The Apostolical History, Chapter 7 · Section 8
SECT. VIII.
EPaphroditus having now recovered his health, and being to return to the Philippians, by him Paul in his own and Timothy's name writes an Epiſtle to them. For having underſtood by Epaphroditus their ſpiritual ſtate and condition, he thought fit to write to them, (which he does in a moſt affectionate manner).
1. To confirm them in the Faith, and to prevent their being offended at his ſufferings for the Goſpel.
2. To encourage them to walk worthy of the Goſpel, eſpecially in unity, and lowlineſs of mind.
3. To warn them againſt Seducers who mingled works with Faith in the matter of Juſtification.
4. To quicken them to divers Chriſtian duties.
And Laſtly, To Teſtifie his exceeding thankfulneſs to them for the relief they had now ſent him.
In the Epiſtle there are there three parts,…he Epiſtle to the Philippians.
1. The Preface.
2. The Body of the Epiſtle.
3. The Concluſion.
1. IN the Preface, He joins Timothy with him in this his addreſs, becauſe he was his Companion, when he came formerly to them, and had aſſiſted in the inſtructing of them, and was a perſon much valued by them. He tells them, that they both ſent this Epiſtle to all the Saints that compos'd the Church at Philippi, (who were called to believe in Chriſt, and by their union with him derived grace and holineſs from him), and in particular to the Paſtors and Overſeers of their Church, and to the Deacons *Poteſt bifariam accipi hoc nomen vel pro Ministris & curatoribus Pauperum, vel pro Senioribus qui conſtituebantur ad mores regendos. Calv in loc., that is, ſuch who being join'd to the Paſtors were to inſpect the manners of the Church-members, and to ſerve the Church in taking care of the poor. To all theſe he wiſheth abundance of grace and peace, from God the Father, who is the Fountain and Source of all grace and ſpiritual bleſſings, and from Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator, by whoſe merits and interceſſion we obtain them. Ver. 1, 2.
2. He comes to the body of the Epiſtle, wherein in the firſt place, that he might ſhew, how dear they were unto him, he informs them, that when ever they came to his remembrance, eſpecially in prayer, he could not but bleſs God for them, and make mention of them with joy. The reaſons of which were,
1. That they had been brought to a participation of the Goſpel, (whereby they were brought into fellowſhip with Chriſt and his Church), and they had been conſtant in the profeſſion of it from the firſt day of their vocation even until now. 2. Becauſe he was confident, that God who had begun a work …f grace in them would carry it on, and perfect it more and more until the day(a)Uſque in diem mortis veſtrae, quâ à Chriſto viſitabimini, & particulare judicium ſuſ…inebitis. Dionyſ. Carthuſianus in loc. wherein Chriſt ſhall come, and take them to himſelf out of this world. 3. He ſhews, that it was but reaſonable, that he ſhould have this good opinion and hope of them, for he had them in his heart, and remembred(b)…abere in corde hoc loco ſignificat habere in memoriâ. A Lap. them both in his bonds, and all his ſuffering, for the defence and maintenance of the Goſpel, as thoſe that were partakers of the ſame grace beſtowed on himſelf, and as thoſe that were ready to ſuffer fore Chriſt as he was(c)Ego opinor ſenſum eſſe, Eum ipſos ubique etiam in vinc…lis ſuis, totâque illâ confeſſione, in animo inſculptos habere, ut pote ſuos conſortes gratiae Chriſti, aut confratres in Chriſto. Flac. Illyr.: And therefore he ſolemnly proteſts, that he bears a moſt entire love(d)foreign Phavorin. Sic 2 Cor. 9.14. foreign Beza vertit, maximo am…re vos complecten…ium. Viſ…era vocat affectum animi: addid… J…ſu Christi ut declaret hunc affectum eſſe pietatis, non humanum. Eraſm. In i e. instar viſcerum h. e. amoris viſceralis Jeſu Chriſti. and affection to them, wrought in him by Chriſt, and ſuch as is like unto th…t (as to its fervency and ſincerity) which Chriſt Jeſus himſelf bears to thoſe that are his members. And he earneſtly prays that their love to God, and to one another, may more and more abound, together with a more full knowledg of ſpiritual things, and a ſenſe(e)foreign eſt experientia interior animae, ſe… interius Spiritus Sancti teſtimonium de gratiâ & adoptionem ad ſalutem, de quo Rom. 5.1, 5. &c. 8.16, 17. Glaſſ. and taſte of Gods love in Chriſt towards themſelves. And that they may be endued with a ſpirit of diſcerning, and be able to try things that differ, and diſcern truth from error, good from evil, and may chuſe and approve that which is moſt excellent; and further, that they may be ſincere and walk inoffenſively, till the day of Chriſt, in which he ſhall take them to himſelf out of this world. And Laſtly, that they may be full of good works, and may bring forth all thoſe fruits of righteouſneſs, which ſpring from Faith in Chriſt, and tend to the glory of God, as their main aim and end. From Ver. 3, to Ver. 12.
3. He removes the ſcandal they might take at his preſent ſufferings, which he ſhews, tended rather to the furtherance than the hinderance of the Goſpel.
For firſt, his bonds for Chriſt were famous in Nero's Court, and ſeveral other places in and near Rome, and people inquiring into the cauſe of his ſufferings did learn ſomewhat of Chriſt and the Goſpel by that means.
2. Many of the Brethren in the Miniſtry of Chriſt, having heard of his conſtancy under his ſufferings, were encouraged to ſhake off all fear, and to preach Chriſt more boldly than ever. 'Tis true, he acknowledges, that ſome did preach Chriſt out of a ſpirit of envy *P obabile eſt, hos contentioſos praedicatores fuiſſe Chriſti…nos oriundos ex Judaeis, ſed ambitioſos mercenarios, improbos, utpote qui Pauli aemuli ex evangelio non illud quàm ſuam gloriam & lucrum quaerebant. …ales ſuerunt illi contra quos agit Paulus, 2 Cor. 11.againſt him, envying th… ſucceſs God gave to his miniſtry, and endeavoured to get that glory to themſelves, and to draw people from approving him, to applaud them; ſuppoſing to gall and grieve him thereby. And ſome preached Chriſt out of a pious in…ent, deſi…ing ſincerely to maintain, and confirm what he had preached, and out of true love to Chriſt, and to himſelf his priſoner, knowing that Chriſt had appointed him an Apoſtle, and that for the defence of the Goſpel he now lay in priſon. Yet notwithſtanding by both ways, Chriſt was preached and made known; by ſome in pretence, by others in truth, and that was it which comforted him and made him rejoice.
3. Theſe afflictions he met with, he was confident would tend to the furtherance of his ſalvation, through the help of their prayers, and the ſupply of grace from the Spirit of Chriſt. And (he tells them) he truſts, that according to his former expectation and hope, no terror ſhould ever make him aſham'd to own the truth of Chriſt, but with all boldneſs he ſhould avow it, and that Chriſt ſhould be magnified by him in the body, whether his life be further prolonged, or ended by martyrdom. For the caſe ſtood thus with him, If he lived, Chriſt ſhould be the ſcope of his life, and he intended to live to his ſervice; if he dyed, death would be an unſpeakable advantage t… him(d)Mihi enim Chriſtus eſt, & in vitâ & in morte, lucrum: ut ſit ellipſis vocis foreign pro foreign, & foreign. but if he lived longer in this mortal body, he foreſaw this would be the fruit of his labours, viz. The gaining of Souls to Chriſt. Yet what to chuſe he knew not. For he was in a ſtraight, whether he ſhould deſire to dye(e)foreign pro foreign, ſeu foreign, diſſolvi, ut vulg. vertit. Sed poteſt activa ſignificatio commodè retineri. Cupio foreign migrare ad Chriſtum., and be with Chriſt, which was b…tter for him; or to live longer, which was more needful for them. And being ſatisfied of the great need they had of him, and the benefit they might reap from his life, he tells them, that this is the thing that he is ſure he deſires; and hopes, and upon probable conjecture was confident(f)foreign. Scio me hoc ſperare. of, that he ſhould yet be permitted to live, and to paſs ſome part of his life among them, for the furtherance of their Faith, and augmentation of their joy and comfort, that they might have more abundant matter of rejoicing in Chriſt, having received a new proof of his power, and good-will towards them, in delivering him, their Apopoſtle, from death, and ſending him to them again. From Verſ. 12, to 27.
4. He exhorts them, that whatever ſhould befall him, they would mind their duty, and behave themſelves as becometh the Goſpel, ordering their converſation according to the Precepts of Chriſt, and jointly contending the beſt they can, with p…rf…ct unity, and joint ſtedfaſtneſs of mind, to maintain and defend the Faith of Chriſt, which w…uld be matter of great joy to him, whether he came and ſaw it, (as he hop'd he ſhould), or only heard of it, being abſent. And whatever oppoſition or perſecutions they met with in this courſe, he bids them not ſuffer themſelves to be diſcourag'd or affrighted at them, ſeeing they were great ſigns that their adverſaries (who brought them upon them) were in the way of perditi…n, and that they who ſuffered ſuch things patiently for Chriſts ſake, and the G…ſpel, were in the way of ſalvation; they portended deſtruction to their adverſaries, but through Gods gracious diſpoſing, they ſhould promote their ſalvation.
And this ſhould further encourage them, that as grace to believe in Chriſt, ſo alſo grace to ſuffer couragiouſly for him and his truth, was a part of Chriſts purchaſe for them, and for his ſake given unto them: And hereby they had communion and co-partnerſhip with him (their Apoſtle) in afflictions, who ſuffered many hard things at Philippi, and elſewhere, as they themſelves had ſeen, and at this preſent ſuffered bonds at Rome. From Ver. 27, to the end.
Chap. 2 5. He comes now to exhort theſe Philippians to unity and concord among themſelves; and that he might more effectually perſwade them thereunto, he conjures them that if ever th…y had found any conſolation in Chriſt, if any comf…rt of mutual love, if any fellowſhip with God by the communication of the graces of his Spirit, if they had any pity or compaſſion on him, a Priſoner for Chriſt; He …ntreats and obteſts them by all theſe, and as they would give proof of all th…ſe, that to all the other matter of rejoicing which he had concerning th…m, they would add this alſo, (and ſo make his joy complete), namely, to live in unity among themſelves, having as it were the ſame mind and judgment, the ſame will and affections, and minding and carrying on the ſame deſigns. He exh…rts them, not to do any thing out of oppoſition or contention one againſt another, nor out of vain glory or ambition; but to carry themſelves with all humility and lowlineſs of mind, as if they had every one a better opinion of anothers wiſdom, and goodneſs than of his own; and to this end they ſhould not look ſo intently on thoſe gifts and abilities which they diſcern in themſelves, but withall, and much rather, ſhould conſider the gifts and abilities of others more eminent than themſelves. And if they would but eſteem others more, and themſelves leſs; this would tend to frame their minds to humility. And that he might preſs them effectually to the practice of this virtue, he ſets before them thē example of Chriſt, who being from all eternity true God, and being in the form, that is, having the form or eſſence of God, and the natural properties of the Deity, ſo that he thought it no encroachment or uſurpation to reckon himſelf in equality with his Father, (the ſame glory and m…jeſty juſtly belonging to him), yet did He empty himſelf of that divine glory, which befo…e he had, not by ceaſing to be what he was, but by aſſuming ſom…thing to himſelf which before he had not, to wit, the humane Nature. In which reſpect, being n…w God m…n and M…diator, he is leſs than the Father, Joh. 14.28. And therefore on this account he emptied himſ…lf, and diveſted himſelf of the Robes of his Majeſty, and from being Lord of all, he l…ſſened and humbled himſelf to the c…nditi…n of an ordinary man, yea of a ſervant; and He was made in the likeneſs of men, that is, like to one of us in the eſſential parts of humane Nature, to wit, of Soul and Body; and was found in faſhion as a man, the truth and reality of his humane Nature being evidently known unto thoſe who did converſe with him, by the faſhion and proportion of his body, and the whole ſtrain of his carriage and actions. And b…ſides the humbling himſelf thus l…w in his incarnation, he humbled himſelf yet lower afterwards, even to ſuffer the vileſt and moſt c…u…l death, (which was in uſe among the Romans, and inflicted only on their Slaves), to wit, the death of the Croſs. And becauſe he humbled himſelf ſo low, G…d hath highly exalted him in his Reſurrection, Aſcenſion, and placing …im at his right hand in Heaven; and hath given him a Name, that is, hath exalted him to a Dignity which is above all other Names and Dignities, to wit, he hath made him King and Head of his Church, and given him all power in Heaven and Earth, and inſtalled him in the poſſeſſi…n and adminiſtr…tion of his heavenly Kingdom, (wherein his divine Majeſty, which had been eclipſ…d before, doth now ſhine forth in full glory), and hath appointed that the divine honour, due to God only, ſhould be given to him, (compare Iſa 45.23 with Rom. 14.10, 11.), and that all reaſonable Creatures, in whatſoever place of the created World they be, whether in Heaven, E…rth *Ut per terrestres homines in terrâ, vivi; ſic per ſubterraneos, mortui, qui in terrâ conditi ſunt, intelliguntur. Alii per ſubterraneos, Daemones intelligunt, quòd Infernus illis potiſſimum puniendis ſit deſtinatus. Mat. 25.41. unde ab ejus ingreſſu adeò abhorrent, Luc. 8.31. Gomar., or Hell; yea and all men which are dead and in the graves, ſhould at the Reſurrection, and day of Judgment, worſhip him as the true God, and expreſs and teſtifie their ſubjection to him, (ſome willingly, others by conſtraint), when they come to ſtand at his Tribunal, to receive their doom; and that all Nations and people ſhould confeſs Chriſt crucified to be Lord and Judg of the World, acknowledging his dominion and ſoveraignty, and that to the honour of the Father, who hath ſent him, and who will be glorified in the glory of his Son. Therefore ſeeing Chriſt thus humbled himſelf, to make peace for loſt man with God, and afterwards was highly exalted by God, and crown'd with glory; ſo proportionably may they expect to be exalted and rewarded by God, if they humble themſelves, that they m…y maintain and preſerve the Churches peace and concord. From Ver. 1, to 12.
6. He exhorts them, that they would ſtill ſhew themſelves obedient to his Precepts and not only as they had done*v. 12. Sicut ſemper obedistis] ſemper ſcil. à converſione when he was preſent with them, but now much more in his abſence, that it may appear, that love to the truths of Chriſt ſway'd them, and not any other reſpect. And particularly, he exhorts th…m, to work out their own ſalvation with fear and tremb…ing, that is, carefully and diligently to practiſe all thoſe means that God hath appointed for the accompliſhing their ſalvation, ſhaking off ſecurity, and carnal confidence, and not truſting in their own ſtrength and power, but humbly imploring the aſſiſtance of Gods grace. For 'tis he alone who works in us both to will th…t which is good, and enabl…s us to perform it. And becauſe the nature of man, (as 'tis now corrupt) is prone t… murmur againſt the providence of God, and to diſpute his will and command, H… adviſeth t…m, to do all their actions ſo as thoſe that do acquieſce in the good will of G…d, and to take heed of h…t and eager diſputings among themſelves concerning things that do not concern the vitals of Religion. And they ſhould be the more careful to carry themſelves thus, that they may approve themſelves blameleſs and harmleſs, walking as the Children of God in a corrupt age, among whom they ſhould ſhine as lights in the World; holding forth, in their profeſſion and practice, the way to eternal life reveal'd in the Goſpel, that thoſe Pagans among whom th…y lived, might fall in love with it; and that he himſelf may have cauſe of r…joicing in their ſalvation, at the day of Judgment, becauſe his labours under God had ſo much promoted it. And he aſſures them, that their eternal Salvation was a thing ſo earneſtly, and ſo affectionately deſir'd by him, that if, as in the Law the Wine was poured out on the Sacrifice, ſo his Blood (like Wine) ſhould be poured out as an additional offering to confirm their Faith, (whom he had by his preaching and miniſtry brought to conſecrate and offer up themſelves as a living Sacrifice to God); he would rejoice therein for their ſakes, and of all the faithful to whom the fruit of his death ſhould redound; and he deſires them to rejoice with him, that he was ſo minded. From Ver. 12, to 19.
7. He declares his purpoſe of ſending Timothy to them to know their ſtate, as ſoon as he ſhall ſee how it will go with himſelf. For he expected a comfortable account of them by him, at his return. He tells them, he had no man with him, who might be compar'd with him in affection to them, or who did more ſincerely regard their ſpiritual good. For others (as it ſeems) that were at this preſent at Rome, refuſed to undertake ſo long and tedious a journey; but Timothy was willing to undertake it, and whilſt others*v. 21. Vox Omnes non generatim, & ſimplicitèr de ſingulis, ſed ſynecdochicè de pleriſque; & ſtudium illud ſua quaerendi non abſolutè ſed comparatè cum Timothei ſinceritate & Zelo, accipiendum eſt. minded their own private concerns, He minded the advancement of the Intereſt of Chriſt. And he tells them, that they themſelves have had great proofs of his ſincerity when he was with them, and know how in the preaching of the Goſpel he had rendred to him (their Apoſtle) all the ſervice and aſſiſtance he could, and that with like affection as a good Son renders to his Father. And he tells them, that he not only intended to ſend Timothy to them, but hoped (through the goodneſs of God) to be at liberty ſhortly, and to come to them himſelf. However in the mean time he thought it needful to return unto them Epaphroditus their Paſtor who hath been his partner in lab…ur and danger, ſince they had ſent him to him, to relieve him in his neceſſities. And one reaſon why he ſent him back was, becauſe of his great paſtoral affection unto them. He being exceedingly diſquieted to think, what ſorrow the report of his ſickneſs had brought unto them: and he ſent him the rather, that they might be comforted in ſeeing him recover'd, who had been ſo nigh unto death. But he tells them, God ſhewed much mercy to Epaphroditus in recovering of him, and not to him only, but to himſelf (their Apoſtle) alſo, in not adding one grief to another, viz. Epaphroditus's death, to his impriſonment. He ſent him alſo the more readily, that his own trouble might be ſomewhat removed, which accrued to him on conſideration, that their Miniſter, (whoſe company they ſo much deſired) had been ſo long detained from them on his account. He exhorts them therefore to receive him with ſuch an affection as they ought to expreſs towards the faithful Servants of the Lord*v. 29. In Domino] i. e. Propter Dominum, ac ſecundum Domini verbum, cum omni gaudio., and to give all due honour and reſpect unto him, and to all ſuch Miniſters as he was, becauſe he had hazzarded his life for the ſervice of Chriſt, being leſs careful of himſelf, than of the Apoſtles welfare, and becauſe he had done what lay in him that nothing neceſſary ſhould be wanting to him; and ſo did that, which they themſelves by reaſon of their abſence, and far diſtance, were not able to do. From Ver. 19, to the end.
Chap. 3 8. Intending now to warn them to beware of thoſe falſe Teachers, who in the point of juſtification mingled the righteouſneſs of works with that which is by Faith in Chriſt; he firſt exhorts them, to rejoice in Chriſt Jeſus as the only Author and Purchaſer of our Peace; and that they would joyfully rely upon his Righteouſneſs, Merit, and Interceſſion, and not ſeek for any other way of Salvation out of him. He excuſes himſelf for inculcating the ſame inſtructions ſo often, ſeeing it was ſafe and convenient for them that he ſhould ſo do; for he could not too often preſs them to cloſe with Chriſt, and the Doctrine of his all ſufficient Righteouſneſs and Merit. He comes then directly to warn them to beware of theſe falſe Apoſtles, whom he calls Dogs, (for their barking againſt the ſincere Doctrine of the Goſpel, and the faithful Preachers of it), and evil-Workers, (becauſe under pretence of building up the Church, they did what in them lay to deſtroy it, and were beſides (as it ſeems) men of wicked lives). He calls them alſo the Conciſion, alluding to Circumciſion, whereof they gave out themſelves to be Patrons and Defenders, and call'd themſelves by it; but he taketh that name from them, and calls them, the Conciſion; as if he ſhould ſay, the D…ſtroyers and Renters of the Church. He ſhews, that not they, but himſelf, and other true Believers, had right to that Title of Circumciſion, they only having the thing ſignified thereby. For firſt, They worſhipped God with the inward ſpiritual affections of a renewed heart. 2. They truſted in Chriſt Jeſus alone, as the Subſtance of all the Types and Shaddows in the Old Teſtament, and rejoiced in him, as the only and all-ſufficient Saviour of mankind. 3. They renounced confidence in any outward Priviledg, (ſuch as the Circumciſion of the fleſh was), or in any thing elſe beſides Chriſt. From Ver. 1, to 4.
9. Intending to demonſtrate the vanity of relying upon any thing beſides Chriſt for Juſtification; he ſheweth, he had as much to boaſt of upon the account of outward Priviledges (ſuch as the Circumciſion of the fleſh), as any of thoſe falſe Teachers had, if he had found it ſafe to venture his Salvation on ſuch a bottom. He was circumciſed the eighth day after his birth, as Iſaac and his poſterity were. He was of the Stock of Iſrael, and ſo no Proſelyte, or Convert from among the Gentiles. He was of the Tribe of Benjamin, and ſo came of that Tribe which with the Tribe of Judah clave to the houſe of David, and the true worſhip of God at Jeruſalem, after the revolt of the Ten Tribes; and if he had a mind to ſpeak of the ancientneſs and nobility of his Stock; he might ſay, he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews, deſcended by both his Parents of Abrahams Race, (called the Hebrew, Gen. 14.13), and from Eb…r, of whom the Jews were called Ebrews, who lived before the confuſion of Tongues at Babel, Gen. 14 13, 20, 21, 25. And he was not an ordinary Ebrew or Jew neither, but of the ſtricteſt Sect among them, even a Phariſee, which Sect were for a ſeverer interpretation, and ſtricter obſervation of the Law than the reſt of the Jews, Act. 26.5. And as a ſignal Teſtimony of his great zeal to the Law, and the Jewiſh Religion, he had been a violent Perſecutor of the Chriſtian Church, whom he look'd upon as enemies thereto. And laſtly, As to his perſonal obedience and obſervance of the Law, he was able to ſay as much as another, his Converſation having been ſo blameleſs before men, that it could not be juſtly taxed by them. But however when he was in his unconverted ſtate, he had relyed on theſe things for Salvation, and counted them great advantages in order thereunto, yet now being ſavingly enlightned, he ſaw that nothing could redound to him by truſting in them, but real hurt and damage, and therefore he had taken his confidence off from them, and wholly placed it on Chriſt; yea he did not only eſteem them ſo when he was firſt converted, but did ſo ſtill. For he could not but account all ſuch things by which men ſeek ſalvation out of Chriſt, detrimental and hurtful, ſo far as they keep them from cloſing with him. He could not but account them l…ſs, not only becauſe they can not effect that, for which men do rely upon them; but becauſe their high eſteem of them, and confidence in them, hinders them from embracing Chriſt. He tells them, therefore that he undervalued and diſeſteem'd them all, in compariſon of that excellent knowledg of Chriſt, which draws the heart effectually to cloſe with him, and by a lively Faith and affiance to rely on him, and to take him for its Lord and Saviour. And for this bleſſed Saviours ſake, he tells them, it was, that he had forſak…n Friends, Countrey, and all things that could be dear to him in this World, when he firſt betook himſelf to the preaching of the Goſpel, and ſtill counted them as dung, in compariſon of gaining the favour of Chriſt, and of being found at the day of Judgment ingrafted into him by Faith, and a real member of him, and one that did n…t rely on his own righteouſneſs, (ſuch as m…n endeavour to acquire by the obſervation of the Commandments of the Law), but on that righteouſneſs which men are made partakers of by Faith, when they believe in Chriſt, and which reſults from his active and paſſive obedience, and which God freely and graciouſly imputes to all true Believers for their Juſtification. And he intimates, how eaſily he could bear thoſe forementioned l ſſes for an experimental knowledg and ſenſe of Chriſts grace working in him; particularly, that he might feel in himſelf, that power whereby Chriſt was raiſed from death to life; raiſing him daily more and more to newneſs of life, and that he might taſte the comfort that ariſeth from fellowſhip with him in his ſufferings, ſuffering for him and with him in his myſtical Body, (Col. 1 24.), being made thereby conformable to his death, by mortifying inward corruptions, and bearing the Croſs for him. And he tells them, he ſhall not grudg at that, if he may by any means (though with ſome difficulty), attain unto the reſurrection of the dead *a Metonymy of the Subject for the Adjunct., that is, unto that perfection of holineſs, which accompanies and attends the reſurrection of the juſt, 1 Theſ. 4.14. He acknowledges he had not as yet attained to that degree of holineſs, nor look'd upon himſelf as already perfect, or as one that had already won the prize and rich reward, which is given at the end of the race. But he was in his Chriſtian race, and purſued after that prize with great deſire and diligence, and hop'd aſſuredly to obtain it, not by his own ſtrength, but by th… aſſiſtance of Chriſt, who for that end laid hold on him, (as he was in the way going to Damaſcus to perſecute the Chriſtians), and effectually call'd and converted him, and brought him into the way of Salvation. He ſays again, that he dare not affirm, that he had attained to the ſtate of perfection, but he was as the Racer running his race, not caſting his eye back, or being ſatisfied with what he had done, or with ſo much of the way as he had overcome, but ſtretching as hard as he could to get the goal, or end of the race, that ſo he may obtain the prize, viz. the prize of eternal Glory, which ſhall be given to them to whom God vouchſafes that high favour effectually to call them to a participation of the merits and righteouſneſs of his Son Jeſus Chriſt. From Ver. 4; to 15.
10. He exhorts thoſe who were more grown Chriſtians, (and being compar'd with others leſs knowing, might be called perfect *foreign] appellat in rebus divinis optimè verſatos, ut 1 Cor. 2.6. & 14.20.), to agree, and be alike minded in his propoſed Doctrine, namely, to renounce all carnal confidences, and to reſt in Chriſts Righteouſneſs alone, and by virtue derived from him, to labour to grow daily more and more in grace and holineſs. And if any among them, being ſeduced by falſe Teachers, were of a contrary mind in ſome things, (as namely, that the Ceremonial Law was not wholly abr…gated, &c.), he gives ground of hope(c)Loquitur pro ſpe quam ex priore ipſorum pietate conceperat. Sic & Gal. 5.10., that God (who had brought them to the knowledg of the Goſpel) would reclaim them from this their error, and diſcover unto them the danger of it. However he exhorts all lovers of truth and peace among them to an orderly walking, according to the rule of the Scriptures, in thoſe things wherein they were agreed, preſerving mutual love, and avoiding further rents and diviſions. He exhorts them alſo, to be followers of him, and to obſerve thoſe that did ſo, taking them for their patterns and examples. For he tells them, there were many falſe Teachers who walk'd otherwiſe, whoſe example was not to be followed; of whom he had often warn'd them, and could not but now again (though with grief of heart) acquaint them, that by their preſſing, b…ſides Faith in Chriſt, the obſervation of the Levitical Ceremonies, and the works of the Law, as neceſſary to Salvation, they undermin'd the Doctrine of the Croſs, and really oppos'd the virtue, power, and merit of Chriſts paſſion, [ſee Gal. 5.2.]. But the end of thoſe Impoſtors, without repentance, he ſhews, will be very ſad, who minded nothing ſo much as pleaſing their ſenſual appetites(d)Quorum Deus venter] Id pro Deo habemus cujus cauſâ omnia facimus. Vid. Eph. 5.5., boaſting of thoſe things whereof they ought to be aſhamed, (viz. their corrupting the Goſpel), and ſavouring only earthly things. But as for himſelf, and thoſe that followed his example, their carriage was far different. For our converſation (ſays he) is in Heaven, where Chriſt our Lord and Head is; whom we expect to c…me one day from thence, to our unſpeakable comfort; and who will change our vile Bodies*v. 21. Corpus per corpora ſing. per plur., and make them like to his own glorious Body; which change he will effect by that divine and almighty power of his, whereby he will deſtroy death, and the grave, and can do all things poſſible to divine omnipotency; and theref…re can and will bring about the reſurrection and glorious change of our Bodies. From Ver. 15, to the end.
11. He comes now, towards the cloſe of his Epiſtle, to exhort them to the practice Chap. 4 of ſeveral Chriſtian vertues. And, 1. having teſtified how affectionately he loved them, and how much he deſir'd and long'd after their ſpiritual welfare, (and how their Faith and Converſion was matter of great joy and comfort unto him, yea the crown and honour of his Miniſtry); he exhorts them, (in the general), to continue and ſtand faſt in the Doctrine of Chriſt, according as he had taught them.
2. He particularly exhorts Euodias and Syntyche, two eminent women in that Church, (who, as it ſeems, in ſome matters relating to Religion diſagreed), to concord and agreement between themſelves, it being a thing very agreeable to the will of the Lord. And he intreats one that was ſometime his fellow-labourer in that Church, to help thoſe fore-mentioned women to accord their difference, and to agree; and the rather becauſe they had been uſeful to him, (in their places), whilſt he was preaching the Goſpel, and planting a Church there*See Act. 18.26. Rom. 16.3.; as Clement, and ſome other private Chriſtians had alſo been, whom he judged to be truly gracious perſons, and ſuch as were to be reckon'd in the number of Gods Elect(a)Quod dicit nomina illorum eſſe Scripta in libro vitae, metaphora eſt à rebus humanis ad Deum tranſlata quâ ſignificatur illos computari inter filios Dei, & haeredes vitae aeternae., they giving ſuch evident ſigns and teſtimonies thereof.
3. He exhorts them, To rejoice in Chriſt at all times, and in all conditions, raiſing up their hearts to a due conſideration of his excellencies and benefits, and feeding upon the ſenſe and ſweetneſs of them. For a Believer hath always ground of rejoicing in Chriſt, though not in the world, nor in himſelf.
4. He exhorts them, To exerciſe moderation, equity, and mildneſs, in their dealings with all men, becauſe the Lord is nigh and preſent to judg all our actions, and his coming to judgment is not far off, at which time he will render to every one according to their works.
5. He exhorts them, To beware of anxious, heart-cutting, diſtruſtful care about worldly things, or the ſucceſs of what they undertake in their lawful callings; and for prevention of that, to disburden all their cares and troubles into the boſom of the Lord, by humble prayer, not forgetting alſo to praiſe him for all his benefits. And that, he tells them, is the way to have that ſweet peace, which is wrought by the Spirit of God, to dwell in their hearts, (which none can conceive who have not experienced and felt, and thoſe who have, cannot ſufficiently expreſs it), which will (through the aſſiſtance of Chriſt) guard and keep them fr…m being overcome with inordinate cares, or ſuch paſſions as the apprehe…ſion of l…ſſes and injuries uſually ſtir up in men.
6. He exhorts them, that whatever things had truth, candor, and ſincerity ſhining in them; whatever things were honeſt, juſt, pure, and of good report; whatever virtues, or praiſe-worthy qualities they obſerv'd among thoſe, with whom they convers'd: they ſhould ſeriouſly think of them, and propoſe them to themſelves, for their imitation.
And laſtly, That all thoſe things which he himſelf had by his Doctrine and Life commended unto them, they ſhould carefully obſerve and imitate, and ſo they might expect, that the God of peace would be with them with his gracious bleſſing. From Ver▪ 1, to 10.
12. He d…clares, how much he rejoiced, even with a motion of ſpiritual j…y wrought in him by Chriſt, that their liberality towards him (which ſeem'd to have been for ſome time in the decay) had now reviv'd and flouriſhed again. But he readily excuſes their delay herein, which he aſſures himſelf proceeded, not from want of love to him, but of an opportunity of ſending to him. Yet he would not have them think, that he rejoiced ſo much in their bounty towards him, becauſe he could not bear want, or a ſtraight condition. For he had learn'd, (being inſtructed by the Spirit of God), in whatever ſtate he was therewith to be content. He could contentedly bear a l…w condition: Yet the plenty their liberality had furniſh'd him with, he could mak… uſe of to the glory of God. He could do all thoſe things, which conſiſt in the exerciſe of Chriſtian moderation under a proſperous condition, and of patience and contentation under an adverſe condition, through Chri…t enabling of him. However they had done well in ſending him that ſupply by Epaphroditus, when he was in ſome ſtraits, and thereby teſtifying by their Chriſtian c…mmiſeration, that they ſhared with him in his afflictions and ſufferings for Chriſt. And he acknowledges, that this was no new thing in them: For after he had finiſhed his firſt preaching of the Goſpel among them, and was departing out of their Country, they were ſo mindful of him as to ſend him contributions; and having received of him ſpiritual things, they were willing to communicate to him ſome of their temporals, which no other Church but they had th…n done. Nay, when he was at Theſſalonica, and ſince he came thence, more than once, they made a Collection, and ſent it to him Yet he would not have them think, that he thus commended them, becauſe he deſign'd to draw ſomething more from them, but he deſir'd that their Faith might he ſtill more and more productive of ſuch good fruits, as liberality was; which God would recompence at the day of judgment, and the benefit whereof would redound to themſelves, though not of merit, yet of grace. He tells them, that he had received all that they had ſent him by Epaphroditus, and the ſum he acknowledges was large, and made him full and to abound, and hereby they had done an acceptable ſervice to God, and which under the Goſpel he accepts, and receiveth in the place both of Incenſe, and Sacrifice, which were offered under the Law. And they will have no reaſon to repent of this their liberality. For G…d who looks on it as given to him, is able and willing to ſupply all their wants, and that n…t for any merit of theirs, but out of his own rich and glorious grace, which he diſpenſes through the merits and interceſſion of his Son Chriſt Jeſus. Now unto this glorious God, who is the Father of all true Believers in Chriſt, he deſires all honour and glory may be aſcribed for ever and ever, Amen. From V…r. 10, to 21,
He concludes with Salutations, and particularly ſends Salutations to them from the Saints in Nero's houſe, ſome of his Servants, and Courtiers (it ſ…ems) being Converts, and Chriſtians. He ſhuts up all with his Apoſtolical Benediction. From Ver. 21, to the end.