Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 3 · Lecture 70
LECTƲRE LXX.
PHILIP. 3. Verſ. 19.20.
Whoſe glory is to their ſhame, which minde earthly things. But our conuerſation is in heauen.
WHoſe glory is to their ſhame.] This is the fourth thing which the Apoſtle noteth in theſe many and inordinate walkers of whom he had told them often, and now told them weeping, that their glory is to their ſhame. Whereby the Apoſtle ſignifieth both their great vanitie in ſeeking after honour and glory amongſt men, neglecting the true glory of Chriſt Ieſus, and likewiſe the end that ſhould come of it, which is that it ſhould turne to their confuſion and ſhame. They ſought the praiſe of men in the vanitie of their hearts, and not of God, but their glory in the end ſhould turne to their ſhame. Which one branch of the Apoſtles reaſon might well ſerue for a ſufficient reaſon to moue the Philippians not to follow the example of theſe, but to follow him, and ſuch others as walked ſo as they had him for an enſample. Hence then I obſerue another note of inordinate walkers, whoſe example wee may not follow if we feare the reward of their walking: if they vainly ſeeke after glory and eſtimation amongſt men, neglecting the glory and honour that commeth of God alone, they are inordinate walkers, and wee may not walke after them, for that the glory which ſuch men ſeeke ſhall be turned into ſhame. It is a generall rule preſcribed vntounto all Chriſtians, that in all things they ſhould alwayes ſeeke the glory of the Lord, by the Apoſtle, where he ſaith, Whether yee eat, or drinke, or whatſoeuer yee doe, 1 Cor. 10.31. Eph. 1.11.doe all to the glory of God. For, as he ſaith in another place, wee are choſen in Chriſt, that wee ſhould be to the praiſe of his glory. Whereunto agreeth that of Peter, Wee are a choſen generation, 1 Pet. 2.9.a royall prieſthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that wee ſhould ſhew forth the vertues of him that hath called vsus out of darkneſſe into his maruellous light. And a notable preſident hereof w… hauehave in the example of our Sauiour,Ioh. 8.50. who ſought not his own praiſe, nor the praiſe of men, but the praiſe of him that ſen… him. But as for ſeeking glory and eſtimation amongſt men▪ the Apoſtle hath plainely forbidde it,Gal. 5.26. where he ſaith, Let vsus not be deſirous of vaine-glory prouoking one another, enuying one a… other. 1 Theſ. 2.4.5.6.And in another place he proteſteth againſt it ſaying, So we ſpeake, not as they which pleaſe men, but God, which trieth our hearts, neither did we euer vſe flattering words, as ye know, nor coloured couetouſneſſe, God is record, neither ſought we praiſe of men, neither of you, nor of others. Yea and our Sauiour hath noted it to be a bitter roote of infidelitie, or at leaſt a great let to come vntounto God where he ſaith,Joh. 5.44. How can ye belieue which receiue honour one of another, and ſeeke not the honour that commeth of God alone? how can ye beleeue, as if hee ſhould hauehave ſaid it is almoſt impoſſible, ſurely it is a very great ſtoppe and hinderance vntounto a man to come vntounto God. And the proofe thereof we ſee in certaine chiefe Rulers of the Iewes, Ioh. 12.42.43of whom it is ſaid, that they beleeued in Chriſt, which was true only in a generalitie, but they did not confeſſe him. And the reaſon is added, For they loued the praiſe of men, more then the praiſe of God. Thus then we ſee that generally we ſhould in all things ſeeke the glorie of God, and not vaine praiſe and glory amongſt men. So that the ambitious and vaine ſeeking after honour and glory amongſt men, neglecting the glory of God, is a plaine note in all ſorts of men of inordinate walking.
Now to deſcend from the generalitie vntounto ſome particularitie, did not this note amongſt others plainely deſcrie thoſe falſe Teachers which in Pauls abſence ſeduced and bewitched thoſe Churches which he had planted in the faith of Chriſt Ieſus, to be falſe Teachers? Their debaſing and diſgracing of Paul in his abſence, their curious affectation of eloquence, wiſedome, knowledge, and learning, as if they had all learning and all knowledge, and Paul none at all, their vaine oſtentation that they had been conuerſant with the Apoſtles, and that they followed their footſteps, ſaying that Paul had not ſeene Chriſt in the fleſh, nor had conuerſed with the Apoſtles, their ambitious deſire to pleaſe the Iewes, to creepe into credit with them, and to worke Paul out of credit, their aduancing and exalting of themſelues aboue all others as if they were, and none but they, what elſe was it but to ſeeke their owne praiſe, to hauehave honour of the Iewes, and to be called of them Rabbi? and what elſe did it but bewray them to be falſe Teachers? Which albeit the Apoſtle do not in expreſſed termes vtter, yet ſeemeth he vntounto me to implie ſo much …hen he ſaith,1 Cor. 2.4. That his preaching ſtood not in the intiſing ſpeech of mans wiſedome, but in plaine euidence of the ſpirit, and of power. And againe when he ſaith,1 Theſ. 2.4. That he ſo ſpake not as they that pleaſe men, but as God which trieth the hearts. For in both theſe places I take it is ſignified that they that preach in the intiſing ſpeech of mans wiſedome, they that ſpeake to pleaſe men to be praiſed and had in honour of them, thereby bewray themſelues to be falſe Teachers. And it is a iuſt thing with God that they which ſeeke the praiſe of men, and not of God, hauehave their praiſe with men, but not with God, and that with God their glory bee turned into their owne confuſion and ſhame, if not in this day in their owne conſcience, yet in that day when all faces ſhall gather blackneſſe before him. For then they ſhall ſee that all glory and honour is due vntounto him, that all true glory commeth from him, and then ſhall they be aſhamed that they ſought not the honour that commeth of him alone, and their ſhame ſhall be their euerlaſting woe and confuſion.
Will ye then know who by this note may be deſcried at this day to be falſe Teachers, that knowing them ye may not follow them, nor walke as they doe? Marke who they are that ſeeke honour and glory amongſt men, but ſeeke not the honour and glory that commeth of God alone. Who is it that ſtirres ſo much that he troubles all for the chiefe ſoueraigntie in earth ouer all perſons in all cauſes eccleſiaſticall and ciuill? Who is it that exalteth himſelfe againſt all that is called God, or worſhipped, ſitting as God in the Temple of God, & ſhewing himſelfe that he is God? Who is it that is arayed with purple and skarlet, and guilded with gold and precious ſtones, and pearles, and hath a cuppe of gold in her hand full of abominations and filthineſſe of her fornication wherewith ſhe makes all the nations of the earth drunke? Who is it tha… glorifieth her ſelfe, and liueth in pleaſure, and ſaith in he… heart I ſit being a Queene, and am no widow, and ſhall ſee n… mourning? Marke I ſay, and ſee whether this be not the falſe Prophet that workes miracles before the beaſt?Apo. 19.20. Marke and ſee whoſe honour and glory it is that this falſe Prophet, and his followers ſeeke and hunt after, Gods, or their owne? And if by this that hath beene ſaid ye can deſcrie who they be, th… take heed and beware of them. For what ſhall become of all this pompe and glory which they ſo greedily ſeeke after? Iohn ſaith,Apoc. 18.8. Her plagues ſhall come at one day, death, and ſorrow, and famine, and ſhe ſhall be burnt with fire: for ſtrong is the Lord which ſhall condemne her. And our Apoſtle ſaith, their glory ſhall bee turned into ſhame, and their end ſhall be damnation. Take heede therefore and beware of them; follow them not, leſt if yee be partakers in their ſinnes, and bee partakers alſo of their puniſhment.
Now I wiſh that this poyſon had crept no farther into the Church, and that they were the men alone that ſeeke the praiſe of men, and not of God. But are there not ſome others that are tainted with this vice of vaine-glory? Are there not ſome others that preach themſelues rather then Ieſus Chriſt? that in a vaine affectation of their owne praiſe more then Gods, ſtudie rather to ſpeak vntounto the eare then vntounto the hart… whoſe preaching ſtandeth rather in the intiſing ſpeech of mans wiſedome, then in plaine euidence of the ſpirit, and of power? I wiſh there were no ſuch: but if there be, yee may not be followers of them. For the Goſpell is not deliuered vntounto vsus that we ſhould thereby ſeeke our owne praiſe and glory, or that the people ſhould honour and magnifie vsus which are the Miniſters thereof, but to the end that the benefit and the glory of Chriſt might bee preached and publiſhed, and that the Father might be glorified for his mercy offered vntounto vsus in Chriſt his ſonne, whom he hath giuen vsus, and together with him all things alſo. To conclude therefore this point in one word, we are all of vsus that are Chriſtians both Paſtor and people in all things to ſeeke the glory of God, and not of men. For if we doe otherwiſe, and ſeeke the glory of men and not of God, our glory ſhall be turned into ſhame.
The laſt thing which the Apoſtle noteth in theſe many …nd inordinate walkers of whom he had told them often, and …ow told them weeping, is that they minde earthly things. Whereby the Apoſtle ſignifieth that their ſtudie, delight, and …ll their affections were ſet on honours, wealth, friends, commodities, and the things which are on earth, neuer minding …he things which are aboue. And here was the roote of all the other euils. For why were they the enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt? why was their belly their God? why ſought they after vaine-glorie and eſtimation in the world, and not that honor …hat commeth of God alone? The reaſon was, they minded earthly things. This is a briefe comprehenſion of the reſt, this being a certaine ground of the reſt, and the reſt being cer…aine notes of this. For as the cauſe why they were enemies to the croſſe of Chriſt, why their God was their belly, why they ſought glory with men and not with God, was, becauſe they minded earthly things, ſo theſe were euident notes to conuince them that they minded earthly things, for that they were enemies to the croſſe of Chriſt, for that their God was their belly, and that they ſought after the praiſe of men, and not of God.
Hence then I obſerue the laſt note of inordinate walkers, which is indeed the ground of all inordinate walking; and that is, the ſetling of the affections on the things which are on earth, and reſting in them as in the chiefeſt good.1. Tim. 6.10 The deſ…re of mony, ſaith the Apoſtle, is the roote of all euill, which while ſome luſted after they erred from the faith, and pearced themſelues through with many ſorowes, That which the Apoſtle ſpeaketh in particular of this one earthly deſire of mony, is alſo true in the generall of all earthly deſires. For the minding and deſire of all earthly things is the roote of all euill, whereon when men ſet their affections they erre from the faith, and pierce themſelues through with many ſorrowes. So that as the Apoſtle reaſoneth, ſaying,1 Cor. 3.3. whereas there is among you enuying, and ſtrife, and diuiſions, are ye not carnall, and walke as men? ſo may I likewiſe reaſon, is there any error in faith, or corruption in life, and is it not hence, for that they minde earthly things? Iudas that was numbred with the Apoſtles, and h… obtained fellowſhippe in that miniſtration, betrayed his M… ſter Chriſt Ieſus. What was the cauſe? He bore the bag, a… he loued it too well: thirty pieces of ſiluer were the reward … his iniquitie. Demas forſooke Paul: what was the reaſon? H… loued the world, and embraced it. Thoſe Miniſters of t… Goſpell, that the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of in the former chapt… ſought not that which was Ieſus Chriſts: and what was th… ſtoppe? they ſought their owne, their owne pleaſure, the owne profit, their owne honour, their owne eaſe, they minde earthly things. Neither is it ſo onelyonly in the miniſterie, but g… nerally in all ſorts of men this minding of earthly thin… chokes vp eueryevery good thing, and inclines vntounto eueryevery bad… thing. Thoſe chiefe Rulers of whom we ſpake before confe… ſed not Chriſt, what was the cauſe? They loued the praiſe … men, more then the praiſe of God. A good confeſſio… hindered by minding an earthly thing, the praiſe o… men. Demetrius likewiſe and his company raiſed a ſeditio… tumult againſt Paul: what was the cauſe? they thought th… by his preaching the ſiluer Temples of Diana which the… made, and which brought great gaines vntounto them, would be… ſet at naught. A wicked ſedition raiſed through carnall an… earthly minded men, whoſe mindes were ſo ſet vponupon the… gaines that for it they could not looke towards God, nor abide the Miniſters of Chriſt his Goſpell. And ſo it is generally, whereſoeuer the affection is ſet on earthly things, ther… their walking is inordinate whether it be in Paſtor, or in people. And therefore the Apoſtle hath moſt carefully eueryevery where admoniſhed vsus not to minde earthly things:Coloſ. 3.2.5.6. Set no… your affections on the things which are on the earth. And againe Mortifie your members which are on the earth, fornication, vncleaneſſe, the inordinate affection, euill concupiſcence, and couetouſneſſe which is idolatrie, for the which things ſakes the wrath of Go… commeth on the children of diſobedience. The like admonition… are very vſuall in the holy Scriptures.
Marke then the Apoſtles rule. Yee may not walke after them which minde earthly things; and therefore ye may no… walke after them that be the enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt. For for this cauſe they whom we hauehave noted to be the enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt, whoſe end we hauehave noted to be their damnation, whoſe God to be their belly, whoſe glory to be to their ſhame, for this cauſe I ſay they were ſuch becauſe they minded earthly things. O but ſome will ſay that theſe whom I noted to be ſuch, are the onelyonly men, many of them, that ſequeſtred themſelues from earthly things, and hauehave no minde of earthly things. See then whether that which hath beene ſaid ſhew not plainely that they are the enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt, that their God is their belly, that they ſeeke the praiſe of men more then of God. For if they be ſuch theſe are plaine and euident tokens that they doe mind earthly things, whatſoeuer be ſaid, and whatſoeuer ſhew be made to the contrarie. Neither were it otherwiſe hard to ſhew by their whole practiſe, that their whole minde, and all their affections are ſet on earthly things. But it ſhall not be needfull. That which hath beene ſaid may ſerue to cleare the point, and to be a ſufficient caueat vntounto you that ye doe not walke after their example. And let this be ſet downe for a generall rule, that we may not follow their example which minde earthly things.
Yet if our practiſe be lookt into it will be found that generally we follow them, and none elſe. For whereon elſe are our mindes, our delight, our affections ſet but on the things which are on earth? The rich man what minded hee but riches? the ambitious man what but honours? the voluptuous man what but pleaſures? the dainty man what but eaſe? the carnall man what but the fleſh and the luſts thereof? Generally our thoughts are earth creeping thoughts, our deſires earth-creeping deſires, our actions earth ſmelling actions, our waies earth-ſmelling waies. We thinke and care ſome of vsus how to liue, ſome of vsus how to liue well. But how is that? to liue at eaſe, to ſwimme with pleaſures, to hauehave wealth at our wils, and to leaue the reſt of our ſubſtance for our children. And hence it is that the voice of vnmercifulneſſe towards the poore, of deceit in buying and ſelling, of oppreſſion of our brethren, of ſlandering one another, and ſtealing one from another is heard in our ſtreetes. Hence it is that there are diuiſions, and diſſenſions, emulations, ſtrife, enuying and th… like amongſt vsus. Hence it is that wiſedome crieth withou… and vttereth her voice in the ſtreets, but no man hearkeneth nor receiueth inſtruction, euen becauſe wee minde earthl… things, and ſet our affections thereon. But what ſaith our Apoſtle,2 Tim. 2 4. No man, ſaith he, that warreth entangleth himſelfe wit… the affaires of this life, becauſe he would pleaſe him that hath ch… ſen him to be a ſouldier. Now we are all of vsus, euen ſo many a… are baptized into the name of Chriſt Ieſus, billed ſouldiers to fight vnderunder his banner againſt eueryevery thing that exalteth it ſelf… againſt God. And our care ſhould be in all things to pleaſ… him that hath choſen vsus to be his ſouldiers. And for this cauſ… we ſhould not ſuffer our ſelues to be entangled with the affaire… of this life, ſo that we ſhould ſet our affections on the thing… which are on the earth. For it is the courſe of militarie diſcipline, that hauing billed themſelues to be ſouldiers they minde no more houſhold, or other ordinarie affaires, but only their warre. Right ſo ſhould it be in the courſe of ou… Chriſtian warfare, that hauing giuen our names vntounto Chriſt to fight vnderunder his banner wee ſhould not henceforth mind… earthly things, but ſtill hauehave cloſe girt vntounto vsus the whole armour of God that we may be able to reſiſt in the euill day, and hauing finiſhed all things ſtand faſt. The faithfull Miniſter of the Goſpell ſhould not ſeeke his owne, but that which is Ieſus Chriſts. The faithfull Chriſtian ſhould weine himſelfe from the tranſitorie things of this life, and at no hand ſet his affections on them.
Howbeit let no man ſo vnderſtand me as if I thought that we ſhould not meddle with the tranſitorie things of this life, or hauehave nothing at all to doe with earthly things. For no doubt we may medle with them, and vſe them, and make a godly vſe of them. The Patriarches and Prophets, our bleſſed Sauiour, and his holy Apoſtles as the Scriptures beare witneſſe vſed them, and made an holy vſe of them. Nay not onelyonly we may vſe them, and make an holy vſe of them, but we muſt count them the good bleſſings of Almightie God, and we muſt take care to vſe them to his glory. We may not lightly regard …hem, or wrechleſly neglect them, but we muſt carefully hu…band them, and wiſely employ them to our own vſes, and the good of Gods children. For therefore wee hauehave them that therewith we may doe good vntounto all, but eſpecially vntounto thoſe that are of the houſhold of faith: wealth, that wee may helpe to ſupply the wants of our brethren, honour and might, that we may helpe to lift the poore out of the mire, fauour and friendſhip, that ſo we may be the better able to relieue them that are oppreſſed, all things needfull and profitable for this life that therewith wee may doe good vntounto thoſe that be in neede or neceſſitie, and that thereby we may glorifie our Father which is in heauen. So then to take me as if I thought that we may not medle with, or vſe earthly things & temporall bleſſings, were to miſtake me. But this I ſay with the Apoſtle, that we muſt vſe them as though wee vſed them not, 1 Cor. 7.31.namely ſo we muſt vſe them as that we be not entangled with them, nor maſtered by them.2 Tim. 2.4. Wee muſt not be entangled with the affaires of this life, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh. And as the Prophet ſaith of riches that if they encreaſe wee may not ſet our hearts vponupon them, Pſal. 62.10ſo is it to bee ſaid in generall of all earthly things, we may not ſet our hearts vponupon them. We may not, Coloſ. 3.2.as our Apoſtle ſaith elſewhere, ſet our affections on things which are on the earth: and as here our Apoſtle ſaith, we may not mind earthly things to ſet our ſtudie and our delight thereon. For if we doe, then ſhall we be of thoſe many which the Apoſtle here ſpeaketh of, and whom he would that we ſhould not follow: yea, if wee minde earthly things wee ſhall fall into tentation and ſnares, and into many fooliſh & noyſome luſts which drowne men in perdition and deſtruction. Let vsus not therefore follow the example of them which mind earthly things, let vsus not ſet our affections on the things which are on the earth: let vsus vſe them, and let vsus labour to vſe them to Gods glory, but let vsus not ſet our hearts vponupon them, nor ſuffer our ſelues to be entangled with them. Let vsus giuegive our hearts vntounto our God, let vsus ſet our affections on things which are aboue, and let our conuerſation bee in heauen, which is the next point to be handled.