Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 4 · Lecture 85
LECTƲRE LXXXV.
PHILIP. 4.
Verſe 8. Whatſoeuer things are of good report, thinke on theſe things, and do theſe things,
9. Which ye hauehave both learned, and receiued, &c.
THere is yet remaining another generall head of Chriſtian piety, which the Apoſtle commendeth vntounto the Philippians, wherein he exhorteth them to thinke on, and to do whatſoeuer things are of good report amongſt men, that by ſuch things they may win vntounto themſelues a good name, and be well ſpoken and reported of in the places where they liue. Whence I obſerue this leſſon for vsus, that whatſoeuer things may purchaſe vsus a good report, or continue our good name amongſt the ſonnes of men, we are to thinke on them, and to do them, that as much as is poſſible we may heare well of all men. A good name (ſaith Salomon) maketh the bones fat: Prouer. 15.30that is, ſo comforteth, and reioyceth, and ſtrengtheneth a man as good fare which maketh him fat and well liking; yea, A good name (ſaith the ſame Salomon) is to be choſen aboue great riches: 22.1. Eccleſ. 7.3. Eccl. 41.13.yea, a good name is better then a good ointment. A good life (ſaith the ſonne of Syrach) hath the dayes numbred, but a good name endureth for euer: it continueth with thee aboue a thouſand treaſures of gold. And therefore it is that men are oftentimes as iealous of their good name and good report among men as of their liues, and count themſelues (after a ſort) killed when their good name is empaired, or called into queſtion. To hauehave then a good name, ye ſee, and to be well reported of, is as much worth as gold; nay, as a thouſand treaſures of gold; nay, as much worth as a mans life. Therefore the Apoſtle exhorteth to procure things honeſt before all men: Rom. 12.17.things honeſt, that is, things which may purchaſe vsus credite, and make vsus to be well reported of amongſt men: And our Apoſtle in this place, to thinke on, and to do whatſoeuer things are of good report. Now then, what are the things that make vsus well reported of amongſt men? Surely, if it be ſaid of vsus, that we are men dealing faithfully, truly, iuſtly and vprightly; liuing honeſtly, ſoberly, purely and godly; walking wiſely, modeſtly, peaceably, and louingly with our brethren, bearing things patiently as becometh the Saints of God; in a word, hauing faith and a good conſcience, and whatſoeuer things pertaine to vertue: if we be ſuch men, theſe things will make vsus well reported of, and either bring vsus to a good name if we had it not, or continue our good name if we hauehave it. For theſe are things of good report, both before the Lord, and alſo before men.
Yea but this is great vanitie, to ſeek after fame & good report among men, that men may ſpeake well, and report well of vsus. It is ſo indeed, if therein we ſeek our owne glorie. For how good ſoeuer, how full of rare vertues ſoeuer the things be that we do, if therein we ſeeke our owne glorie, it is ſurely great vanitie. We muſt therefore know, that we are to thinke on, and to do the things that are of good report, both before the Lord, and alſo before men, not for our owne glorie, but for the glorie of Chriſt Ieſus in whom we beleeue, for the glorie of the Goſpell of Chriſt Ieſus, which we profeſſe. We muſt hauehave care that we may be well ſpoken of, well reported of, not for any tickling vanitie of our owne praiſes, but that the name of God, that the truth of Chriſt Ieſus might be well ſpoken of for our ſakes. For it is an ornament and honour vntounto the truth with men, if the profeſſors of the truth be of good report amongſt men. And therefore our bleſſed Sauiour ſaith, Let your light ſo ſhine before men, Math. 5.16.that they may ſee your good workes, and glorifie your Father which is in heauen. And our Apoſtle deſcribing the office of a Miniſter, ſaith, that he muſt be well reported of, euen of them that are without, 1. Tim. 3.7.leſt he fall into rebuke, indeed that the word of God be not euill ſpoken of. And the Apoſtle Peter preſcribing vntounto wiues how they ought to order themſelues towards their husbands, ſaith, that they are to be ſubiect vntounto them; and why?1. Pet. 3.1.2. that euen they which obey not the word, may without the word be wonne by the conuerſation of the wiues, while they behold their pure conuerſation which is with feare. And to the ſ…me purpoſe he giueth this generall exhortatiō, HaueHave your conuerſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that they which ſpeake euill of you as of euil doers, 2.12.may by your good works which they ſhall ſee, glorifie God in the day of viſitation. To the end therfore that God may be glorified, and that the truth which we profeſſe may be wel ſpoken of, we are to thinke on and to do whatſoeuer things are of good report, whereby we may winne or continue a good name and report amongſt men.
This then ſhould teach vsus to take heed and beware of whatſoeuer things may bring an euill report vponupon vsus; and the rather, for that the hurt thereof lights not vponupon our ſelues alone, but vponupon the name of our God whereby we are called, and vponupon the truth of our God which we profeſſe. What ill reports Eli his ſonnes heard touching the offerings of the Lord, we all know,1. Sam. 2 17. as alſo how therefore men abhorred the offerings of the Lord. Their ſinne which they committed was very great, and brought a very ill report vponupon them; but hereby it is aggrauated, that it brought a diſhonour vponupon the holy name of God and the offerings of the Lord. And ſo muſt we reckon, that whatſoeuer ill report we bring vponupon our ſelues by any euill that we do, it lights not on our ſelues alone, but vponupon our God in whom we beleeue, and vponupon his truth which we pr… feſſe. And yet how careleſſe are we of ſuch things as bring ill reports vponupon vsus? Factions, diuiſions and contentions, what ill reports do they bring vponupon vsus, and vponupon the truth which we profeſſe? And yet how is the corne ouergrowne eueryevery where by theſe weeds and tares? EueryEvery one of vsus will poſt the name off from one to another. The Browniſts and Barrowiſts they make no diuiſion in the Church; the ringleaders of factions, they make no factions in ſocieties; the firebrands of contention, they make no contention among neighbours and brethren, but ſuch, and ſuch, and ſuch. But yet the thing remaineth to our great infamie; faction, diuiſion and contention, they grow vp to our ſhame. Againe, vſurie (I thinke) will be confeſſed to be a thing of euil report: I am ſure the Lord hath forbidden it,Leuit. 25.36. euen all vſurie or vantage, call it biting vſurie, or what elſe you will; and that the Prophet Ieremie ſo lothed it, that he waſhed his hands cleane of either lending or borrowing vponupon vſurie;Ier. 15.10. Nehem. 5. that Nehemiah ſwept it out from among the people as a great filthineſſe;Ezech. 18.13. and that Ezechiel condemneth giuing vponupon vſurie, or taking increaſe, by what name ſoeuer you will call it. And yet how many profeſſors of the truth heare euill for this ſinne? and how ill doth the truth it ſelfe heare for this ſinne? I aſſure my ſelf, that the aduerſaries of the truth offend a hundred fold more this way, then do the profeſſors of the truth. But being a thing of euill report, I could wiſh that the profeſſors of the truth would with Ieremie waſh their hands of this ſin. I ſhould inſtance in many other things of euill report. But by theſe you will coniecture what is to be ſaid of the reſt. For generally this I ſay, whatſoeuer the thing be, if it be of euill report, we are not to thinke on it, not to do it, leſt not onelyonly we, but the truth of Chriſt Ieſus heare euill for our ſakes.
Yea but what if an euill report be brought vponupon vsus without a cauſe? What if we be counted ſchiſmaticall, factious, contentious, vſurers, or the like, without a cauſe? Without a cauſe? then no matter. If there be a cauſe of ſuch report, then we are to looke vntounto it: but if not, we need not to be moued much at the matter.Math. 5.11. Nay, our Sauiour tels vsus, that we are bleſſed when men ſpeake all maner of euill againſt vsus for his ſake falſly, and that we are to reioyce and be glad.12. 2. Cor. 6.8. In theſe caſes we are to paſſe with the Apoſtle, by honour and diſhonour, by euill report and good report. We cannot ſtay men from reporting ill of vsus. Our bleſſed Sauiour himſelfe heard it ſaid of himſelfe, that he was a glutton, and a drinker of wine, Luc. 7.34.a friend of Publicans and ſinners. What maruell if the world ſpeake euill of vsus, and like the Dragon caſt out whole flouds of euill reports vponupon vsus? But this we are to looke vntounto, that neither we thinke on, nor do any thing that may bring an euill report vponupon vsus iuſtly. For we heare what our Apoſtle ſaith; Whatſoeuer things are of good report, we are to thinke on them and to do them, but whatſoeuer things are of euill report, we are not to thinke on them nor to do them. Let vsus therefore carefully looke vntounto the things whereon we ſet our hearts, or whereunto we ſet our hands. Is it a thing of good report, which may make vsus well ſpoken of amongſt men? Let vsus then thinke on it and do it, that ſo the truth which we profeſſe may be well ſpoken of. But is it a thing of euill report, which may make vsus ill ſpoken of? Let euen this be enough to diſſwade vsus from thinking on it, or doing it, whatſoeuer it be, leſt the way of truth be euill ſpoken of. By things of good report, our God, and his truth, and our ſelues ſhall hauehave honour: but by things of euill report, our God, and his truth, and our ſelues ſhall be diſhonored. Let vsus therefore think on and do whatſoeuer things may bring on vsus a good report, and auoide both the thought and the deed of whatſoeuer may bring an ill report vponupon vsus.
The laſt thing which I note in this generall concluſion of the Apoſtles exhortations, or rather in the exhortation, is, that the Apoſtle would hauehave the Philippians to thinke on theſe things, and to do theſe things. For theſe two, howſoeuer they be ſeuered in place by our Apoſtle, yet are they to be ioyned in the opening of theſe words, and in following of the Apoſtles exhortation. He would therefore hauehave the Philippians to thinke on theſe things, that is, to enter into a diligent conſideration of theſe things with themſelues, and in their hearts to louelove and affect them, and likewiſe to do theſe things, becauſe it would be to no great purpoſe, that in their hearts they ſhould louelove and affect theſe things, and enter into a ſerious conſideration of them, vnleſſe alſo they ſhould practiſe them in their liues. Whence I obſerue this leſſon for vsus, that vntounto the performance of Chriſtian pietie and holy dutie, it is not enough to thinke on ſeriouſly with our ſelues, and in our hearts to louelove and affect whatſoeuer things are true, &c. vnleſſe alſo in our outward actions we follow whatſoeuer things are true, &c. Both in our hearts we muſt thinke on, and louelove, and affect the things that are good; and in the words of our mouth, in the workes of our hands, and in the wayes of our liues, we muſt ſhew forth the ſame. Heart and hand muſt go together. If the heart endite a good matter, the tongue muſt be the pen of a readie writer: if the heart beleeue vntounto righteouſneſſe, the tongue muſt confeſſe vntounto ſaluation: and if the knowledge of ſuch things as accompanie ſaluation be in the vnderſtanding, there muſt alſo be an holy practiſe of ſuch things in the life and conuerſation. And therefore Dauid prayed,Pſal. 19.14. that both the meditations of his heart and the words of his mouth might be acceptable in the ſight of the Lord; no doubt, that both in his heart he might thinke on, and with his mouth might ſpeak, and in his life might practiſe thoſe things which were good and right in his eyes. And in another place he profeſſeth,119. not onelyonly that he loueth the law of the Lord, & meditateth therein continually, but alſo that he keepeth his commandements with his whole heart. For as our bleſſed Sauiour ſaith,Mat. 7.21. Not eueryevery one that ſaith vntounto me, Lord, Lord ſhall enter into the kingdome of heauen, but he that doth the will of the Father which is in heauen: and as the Apoſtle ſaith, Not the hearers of the law are righteous before God, Rom. 2.13.but the doers of the law ſhall be iuſtified: ſo is it likewiſe in this whereof we now ſpeake, that not eueryevery one that thinketh on, or loueth and affecteth the things that are good, by and by performeth the holy duties of Chriſtian pietie, but he that ſheweth forth his louelove in the holy practiſe of a Chriſtian life and conuerſation. Nay, indeed whatſoeuer profeſſion we make, and howſoeuer we ſay that we thinke on, and louelove and affect the beſt things, yet vnleſſe the fruite thereof ſhew it ſelfe in our outward actions, in our liues and conuerſations, in vaine do we perſwade our ſelues of Chriſtian pietie in our ſelues. For where the Spirit worketh in the heart a ſerious cogitation, a true louelove and affection vntounto whatſoeuer things are good, there alſo by the power and worke of the ſame Spirit the fruite of theſe things is ſeene in the practiſe of a holy life and conuerſation: ſo that as we thinke on, and louelove, and affect the things that are good, ſo we will be readie alſo to do and to practiſe that which is good.
Let this then teach vsus to take heed how we flatter our ſelues with a vaine perſwaſion of Chriſtian pietie and performance of holy dutie, when indeed we are farre from it. Thou wilt ſay vntounto me, that thou thinkeſt on the things that are true, and holy, and iuſt, &c. as much as any man doth: but thou muſt ſay it and proue it, or elſe howſoeuer thou perſwadeſt thy ſelfe of thy performance of a good Chriſtian dutie in that thou thinkeſt on, and loueſt, and affecteſt the things that are good, yet thou deceiueſt thy ſelfe. For ſay that thine heart is ſet on, and that thou haſt a very good mind vntounto whatſoeuer things are true; thou muſt alſo proue it by doing whatſoeuer things are true, by embracing a truth in religion, by ſpeaking the truth with thy mouth, and by being that in truth, which thou wouldſt ſeeme vntounto the world to be, or elſe thou deceiueſt thy ſelfe. Say that thou loueſt and affecteſt whatſoeuer things are honeſt, thou muſt alſo make proofe of it by doing whatſoeuer becometh thy perſon in thy place, with all decent grauitie, or elſe thou deceiueſt thy ſelfe. Say that thine heart is ſet on whatſoeuer things are iuſt; thou muſt make proofe of it by doing whatſoeuer things may be iuſtly required of thee by God or man, or elſe thou deceiueſt thy ſelfe. Say that thine heart is ſet on whatſoeuer things are pure; thou muſt alſo make proofe of it by abſtaining from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and of the ſpirit, or elſe thou deceiueſt thy ſelfe. Say that thine heart is ſet on whatſoeuer things are louely; thou muſt alſo make proofe of it, by doing whatſoeuer may winne thee louelove and fauour with God and men, or elſe thou deceiueſt thy ſelfe. Say that thine heart is ſet on whatſoeuer things are of good report; thou muſt alſo make proofe of it by doing whatſoeuer may make thee wel reported of, and the truth for thy ſake, or elſe thou deceiueſt thy ſelfe. Say that thine heart is ſet on whatſoeuer things are good and commendable; thou muſt alſo make proofe of it by doing whatſoeuer things are good and commendable, and abſtaining from the contrary, or elſe thou deceiueſt thy ſelfe. And therefore certainly a great many of vsus doe deceiue our ſelues. For by our outward actions it appeareth how farre otherwiſe we doe then we ſhould, lying one vntounto another, doing things not ſeemly, defrauding others of that is due vntounto them, defiling our owne ſelues, grieuing one another, bringing vponupon our ſelues euill reports, and following after that which is euill & blame worthy. We would (it may be) ſerue God, but we do ſerue Mammon: we would (it may be) ſeeme religious, but we are couetous: we crie (it may be) in our hearts, and with our mouthes, Lord, Lord; but we do not the wil of the Lord: we would ſit (it may be) at the right hand and left hand of Ieſus in his kingdome, but we cannot away with it to drinke of his cup. In a word, we would make a ſhew of godlineſſe, but we denie the power thereof; we would ſeeme to profeſſe Ieſus Chriſt, but we do turne the grace of God into wantonnes. Thus we deceiue our ſelues while we do not both thinke on, and do the things that are good, and ſuch as accompanie ſaluation. Let vsus therefore as many as feare the Lord, and deſire to walke in his wayes, hearken vntounto our Apoſtle, and both thinke on and do whatſoeuer things are true, &c. He that hath made all, and is onelyonly worthy of all, let him hauehave all: heart and hand, thought and deed, word and work, let all be employed in his ſeruice, let all be alwayes bent vntounto whatſoeuer things are true, &c. that ſtill we thinke on them and do them.
Which ye hauehave both learned, &c. This is the former reaſon which the Apoſtle vſeth to enforce his exhortation vntounto the Philippians; and it is drawne, as ye ſee, from the things whereunto he exhorteth them, which were no new things, ſuch as they had not knowne or heard of, but which they had both learned, and receiued, and heard, and ſeene in him. Where I note, that the things whereunto he exhorteth them, were ſuch as they had both learned, and receiued, and heard, and ſeene in him, and therefore ſuch as both he might the better vrge, and they ſhould the rather follow. Whence firſt I obſerue this leſſon for the Miniſter and teacher of the word, that if he wil do good with his people, and preuaile with them vntounto eueryevery holy courſe, he muſt both teach them with the word of truth and with example of life, that both they may heare & learne the truth from his mouth, and likewiſe ſee the ſame expreſſed in his life. And therefore our Apoſtle exhorteth Timothy to be an example vntounto them that beleeue, in word and in conuerſation; 1. Tim. 4.12.in word, that from his mouth they might be inſtructed in the wholeſome word of truth; and in conuerſation, that in his life they might ſee that integritie which becometh Saints. So likewiſe he exhorteth Titus, Aboue all things to ſhew himſelfe an example of good workes, with vncorrupt doctrine, with grauitie, Tit. 2.7.8.integritie, and with the wholeſome word that cannot be reproued: ſo that he would hauehave him both to teach the truth ſoundly and ſincerely, and in his life to carry himſelfe with all grauitie and integritie, to be a patterne of good works & holineſſe of life. And ſo the Apoſtle Peter exhorteth all Miniſters to feede the flocke of God which dependeth on them, 1. Pet. 5.2.3.and to be examples to the flocke; to feede them with the bread of God, the wholeſome word of truth, and to be examples vntounto them in all holineſſe of life. Otherwiſe, whatſoeuer they build with the one hand, they pull downe with the other; and like vntounto the naughtie cow, turne downe with their foote all the milk that they hauehave yeelded. For preach they neuer ſo well, labour they neuer ſo painfully, be they neuer ſo eloquent and mightie in the Scriptures, if their life be offenſiue, their teaching will be vnprofitable. Nay, if their people can once ſay vntounto them, Phyſition heale thy ſelf; Thou that teacheſt another, teacheſt thou not thy ſelfe? Thou that preacheſt, A man ſhould not ſteale, Luc. 4.23. Rom. 2.21.22.doeſt thou ſteale? Thou that ſayeſt, A man ſhould not commit adulterie, doeſt thou commit adulterie? Let them neuer looke to preuaile with them for any thing that is good. O but the people ſhould regard what their teachers ſay, not what they do. True indeed; for ſo our Sauiour hath ſaid. But the teachers ſhould be carefull, as of that they ſay, ſo of that they do, to leade their people in and out, both in ſoundneſſe of doctrine and in holineſſe of life. For as a woe is vntounto them if any periſh for want of feeding, ſo likewiſe if any periſh by their ill and naughtie example of liuing.
Let thē then look vntounto this, yt neither attend vntounto doctrine, nor giuegive good exāple of life vntounto others; & they alſo yt attend vntounto doctrine, but do more harme by their example of life thē they do good by their teaching; and they alſo that hauing care that their life be not offenſiue, either do not, or cannot teach their people ye things that belong vntounto their peace. The good Miniſter of Chriſt ſhold be able at all times to preſſe his people vntounto the things which they had learned, and receiued, and heard, and ſeene in him. He that faileth in either, doctrine or life, hath his wo; how much more he that faileth in both?
Secondly, hence I obſerue this leſſon for you that are hearers of the word, that whatſoeuer good things ye hauehave learned, receiued, heard, and ſeene in your Miniſters and teachers, thoſe things ye ſhould thinke on and do. For is there a neceſſitie laid vponupon vsus to preach the Goſpell vntounto you, and is there not a neceſſitie laid vponupon you to heare the word of your ſaluation from our mouthes? Is there a wo vntounto vsus if we preach not the Goſpell vntounto you, and is there not a wo vntounto you if ye heare not the Goſpell of vsus? Lieth there a charge vponupon vsus to be examples vntounto you of holineſſe of life, and integritie of conuerſation; and lieth there not a charge vponupon you to be followers of vsus in all holineſſe of life and integritie of conuerſation? Yes beloued: if we be to bring the Goſpell of your ſaluation vntounto you, ye are to receiue it of vsus: if we be to ſhew you all the counſell of God, ye are to heare it of vsus: if we be to go before you in a ſanctified life, ye are to follow vsus, and ſo to walke as ye hauehave vsus for an example.Heb. 13.8. And therefore ſaith the Apoſtle vntounto the Hebrewes, Remember them which hauehave the ouerſight of you, which hauehave declared vntounto you the word of God, whoſe faith follow, conſidering what hath bene the end of their conuerſation. And our Apoſtle in the Chapter before, Be ye followers (ſaith he) of me, and looke on them which walke ſo, as ye hauehave vsus for an example. Which of vsus would not condemne that child that ſhould not hearken to ye good counſell of his father? or ye ſubiect yt ſhold contemn his Princes Embaſſador? Beloued, we are your fathers in Chriſt Ieſus, to beget you by the immortal ſeed of ye word vntounto a liuely faith & hope in Chriſt Ieſus. How ought ye then as deare childrē to hearkē vntounto your fathers inſtructiō, & to walk as ye hauehave vsus for an exāple. We are ye Embaſſadours of the King of kings and Lord of Lords, euen of Chriſt Ieſus; ſent vntounto you in his ſtead, to declare vntounto you the will of our heauenly Father, and to beſeech you to be reconciled vntounto God. How ought we then to be receiued of you, and how ought our meſſage to be entertained?
But do ye hearken vntounto vsus as vntounto your fathers in Chriſt Ieſus? Do ye receiue vsus as the Ambaſſadours of Chriſt Ieſus? Is our meſſage entertained as ſent from Chriſt Ieſus? I beare you record, ſome of you, that ye receiue our meſſage, and hearken vntounto vsus gladly. But if all of you ſhall ſay that ye do ſo, then muſt I ſay vntounto you as Samuel ſaid vntounto Saul, when Saul told him, that he had fulfilled the commandement;1. Sam. 15.14. What then (ſaid he) meaneth the bleating of the ſheepe in mine eares, and the lowing of the oxen which I heare? So ſay I vntounto you, what meaneth then the gunning and drumming in mine eares? what meaneth the Lording and Ladying which I heare? If we come vntounto you, and ſpeake vntounto you in our owne name, heare vsus not: but if we come vntounto you, and ſpeake vntounto you in the name of the Lord, will ye not heare vsus? If ye will not, it is not vsus, but it is the Lord that ye refuſe to hearken to and obey; as it is written, He that heareth you heareth me, Luke 10 16.and he that deſpiſeth you deſpiſeth me, ſaith the Lord. We onelyonly, as the Lord his watchmen, warne you of the wickedneſſe of your wayes: we onelyonly, as the Ambaſſadours of Chriſt Ieſus, pray ye that ye be reconciled vntounto God. If ye hearken not ſin lyeth at the doore, indignation and wrath is vntounto them that diſobey the truth. Beloued, it is not yours, but you that we ſeeke. It is not out of the humour of one that can abide no paſtime that we ſpeake vntounto you, but out of the deſire of one that would hauehave you blameleſſe and pure, and the ſonnes of God without rebuke. In Chriſts ſtead therefore I beſeech you to leaue off theſe diſordered ſportings and meetings. The cuſtome of them is heatheniſh, the abuſes of them great, and the inconueniences which follow them, many. Thus ye hauehave learned, and receiued, and heard; and therefore thinke not on them, nor do them.