede ſo often to be told, or not to hearken when we are told ſo often. Let vsus therefore ſhake of this corruption, and either let vsus not neede ſo often to be told of any thing, or at leaſt when we are ſo often told, let vsus hearken and obey, and auoide or reforme whatſoeuer it is that we are warned and admoniſhed of. For as it is the Paſtors dutie to tell vsus of things to be reformed or auoided, ſo is it our dutie to hearken and obey when we are told; and this dutie to tell vsus often of ſuch things is impoſed vponupon the Paſtor, becauſe of the negligent performance of our dutie to hearken and obey when we are told. Let vsus therefore at all times giuegive all diligence to hearken vntounto the things that belong vntounto our peace, and to obey from the heart that forme of doctrine whereunto we are deliuered to conforme our ſelues according vntounto it.
The ſecond thing which I note is, that the Apoſtle ſaith, that now at the writing hereof he tells them weeping of theſe enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt. Whereby the Apoſtle ſheweth both his great affection towards the Philippians, and his great griefe that either there ſhould be ſuch, or that they ſhould hearken vntounto ſuch. Whence I obſerue the great and godly affection which ought to be in the Paſtor towards his people, euen ſo great that it ſhould grieue him, and euen cauſe him to ſhed teares to ſee the enemies of the truth to trouble his people, or to ſee his people drawne into any ſinne or error by any that are otherwiſe then well and godly minded. For thus wee teſtifie generally our affection vntounto the Church of God, if we be grieued to ſee it aſſaulted by the Dragon, or the Dragon any way to preuaile againſt it. We ſee how Samuel mourned for Saul, 1 Sa. 15.35.when by his diſobedience he had prouoked the Lord to anger againſt him. We ſee how the Prophet Ieremie wiſhed that his head were full of water, Jer. 9.1.and his eyes a fountaine of teares that he might weepe day and night for the ſlaine of the daughter of his people: and how in another t…ee he crieth, My belly, my belly, 4.91.I am pained euen at the very …art, mine heart is troubled within me, I cannot be ſtill, for my ſoule hath heard the ſound of the trumpet, and the alarme of the …attell. Wee ſee how our bleſſed Sauiour beheld the Citie Ieruſalem, and wept for it, ſaying,Luc. 19.41.42. O if thou hadſt euen knowne … the leaſt in this thy day thoſe things which belong vntounto thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes. We ſee likewiſe how our Apoſtle teſtifieth of himſelfe that in great affliction and anguiſh of heart he wrote his former epiſtle to the Corinthians with many teares,2 Cor. 2.4. cauſed no doubt partly by their diuiſions and diſſenſions, and partly by that inceſtuous perſon. And …uch ſhould be the zealous and ardent affection of all faithfull Paſtors towards their people, and towards Gods Church, as that they ſhould be grieued at the heart for the wicked that trouble them, for the ſinnes that reigne amongſt them, and for the deſolation that will follow if ſpeedy conuerſion and repentance preuent it not. Yea they ſhould water and waſh their threatnings and their exhortations with their teares in token of their tender affection, and great compaſſion towards their people, and towards the Church.
And ſhould we (men and brethren) mourne for you, an… ſhould you giuegive place to the Deuill, and to ſuch his wicke… inſtruments as ſeek to drowne you in perdition? ſhould we … grieued at the heart for you, and ſhould yee walke on in th… counſell of the vngodly, and ſtand in the way of ſinners, an… ſit in the ſeat of the ſcornefull? ſhould we be touched in … ſoule, that our labour ſhould be in vaine amongſt you, an… ſhould yee go on in the wickednſſe of your waie, drinking iniquitie like water, and drawing on ſinne with cord… of vanitie as it were with cart-ropes? Nay beloued by th… ou… duty learne yee your duty. For if we ought to be thus affecte… towards you, then bethinke your ſelues well how yee ough… to be affected in your ſelues? Surely if it ſhould wring te… from our eies to ſee you ſort your ſelues with the wicked, and to ſuffer your ſelues to be drawne away with their error, … ſhould make you to water your couch with teares, and to mingle your drinke with weeping. If it ſhould touch vsus in ou… ſoules to ſee you giuegive your members weapons of vnrighteouſnes vntounto ſinne, and to ſerue ſinne in the luſts thereof, i… ſhould fill your ſoules full of heauineſſe, and plunge you i… ſorrow of heart vntounto the nethermoſt hell. If it ſhould grieue vsus to ſee you after that yee hauehave eſcaped from the filthineſſe of the world through the knowledge of the Lord, and of the Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt, to be yet againe intangled therein and ouercome, it ſhould vex you euen vntounto the death, and cauſ… you to powre out your ſoules vntounto the Lord in the bitterneſſe of your ſpirit. Whatſoeuer it is concerning you ſhould grieue vsus, ſhould much more cauſe you to mourne in ſoule, and to be troubled in your ſpirits. For what is it that doth o… ſhould cauſe vsus to mourne for you, and to be full of heauineſſe for you? Our deſire is to preſent you holy and vnblameable in that day. And here is our griefe that you ſuffer your ſelues to be ſeduced by the world and wicked ones, and that our labour is in vaine amongſt you. Conſider then with your ſelues how yee ought to be grieued in your ſelues, and take heede how yee be not grieued in your ſelues for the things whereat your godly Paſtors are grieued. It grieued no doubt then Noah that preacher of righteouſneſſe that theGen. 6. people in his time ſo prouoked the Lord to anger by their …ruelty and wickedneſſe: but they regarded not his griefe, and therefore the Lord brought in the floud vponupon the world of the vngodly.Gen. 19. Iuſt Lot vexed his righteous ſoule with the …ncleane conuerſation of the wicked, and with their vnlawfull deeds: But they regarded it not, and when he told them of …o… iudgements hee ſeemed euen to his ſonnes in law as though he had mocked: and therefore the Lord raind vponupon …hem fire and brimſtone, and deſtroyed them. Ieremiah was … great anguiſh of ſpirit for the rebellion of the ſtiffe-necked …; but they regarded it not, therefore the Lord deliuered …hem into the will of their enemies, and they that hated them …ee Lords ouer them. Take heede then how yee regard it not when your Paſtors are grieued on your behalfe: take …de how yee make light of ſuch ſinnes as they grieue to ſee …ou defiled withall, but rather ſorrow for them, that their ſorrow may be turned into ioy, and your ioy may be full, euen …oth yours and theirs. In their ioy ouer you yee hauehave iuſt …e of reioycing, and in their griefe for you yee hauehave … cauſe of griefe. Looke therefore that they may re…oyce ouer you, for that ſhall be your ioy; and take heede that they may not mourne or grieue for you, for that ſhall be your griefe.
Againe, hence I obſerue a notable comfort for the faithf…ll and painefull Miniſters of Ieſus Chriſt. Hath he in all good conſcience laboured in the worke of the Lord, and doth he not ſee the deſired fruits of his labours? Paul the great Apoſtle of Chriſt, mighty in the ſcriptures, and much renow…ed for many great miracles which he wrought, yet laboured … vaine with many which he taught, inſomuch that the con…deration of them with whom he laboured ſo much with ſo …le profit made him weepe and ſhed teares, as in this place. It may not then ſeeme ſtrange vntounto vsus if our labour with many be in vaine. But it ſtandeth them vponupon that heare vsus to looke vntounto it that our labour be not in vaine amongſt them: for though they be not gathered, yet ſhall we be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and our labour ſhall not be in vaine in the Lord: but if they be not gathered they ſhall be ſcattered from the preſence of the Lord, and of the Lambe for eue… more. GiueGive therefore all diligence that we may reioyce … the day of Chriſt, that we hauehave not runne in vaine, nor l… boured in vaine amongſt you; for that will bee profitab… for you. Labour that we may giuegive accounts for you with io… and not with griefe; Heb. 13.17.for that will bee vnprofitable for you. L… vsus hauehave mutuall ioy one of another, and let our ioy be in th… Lord.
The third thing which I note is, that the Apoſtle ſaith, th… many walke vp and downe which are the enemies of the croſſe … Chriſt. Whereby the Apoſtle ſignifieth the great danger th… there was of them becauſe they were many, for that it woul… be hard for the Philippians not to light on ſome of them, and t… be ſeduced by them, vnleſſe they ſhould diligently looke o… him, and ſuch as he was. Whence I obſerue that it is not a… waies ſafe to follow a multitude, but commonly rather dangerous.Mat. 7.13. For many there are that goe in at the wide gate, and walk… in the broad way; but it is dangerous to follow them, for th… way leads to deſtruction. And againe our Sauiour hath told vsus that many ſhould come in his name, Mat. 24.5.and deceiue many. Yea commonly the multitude is the worſt. What were the reſt of th… old world beſides Noah and his familie? Ten had beene bu… a ſmall number of righteous men to hauehave beene found in th… great Citie of Sodom: yet were not ten found there. How often were all the multitude of the Iſraelites ready to ſton… Moſes and Aaron? But one Elias vntounto 450 of Baals Prophets but one Micah vntounto 400 falſe Prophets. And how ofte… doth Paul complaine that a great doore and effectuall being opened vntounto him he had many aduerſaries, that there were many which made merchandize of the word of God, many which were diſobedient, and vaine talkers, and deceiuers o… mindes? How often doth Iohn complaine of many Antichriſts, many falſe Prophets? Nay in what age hath not the litle flocke of Chriſt liued in the middeſt of a naughty and crooked nation, beſet with a world of wickedneſſe and wicked men? Where Chriſt hath his Church, there the Deuil… hath more then a chappell, euen 500 ſynagogues, his inſtruments to worke his will ſo farre as they can. So that if wee follow the moſt we ſhall commonly follow the worſt.
A good hold then hauehave they of it that make this to be one of the notes of their Church. Chriſt calls his Church a litle flocke; and Eſay calls it a litle remnant; and Ieremie a ſmall …eede. But well may ſhee ſtand on her multitude that hath made all nations drunken with the wine of the wrath of her fornications, and ſo let her doe till the ſmoke of her burning aſcend. But why or whence is it that we in our ordinarie life ſtand ſo much vponupon the multitude? What more common amongſt vsus then to ſay, that we will doe as the moſt doe, we will not ſingle our ſelues from the reſt, &c? Nay is not that profane and wicked ſpeech often heard amongſt vsus, that it is good going with companie though it be to the Deuill? But (beloued) our God hath taught vsus another leſſon:Exod. 23.2. Thou ſhalt not (ſaith he) follow a multitude to doe euill, neither agree in a controuerſie to decline after many to ouerthrow the truth. And our Apoſtle here tells vsus, that many walke that are the enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt; but we may not walke after them, but after him, and ſuch as he is. For we are not to looke how many doe walke thus and thus, but who walke as they ſhould; not how many walke in this or that way, but what the way is wherein they doe walke. And though all the reſt bow the knee to Baal, yet we may not; though all the nations of the earth fall downe before the beaſt and worſhip, yet may not we. What if in an election of an officer and magiſtrate, the reſt, or farre the greater part, conſent vponupon an vnfit man, yet may not I. O but I ſhall make my ſelfe odious if I ſingle out my ſelfe from the reſt, and preuaile neuer a whit. Yea but good Prophet Michaiah ſtood vponupon no ſuch points,1 Reg. 22. but that though hee ſhould by ſtanding ſingle againſt 400 falſe prophets become odious vntounto Ahab the King, and all the Prophets, and not preuaile, yet he ſpake the truth. Here I hauehave a good example, I muſt walke as I hauehave him for an enſample. And ſo generally let vsus not looke how many doe thus, or how we may preuaile if we ſingle our ſelues, but let vsus doe as we ought whatſoeuer come of it, and howſoeuer all do otherwiſe. Et hoc ſciamus, fortiorem eſſe qui pro nobis est, quam qui contra nos ſunt omnes. And this let vsus know, that he is ſtronger who is for vsus, then all they who are againſt vsus.