Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 6

Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John · Commentary 6

p. 238A COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITION VponUpon the Epiſtle of S. Paul to the PHILIPPIANS.

CHAP. I. Verſe 1. With the Biſhops and Deacons]

THe word Prieſt is never uſed at all for a Miniſter of the Goſpel by the Apoſtles, no nor by the moſt ancient Fathers,De … as Bellarmine himſelf confeſſeth. And yet how …ager were our late factours for Rome to have prieſted us all, but that God better provided for us.

Verſe 2. Grace be to you] See the Note on 1 Cor. 1.2. and on Eph…ſ. 1.2.

Verſe 3. Ʋpon every rem…mbrance] And no wonder: for there w…e thoſe famous M…cedonians, that firſt gave themſelves to the Lord, and then to their faithfull Miniſters by the will of God, 2 Cor. 8.5. See the Note there, and compare Iſa. 50.10.

Verſe 4. Making requeſt with joy] Thoſe that grieve their p. 239faithfull Miniſters, and quench the ſpirit in them, do it to their own ſingular diſadvantage.

Verſe 5. For your fellowſhip] A good man cannot tell how to go to heaven alone. No ſooner had the Philippians received the Goſpel, but they were in fellowſhip to a day. The communion of Saints was with them a point of practice, as well as an article of belief. The apoſtles Creed was anciently briefer then now. The mention of the Fathers being maker of heaven and earth, The Sons death and deſcending into hell, and the communion of Saints being wholly omitted: haply as implied ſufficiently in other Articles. But ſurely if the Creed were called Symbalum, as a ſign or badge to difference Chriſtians from Infidels and wicked people, there was little reaſon to leave out the Communion of Saints, this being a main diſtinctive character: there being no ſuch fellowſhip as among the Saints, Cant. 6.9.

Verſe 6. Will perform it] Or perfect it. God doth-not uſe to doe his work by the halves, but goes thorow-ſtitch with it, 1 Theſ. 5.24. Pſal. 138.8. Only we muſt pray as Luther was wont to do, Confirm, O Lord, in us what thou hast wrought, and perfect the work that thou haſt begun in us to thy glory. So be it. And as Queen Elizabeth praid, Look upon the wounds of thy hands, and despiſe not the work of thy hands. Thou haſt written me down in thy book of preſervation with thine own hand: ô read thine own hand-writing, and ſave me, &c.Act. and Mon. fol 777.

Verſe 7. Partakers of my grace] That is, ye communicate with me in my ſufferings, which he here calleth his grace, and tels them, verſ. 29. To you it is given, as an honourary to ſuffer for Chriſts ſake. Crud…litas veſtra gloria noſtra, Tertull.ſaid thoſe Primitive Martyrs. I had rather be a Martyr then a Monarch, ſaid Ignatius. It is to my loſſe, if you bate me any thing in my ſufferings, ſaid Gordius to his tormentours. Gaudebat Crispin cum ten…hatur, cum audiebatur, cum damnabatur, cum ducebatur,In Pſal. 157. ſaith Anguſtine. Crispina Rejoyced when ſhe was apprehended, convented, condemned, executed.

Verſe 8. I long after you all] Here the Apoſtle practiſed his own precept of fatherly affection, Rom. 12.10. Pray for me,foreign. Act. and Mon. fol 1482. mine own heart-root in the Lord, Quem in intimis viſceribus habeo ad convivendum & commoriendum, ſaid Bradford in a letter to his fellow Martyr Laurence Saunders.

Verſe 9. And in all judgement] Or, Senſe, The ſoul alſo p. 240hath her ſenſes as well as the body. And theſe muſt be exerciſed to diſcern good and evil, Heb. 5.14. thoſe two learned ſenſes eſpecially (as Ariſtotle calleth them) the eye and the ear, Iob 34 3. Ier. 2.31.

Verſe 10. Approve the things] Or try the things that differ, that ye be not ch…ated, and ſo undone, as many a man is by purchaſing a counterfeit commodity at an unreaſonable rate. A Briſtow▪ ſtone looks like a diamond, and many things gliſter beſides gold.

Verſe 11. Being filled with the fruits] The excellency of a Chriſtian is to follow God fully, as Caleb, Numb. 14.24. To have a heart full of goodneſſe, as thoſe Rom. 15.14. A life full of good works, as Tabitha, Act. 9.33. See the Note on Galat. 5.22.

Verſe 12. Rather unto the furtherance] So were Luthers troubles: Quò magis illi furunt, ſaith he, eò amplius pr…cedo. The more they rage, the more the Goſpel ſpreadeth. It was a pleaſant ſight (ſaith one) to have beheld Chriſt and Antichriſt ſtriving for maſteries. For whatſoever the Pope, and the Emperour attempted againſt the Goſpel,Scultet. Annal. Chriſt turned it all to the furtherance of the Goſpel. The Popes bull, the Emperours thunderbolt amazed not men, but animated them to imbrace the truth, weakned them not, but wakened them rather.

Verſe 13. In all the pallace] So in the diet held at Auſborough in Germany, anno 1530, Caeſar reading the Proteſtants Confeſſion, and ſending it abroad to other Chriſtian Princes, as deſiring their advice about it, diſperſed and ſpread it more in all parts then all the Lutheran Preachers could have done. For which cauſe Luther laughs a good at the fooliſh wiſdome of the Papiſts in a certain Epiſtle of his to the Electour of Saxony. Scalte…, Annal 274.When Bonner allowed William Hunter, Martyr, no more then an half-peny a day in priſon, he confeſſed that he lacked nothing, but had meat and cloathing enough,Act. and Mon. fol. 13…8. yea even out of the Court both money, meat, cloathes, wood and coals, and all things neceſſary. What friends Iohn Wicliffe found, both in the Court of England, and in the Court o… Bohemia is famouſly known: And yet the Proverb is, Exeat aulà qui velit eſſe pius—

Verſe 14. Are much more hold] This is the fruit of the Saints ſufferings, Eccleſiatotum mundum ſanguine & oratione convertit, ſaith Luther. As the Lilly is increaſed by it's own juice that p. 241flows from it: ſo is the Church by it's ſufferings. This cauſed Iulian to ſpare ſome Chriſtians, whom he could have wiſhed out of the world. I thank our Lord God (ſaid B. Ridley in a letter of his to Bradford) that ſince I heard of our dear brother Rogers departing, and ſtout confeſſing of Chriſt and his truth even unto death, my heart, bleſſed be God, rejoyced of it,Act. and Mon. fol. 565. neither ever ſince that time have I felt any lumpiſh heavineſſe, as I grant I have felt ſometimes before. So Bradford in a letter to Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley, priſoners at Oxford, Our dear brother Rogers hath broken the ice valiantly. As this day I thinke hearty Hooper, …uſty Tailour, Ibid. 1. 8….and ſincere Saunders end their courſe and receive their crown. The next am I which hourly look for the Porter to open me the gates after them to enter into the deſired reſt. God forgive me mine unthankfulneſſe for this exceeding great mercy, &c.

Verſe 15. Some indeed preach Chriſt] Such ſelf-ſeekers there are now a-daies not a few. Two things make a good Chriſtian, good actions and good aims. Though a good aim doth not make a bad action good, as we ſee in Ʋzzab. yet a bad aim makes a good action bad, as in theſe preachers. They preached Chriſt; ſo did the devil, who yet was ſilenced by Chriſt, Mark 1.24, 25.

Verſe 16. Preach Christ of contention] Striving to bear away the bell from me, as the better preachers. And with ſuch ambitioniſts the Church of Chriſt hath ever been peſtered. This made Luther pray, A doctore glorioſo & à Paſtore contentioſo, liberet Eccleſiam ſuam Dominus. From vain-glorious and contentious preachers, The good Lord deliver his Church.

Suppoſing to adde affliction to my bonds] An immane cruelty, ſuch as Iob and David of… complain of, Iob 6.14. Pſal. 69.26.Camdens Eliz. 531. Queen Elizabeth hated no leſſe then did Mithridates, ſuch as maliciouſly perſecuted vertue forſaken of fortune, ſaith Camden.

Verſe 17. Knowing that I am ſet] Or, Laid by the heels, foreign.they of love help out at a dead lif…, and do my office abroad: as Marulla a maid of Lemnos ſeeing her father ſlain in the gate,Turk. Hiſt. 418 took up his weapons, and not only revenged his death, but helped to keep out the Turks, who hoped to have ſurprized the City on the ſudden.

Verſe 18. Chriſt is preached, &c.] Prorſus Satan est Lutherus, p. 242ſed Chriſtus vivit, & regnat, Amen, ſaith Luther in an Epiſtle of his to Spalatinus. Luther is called a devil: but be it ſo, …o long as Chriſt is magnified, I am well apaid. All private reſpects ſhould be drowned in the glory of God. But he is a baſe …p… ted man that is totus in ſe, like the ſna… ſtill within doors, and a… home.

Verſe 19. This ſhall turn to my ſalvation] God maketh all to co-operate and turneth all about to the beſt: as the skilfull Apothecary maketh of a poiſonfull viper a wholſome tr…acle. See the Note on Rom. 8.28. and on Gen. 50.20.

Verſe 20. According to my earneſt] S^t Paul ſtood as it were on tip-…o…s to ſee which wayes he might beſt glorifie God by life or death.

Verſe 21.foreign And to die is gain] B. cauſe death to a good man is the day-break of eternall brightneſſe, janua vitae, porta coeli, as Bernard hath it, a valley of Achor, a door of hope to give entrance into Paradiſe, to bring them malorum omnium ademprionem, bonorum omnium adeptionem.

Verſe 22. What I ſhall chuſe, I wot not] As a loving wife ſent for by her husband far from home, and yet loth to leave her children, is in a muſe and doube what to does Su was the Apoſtle.

Verſe 23.foreign &c. For I am in a ſ…rai… ] Plato in the eighth of his laws hath a like ſpeech, The communion of the ſoul with the body is not better then the …olution, as I would …y if I were to ſpeak in carneſt. But whether Plato believed himſelf ſo ſaying, I have reaſon to make queſtion, w…en I conſider that his maſter Socrates, when he came to die, doubted whether it were better with the dead or with the living, as both Plato and Cicero teſtifie.

Having a deſire to d…part].foreign To looſe from the ſhore of life, and launch out into the t…ain of immortality, "Or it may be rendered, " to return home, or to change rooms.

And to be with Christ] This was all his ſong ever ſince he had been in the third heaven. So M^r Bolton lying on his death-bed ſaid, I am by the wonderfull mercies of God as full of comfort as my heart can hold; and feel nothing in my ſoul but Chriſt, with whom I heartily diſire to be.In his life by M. Bagſh….

Which is farre better] Farte farre the better.foreign A tranſcendent expreſſion, ſuch as is that, 2 Cor. 4.17. See the Note there.

p. 243Verſe 24. Is more needfull for you] M^r Bolton dying, and deſiring to be diſſolved, being told that it was indeed better for him to be with Chriſt, but the Church of God could not miſſe him, not the benefit of his Miniſtery, he thus replied with David, 2 Sam. 15.25, 26. If I ſhall finde favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and ſhew me both it and his habitation. But if otherwiſe, loe here I am; let him doe what ſeemeth good in his eyes.

Verſe 25. And joy of faith] That is, for your full aſſurance; which is that higheſt degree or faith, whereby a believer having gotten victory over his doubtings, triumpheth with a large meaſure of joy.

Verſe 26. That your rejoycing] Gr. Your glorying, or exulting in this, that God hath given …e in, as an anſwer to your praiers. It is ſurely a ſweet thing to hear from heaven. David often boaſts of it, Pſ. 6. & 66.

Verſe 27. Only let your converſation] q. d. If you would that God ſhould hear you, and deliver me, be ready prepared for the receipt of ſuch a mercy. The fountain of divine grace will not be laden at with foul hands, Pſ. 66.17. The lepers lips ſhould be covered according to the law.

Let your converſation] Your civil converſation, foreignyour common commerce, and interdealings with men alſo. Hippocrates took an oath of his followers to keep their profeſſion unſtained, and their lives unblameable.

Striving together for the faith] As the Barons of Polonia profeſſed to do, by their ſtarting up at the reading of the Goſpel,Anno 965. and drawing out their ſwords half way, in teſtimony that they would ſtick and ſtand to the defence of that truth to the very death.Io. Funccius. Help the truth in neceſſity, ſtrive with it, and for it.

Verſe 28. And in nothing terrified] A Metaphor from horſes,foreign when they tremble and are ſore afrighted. he that feareth God, need fear none elſe, Pſal. 3. But with the horſe in Iob, Job 39.22.Job 39:22he mocketh at fear, and is not afrighted: neither turneth he back from the ſword.

Verſe 29 For unto you it is given] As an high honour, not only to believe (though that's a great matter: For he that believeth hath ſet to his ſeal that God is true, hath given God a teſtimoniall, ſuch as is that Deut. 32.4. but alſo (as a further favour) to ſuffer for his ſake: This is the loweſt ſubjection that can be to p. 244God, but the higheſt honour both to him and us. This made Latimer after the ſentence pronounced on him,Act. and Mon. cry out, I thank God most heartily of this honour. Saunders ſaid, I am the unmeetest man for this high office, that ever was appointed to is. Such an honour it is, ſaid Careleſſe Martyr, as the greateſt Angel in heaven is not permitted to have. God forgive me mine unthankefulneſſe, &c.Ibi… …3 61. Ibid 1744.

Verſe 30. Which ye ſaw in me] Act. 16.19, 23, 24, &c. See the Notes there.

CHAP. II. Verſe 1. If there be therefore]

A Moſt paſſionate obteſtation, importing his moſt vehement deſire of their good agreement: whereunto he conjures them, as it were, by all the bonds of love betwixt him and them. Matters of importance muſt be preſſed with utmoſt vehemence, Coloſ. 3.14. Love is charged upon us above all thoſe excellent things there reckoned up.

If any comfort of love] As there is very much; making the Saints to enjoy one anothers ſociety with ſpirituall delight, Pſal. 16.3. and to communicate with gladneſſe and ſingleneſſe of heart, Act. 2 46 The Lord doth uſually and graciouſly water the holy fellowſhip of his people with the dews of many ſweet and glorious refreſhings: ſo that they have a very heaven upon earth, for kinde, the ſame with that above, and differing onelyonly in degrees.

Verſe 2. Being of one accord of one minde] Hereunto thoſe many ones ſhould move us mentioned by our Apoſtle, Epheſ. 4.4, 5. See the Notes there.

Verſe 3. Let nothing be done through ſtrife.] Theſe are thoſe hell-hags that ſet the Church on fire foreign and foreign If theſe could be caſt out of mens hearts,Iſid. Peluſl 4. … 55. great hopes there were, foreign as Iſidore hath it, that all men would ſoon conſent in one and the ſame truth, and be at peace among themſelves.

Verſe 4. Look not every man. &c.] Self is a great ſtickler, but muſt be excluded where love ſhall be maintained. He that is p. 245wholly ſhut up within himſelf is an odious perſon: and the place he lives in, longs for a vomit to ſpue him out.

Verſe 5. Let this minde be in you] We ſhould ſtrive to expreſſe Chriſt to the world, not as a picture doth a man in outward lineaments only, but as a childe doth his father in affections and actions. Our lives ſhould be as ſo many Sermons upon Chriſts li…s, 1 Pet. 2.9.

Verſe 6. To be equall with God] Gr. Equals, that is every way …quall, not a ſecondary inferiour God, as the Arrians would have him. See the Notes, on Job. 1.1, 2, 3, 4.

Verſe 7. But made himſelf, &c.] Gr. Emptied himſelf, ſuſpended and laid aſide his glory and majeſty,foreign and became a ſinner both by imputation (for God made the iniquity of us all to meet upon him, Iſa. 53.6.) and by reputation, for he was reckoned not only among men, but among malefactours, verſe 9. hence he is ſaid to be ſent in the likeneſſe of ſinnefull fleſh, Rom. 8 3.

Verſe 8. He humbled himſelf] This Sun of righteouſneſſe went ten degrees back in the diall of his Father, that he might come to us with health in his wings, that is, in his beams.

Became obedient unto death] That is, to his dying day, ſaith Beza. He went thorow many a little death all his life long, and at length underwent that curſed and painfull death of the Croſſe, his ſoul alſo being heavy to the death, Mat. 26.

Verſe 9. Wherefore God alſo, &c.] Wherefore denoteth not the cauſe, but the order of Chriſts exaltation, as a conſequent of his ſufferings, as ſome conceive.

Verſe 10. That at the name] Gr. In the name. The Papiſts ſtifly defend the ceremony of bowing at the name of Jeſus,Sir Edwin Sands in Spec. Eur…p. to countenance the adoration of their deified Images, altars and their hoſt: teaching in their Pulpits, That Chriſt himſelf on the Croſſe, bowed his head on the right ſide, to reverence his own name, which was written over it.

Verſe 11. And that every tongue] The heathens were wont to ſay, Mutus ſit oportet qui non laudarit Herculem. Let that tongue be tied up for ever, that cries not out with David, Vivat Dominus, and with Luther, Vivat & regnet Christus, Amen.

Verſe 12. Work out your ſalvation]foreign The reaſon that men ſtill tremble, and are ſtill troubled with this doubt, and that fear is, p. 246becauſe their ſalvation is not wrought out. Something is left undone and their conſcience tels them ſo.

With fear and trembling] Oppoſed to carnall ſecurity. Thoſe venturous bold ſpirits that dare live in any evil, ſo it …are not in their faces, and have not a heart fearfull of the leaſt evil, aſpire not to immortality.

Verſe 13. For it is God which worketh] Therefore work out, &c. As actiagentes, moti moventes, as the inferiour orbs move, as acted by the ſuperiour. When God hath tuned, and doth touch us, we muſt move: and whileſt the ſpirit imbreaths us, we muſt turn about like the mill.

To will and to doe] Sub laudibus naturae latent inimici gratiae, faith Auguſtine; who ſtood ſo much for grace, that the Schoolmen ſay he yeelded too little to free-will. That we live is the gift of the gods (ſaith Seneca) that we live well, is of our ſelves.De nat. deor. A baſe ſpeech! So Cicero, Judicium hoc omnium mortalium eſt, fortunam à Deo petendam, à ſeipſo ſumendam ſapientiam. For which impious ſentence Auguſtine faith of him, Eumut faceret homines liberos, feciſſe ſacrilegos.De eiv D…i l 5

Verſe 14. Without murmurings] Gr. Wrath and rancour, or diſcontent, foreignwhich makes mens lips like ruſty hinges ſeldome to move without murmuring and complaining.

And disputings] Or wranglings about trifles, nicities or novelties, things whereof we can have neither proof nor profit.

Verſe 15. Blameleſſe and harmleſſe] Gr. Hornleſſe, or ſincere without mixture of deceit or guile,foreign Iſraelites indeed.

The ſons of God] Dignity enforceth duty. Remember that thou art a Kings ſon, ſaid he to Antigonus, and thou canſt not do amiſſe.

Without rebuke]foreign Such as envy it ſelf cannot juſtly tax, or faſten her fangs on. Si Luthero faverem us viro bone, quod fatentur & hoſtes, &c.Tom. 8. Epiſt. ſaith Eraſm…, who yet loved him not. Luther is a good man, as his very enemies cannot but acknowledge. So B…cer, Bradford, Melancthon, &c. Chriſtians ſhould excell others, ſtanding as ſtandard-bearers, higher then others, as Saul was by the head and ſhoulders, being without blemiſh from head to foot,…en. 3.6. as Abſolom, fair to the eye, and good to the taſte, as the tree of knowledge.

In the midſt of a crooked] As Noah was righteous in his generation: p. 247as Joſhuah would ſerve Jehovah,foreign though alone … as David therefore loved Gods teſtimonies, becauſe other man kept not his law; as Eliah amidſt the Ba…lites, cries, Zelando, zelavi; the worſe they were, the better was he. Baruc kindled himſelf from other mens coldneſſe,A…endit ſeip…un. Trem. and quickned himſelf from other mens dulnes, Neh, 3 …0.

As lights in the world] Luminaries, great lights,foreign ſuch as are the Sun and Moon, that give light to others. Some wicked have greater common gifts then the godly; as many mettals are brighter and more orient then the heavens: yet as thoſe mettals are not fit to convey the light of the Sun, nay indeed they would ſtop it; ſo neither are the wicked fit to ſhine the true light into us;Mat. 5.Matt 5 but Chriſt and Chriſtians, thoſe lights of the world.

Verſe 16. Holding forth the word] As an enſign, foreignor rather as the hand doth the torch, or the watch-tow… the light, and ſo the haven, to weather-beaten Mariners.

Verſe 17. Yea and if I be offered] Or, Be poured out as a drink-offering upon the S…crifice, &c. to ſeal up my Doctrine, whereby I have brought you to the obedience of faith. Biſhop Ridley in a letter to Biſhop Brooks of Glo…eſter, writeth thus: As for the doctrine which I have taught, my conſcience aſſureth me that it was ſound and according to Gods Word, to his glory be it ſpoken: the which doctrine the Lord being my help, I will maintain, ſo long as my tongue ſhall wag, and breath is within my body, and in confirmation there of ſeal the ſame with my bloud.Act. and Mon. fol. 1604.

Verſe 18. For the ſame cauſe alſo, &c.] The hearers affections and endeavours ſhould exactly anſwer to the affections and endeavours of the preacher, as the Elders of Epheſus did, Act 20.31, 37. And as thoſe religious Romans did, Chap. 6, 17. and theſe Philippians, 2 Cor. 8 5.

Verſe 19. That I alſo may be of good comfort]foreign That I may be inſpirited. For when Silas and Timotheus were come from theſe Macedonians, Paul was preſſed in ſpirit,Act. 18.9.Acts 18:9 and ſet vigorouſly upon the Lords work.

Verſe 20. Like-minded] An alter ego to me. True friendſhip transformeth us into the condition of thoſe we love,foreign as Euſebius into his friend Pamphilus the Martyr, Whence he was called Euſebius Pamphili.Hieronym. Amicitia ſit tantum inter bin…s qui ſunt veri, & bonos qui ſunt pauci.

Verſe 21. For all ſeek their own] If it were ſo then, what p. 248wonder if now, as was ſo long ſince foretold, 2 Tim. 3.2. Self muſt be ſhouldred out, and Chriſts ſhare ſtudied more then out own: all private intereſts let fall, and all ſelf-reſpects drown… in the glory of God, and the publike good, or elſe we want that pious ingenuity that becometh Saints. It is ſaid of Cato, that he did.—toti genitum ſe credere mundo, Eucan.That the care of the community lay upon him. Timothy was of a choice and excellent ſpirit that naturally cared for the Churches welfare: Few ſuch now a-daies.

Verſe 22. As the ſonne with the Father] Happy ſon in ſuch a Father, 1 Tim. 1.2. If Jaſon the Theſſalian held himſelf to happy in his Tutour Chiron, Alexander in his Aristotle, Paul in his Gamaliel, …inda…. lib. 4. ….how much more was Timothy in Paul the aged, Philem. ver. 9. whoſe not only doctrine but manner of life he knew fully and followed faithfully, 2 Tim. 3.10. as a diligent Diſciple?

Verſe 23. So ſoon as I ſhall ſee] For his life was now in ſuſpenſe by reaſon of that roaring lion Nero, whom Tertullian wittily calleth, Dedicatorem damnation…s Christianorum, q…ippe qui oriontem fidemprimus Romae cruen… v….

Verſe 24. Shall come ſhortly] Whether ever he did come or no, we know not. Fallitur augurio ſpes bona ſaepe ſuo. Good hopes are often fruſtrated.

Verſe 25. Neceſſary to ſend to you] It is not meet that a Paſtour be long abſent from his people. Moſes was a way but fourty daies, and before he came again, Iſrael had made them a golden Calf. A godly Miniſter when he is abroad, is like a fiſh in the air; whereinto if it leap for recreation or neceſſity, yet it ſoon returns to his own element.

Verſe 26.foreign For he longed after you] The word ſignifieth ſuch a vehement deſire, as is impatient of delaies. His heart was where his calling was.

And was full of heavineſſe]foreign Gr. He was out of the world, as it were, and could not take comfort in any company.

Verſe 27. For indeed he was ſick] Which ſhould not have been, if S. Paul could have cured him, as he did others. This ſhews that the Apoſtles cured the ſick, and did miracles not by their own power, or at their own pleaſure, &c.

But God had mercy on him] A great mercy it is to recover health, and highly to be prized. After ſickneſſe, offer to God the p. 249ranſome of thy life, as they did, Exod. 31. Bleſſe Jehovah thy Phyſitian, ſo he is called, Exod. 15.26. Thus did David, Pſal. 103.3. Thus Hezekiah, Iſa. 36.9. Thus the very Heathens, whoſe cuſtome was, after a fit of ſickneſſe, to conſecrate ſomething to their gods.

But on m… alſo] For it is a very ſore affliction to looſe a dear friend, which is as a mans own ſoul, Deut. 13 6. and is there ſet after brother, ſon, daughter, wife of a mans boſome, as dearer then all of them.

Lest I ſhould have ſorrow] Gods care is that we ſuffer in meaſure, Iſa. 27.8. And according as we can, 1 Cor. 10.13. See the Note there.

Verſe 28. That when ye ſee him] And receive him as riſen from the dead. God knows how to commend his mercies to us, by threatning us with the loſſe of them: for Bona à tergo for moſiſſima. We know beſt the worth of mercies by the want of them.

Verſe 29. Hold ſuch in reputation] Or ſet a juſt price, a due eſtimate upon them. Horrible is the contempt that is now call upon the Miniſtery by our Novellers, as if they had learned of Campian to ſay, Miniſtr… eorum n…hil vilius.

Verſe 30. Not regarding his life] Gr. Ill providing for his life,foreign caſting away all inordinate care of it, as if he had put on that Rom…n reſolution, Neceſſe eſt ut eam, non vt vivam. Nee…ſly I muſt go, not needſly live.

CHAP. III. Verſe 1. Rejoyce]

OR farewell in the Lord. Salutem in Sospita…ore.

To …rite the ſame things to you] So 1 Cor. 5.9. Joh 15.1, 5. Some gather out of Mat. 5.1. with Luke 6.20. that our Saviour preached the ſame Sermon twice over, Men are dull to conceive, hard to believe, apt to forget, and ſlow to practiſe heavenly truths, and had therefore great need to have them much preſſed, and often inculcated. Neither let any cry out, Occidit miſ… ros crambe repetita magiſtros. Surfet not of Gods Manna, ſay not it is a light meat, becauſe lightly come by, or the ſame again.Aug de …ct; Chriſt. & in. … 10. Auſtin perſwades the Preacher ſo long to purſue and ſtand upon p. 250the beating and repeating of one and the ſame point, till by the geſture and countenance of the hearers he perceives that they underſtand and relliſh it.

Verſe 2.foreign Hom. 11 Beware of dogs] That is, Seducers and Sectaries, who though dead dogs, yet will be barking at godly Miniſters. And though the dogs of Aegypt would not move their tongues againſt Gods Iſrael, Exod. 11.7. yet theſe greedy dogs, Iſa. 56. can both bark and bite better men then themſelves, being ſet on by the devil, Homines perfrictae frontis, impudent as dogs.

Beware of evil workers] Deceitfull workers. 2 Cor. 11.13. that ſeem to build stair-caſes for heaven, when indeed they dig deſcents down to hell, taking great pains to very evil purpoſe.

Beware of the conciſion] For Circumciſion: as Diogenes called Zeno's foreign and Euclides foreign.La…rt. The holy Scriptures have many ſuch elegant, and pleaſant paſſages, as Pro. 25.27 Hoſ. 4.15. Galat. 5.12. Iſa. 5.7, &c. There is one that ſenſeth it thus.D Baſtw. Beware of the conciſion, that is, of thoſe that make diviſions, and cut the Church into little pieces, and ſucking Congregations making ſeparation. So Piſcator, Qui conantur vos ab Eccleſia Deireſcindere, who ſeek to ſunder you from the Church. The Donatiſts affirmed, That there were no true Churches, but theirs, and were alſo divided among themſelves, In minutula fruſtula, as Austin ſaith.

Verſe 3. For we are the circumciſion] Such as have our luxuriancies lopped off, our unruly paſſions mortified, Col. 2.11. caſting them away as a wretched foreskin.

Verſe 4. Confidence in the fl…ſh] That is in externall priviledges, which yet profit not thoſe that reſt in them. An empty title yeelds but an empty comfort at laſt. God cares for no retainers, that only wear his livery, but ſerve themſelves. A man may go to hell with baptiſmall water on his face: yea the ſooner for his abuſed priviledges.

Verſe 5. An Hebrew of the Hebrews] That is, by both fathers and mothers ſide.

Verſe 6. Concerning zeal] A blinde miſguided zeal. See the Note on Rom. 10.2. If zeal be not qualified with knowledge, all will be on fire, as the Primum mobile they ſay would be with it's ſwift turning about, but for the countermotion of the lower ſphears.

p. 251Verſe 7. Loſſe for Chriſt.] Chriſt is to be ſought and bought at any hand, at any rate. This is to play the wiſe merchant, Mat. 13.44.46. See the Notes there. Eſteem we Chriſt, as the people did David, 2 Sam. 18.3. more worth then ten thouſand, as Naomi did Ruth, better then ſeven ſons, Ruth 4.15. As Pharaoh did I…ſeph. There is none ſo wiſe and worthy as thou, ſaid he, Gen. 41.39. Let burning, hanging, all the torments of hell befall me, Tantummodò …t I…ſum nanciſ…ar, So that I may get my Jeſus,Act. and Mon. aid Ignatius. None but Chriſt, none but Chriſt, ſaid Lambert, liſting up ſuch hands as he had, and his fingers ends flaming. We cannot buy this gold too dear.

Verſe 8. And do count them but dung] Dogs-dung (as ſome interpret the word) or Dogs-meat, courſe and contemptible.foreign quaſi foreign Pauls ſublime ſpirit counts all dung, yet is content for Chriſt to be counted the off-ſcouring of all things.

Verſe 9. And be found in him] Out of whom all are loſt in the wilderneſſe of worldly luſts, and wofully wander; yet not ſo wide, as to miſſe of hell.

Verſe 10. And may know him] Not notionally only (for ſo a man may do out of every Catechiſme) but practically, not apprehenſively only, but affectively, not with that knowledge that is …ognoſcitiva only ſtanding in ſpeculation, but that is directiva vitae, as the Apoſtle here expounds himſelf. A naturall man may have a diſciplinary knowledge of Chriſt, that is, by hear-ſay, as a blinde man hath of colours, not an intuitive, i.e. per ſpeciem propriam, &c.

Verſe 11. I might attain to the reſurrection] That is (by a metonymy of the ſubject for the adjunct) that perfection of holineſſe that accompanieth the eſtate of the reſurrection. True grace never aims at a pitch, but aſpireth to perfection. It is a low and unworthy ſtrain in ſome, to labour after no more grace then will keep life and ſoul together, that is, ſoul and hell aſunder (as one ſpeaketh.) But that man for heaven, and heaven for him, that …ets up for his mark, the reſurrection of the dead.

Verſe 12. But I follow after] Gr. I perſecute, I follow hotfoot with utmoſt eagerneſſe, foreignBy this then he ſignifieth how greedily and unceſſantly he purſued after the perfect knowledge of Chriſt, having it as it were in chaſe,D. Airy. and reſolved not to reſt till he had attained unto it. Well might Chryſostome call S. Paul an inſatiable greedy devouring worſhipper of God.

p. 252Verſe 13. I count not my ſelf] Si dixiſti ſati… eſt, periiſti. Satiety is a dangerous diſeaſe, and the next ſtep to a declenſion, The Eagles embleme is ſublimiùs, the Suns celeriùs, Pſal. 19.3. the wheats perfectiùs, Mar 4.28. Ezekiels profundiùs, Chap 47. 4. Chriſts ſuperiùs Luk. 14 10. and Pauls ulteriùs.

Reaching forth]foreign Pro…o & quaſi prae…i…ti corpore …erri ad ſcopum B…z…. Straining and ſtretching out head and hands, and whole body to lay hold on the mark or price propoſed. A manifeſt metaphor from runners in a race.

Verſe 14. I preſſe toward, &c.] The Ark of the Covenant was but a cubit and a half high … ſo were likewiſe the wheels of the caldron. Now we know that a cubit and a half is but an unperfect meaſure: which ſhews (ſaith one) that no man in this life is perfectly perfect. Lee us ſtrive to perfection, as Paul did; and then,Columel. Summum culmen affectantes, ſatis honesti vel in ſecundo fastigio conspiciemur.

Verſe 15. As many as be perfect] Comparatively or conceitedly ſo.

God ſhall reveal] Severall meaſures of knowledge and holineſſe are given to the Saints at ſeverall times. We are narrow-mouthed veſſels, and cannot receive all at once. Whether I go thou canſt not follow me now : but thou ſhalt follow me afterwards, Joh. 13.36. See the Notes there.

Verſe 16. Let us walk by the ſame rule] To wit of the Word: and then you may ſay, Lord, if I be deceived, thou haſt deceived me.

Verſe 17.foreign. Be followers together of me] Longum iter per pracepta, brevius per exempla. Every thing in a Miniſter ſhould be exemplary. We muſt propound to our ſelves the higheſt pitch, and the beſt paterns of perfection.

Verſe 18.Lor… in Act, 22.19. And now tell you weeping] Non tam atramento quàm lachrymis chartas infici…bat Paulus. Paul was a man of many tears.

Verſe 19. Whoſe God is their belly] A ſcavenger whoſe living is to empty, is to be preferred befor him that liveth, but to fill privies; as they do that make their gut their God, that dung-hill Deity. Such an one was that Pamphagus, Nabal, Dives, and others that digeſted in hell,foreign Ʋt m…n…cipes …, Si… redd…t Piſcator. what they are on earth.

Verſe 20. For our converſation] Our civil converſation, or Our Burgeſſeſhip, whiles we live by heavens laws, and go about our earthly buſin…ſſes with heavenly mindes: This a carnall man p. 253cannot skill of. A Fly cannot make that of a flower that a Bee can do. There is a generation whoſe names are written in the earth: theſe make earth their throne, heaven their foot…ool,Jer. 17.13.Jer 17:13 and are loth to die, becauſe they have treaſur…s in the field.Jer. 41.8.Jer 41:8 But the Saints, though their commoration be on earth, yet their converſation is in heaven; as the pearl grows in the ſea, but ſhines as the sky.

Verſe 21. Like unto his glorious body] Which is the Standard. See the Notes on 1 Cor. 15.

CHAP. IV. Verſe 1. Dearly Beloved, and longed for]

VVHat heart-melting language is here! Miniſters muſt wone had for Chriſt, and ſpeak fair, if they will ſpeak to purpoſe: Though I might be much bold in Chriſt to enjoyn thee, yet for loves ſake, I rather beſeech thee, Philem 8.9. How oft are men fain to ſue for that which is their own; and how heart-glad if by fair entreaties they can gather up their debts.

Verſe 2. I beſeech Euodias] A couple of diſagreeing ſiſters, whom the Apoſtle ſeeketh to reconc…le, and it was a wonder if they could reſiſt his rhetorike.Hei mihi quiv…s al…cubi re…rirc non poſ…, &c. O that I could but once finde you together once (ſaid Auſtin of the differences between Hi…rome and Ruffinus) I would fall down at your feet with much love and many tears: I would beſeech you for your ſelves, and one another, and for weak Chriſtians ſake who are offended thereat, you would not ſuffer theſe diſſenſions to ſpread &c.

Verſe 3. And I intreat thee alſo] All men ſhould contribute their help to the compoſing of differences, and bring their buckets, as it were, to quench this unnaturall fire, when once kindled.

Verſe 4. Rejoyce in the Lord] That is the true and only joy (ſaid M^r Philpo… the Martyr)Act. and Mon. fol 1… 6…. which is conceived not of the creature, but of the Creatour: to this all other joyes being compared are but mournings, all delights ſorrows, all beauty filth, &c. Other joy beſides this may wet the mouth, but not warm the heart, ſmooth the brow, but not fill the breſt.

And again I ſay rejoyce] No duty almoſt more preſſed in both Teſtaments then this of rejoycing in the Lord. It is no p. 254leſſe a ſinne not to rejoyce, then not to repent.

Verſe 5. Let your moderation] Or equality, ſuch as was that of David, Pſal 26.12. The ſcales of his minde hung equall, giving him liberty in all occurrences to enjoy himſelf. All immoderations are enemies to he…th:Hippocrates. ſo they are alſo to the quietneſſe of the minde. Againſt theſe (as againſt poiſons) there be two kindes of antidotes, praier and patience, the one hot, the other cold, the one quenching, the other quickning. The word here uſed by the Apoſtle properly ſignifieth moderation in law-buſineſſes, or in laying claim to a mans own right,foreign … c. lib. 5 cap. 10. Summ… … ſumma i…uria. the preferring of equity before extremity, as holding utmoſt right to be utmoſt wrong. Austin tels us, That is was grown to a Proverb among his Countrey-men, Ʋt habeas quietum tempus, perde aliquid. For a quiet life, part with ſome part of thy right, as Abraham did, Gen. 13.9.

The Lord is at hand] To right you, and recompenſe you, to pay you for all your pains and patience, Iudex pro foribus, ſaith S. James. chap. 5.9.

Verſe 6. In nothing be carefull] Or care for nothing, viz. with a care of diſſidence and diſtruſt. See the Note on Mat. 6.25, 26 &c.

Bat in every thing by praier] This is the beſt cure of care: Caſt thy burden (or thy requeſt) upon the Lord, ſaith David, P…. 55.22. and he ſhall ſuſtain thee. Remove thy trouble from thy ſelf to God by vertue of that Writ or Warrant, and then all ſhall be well. They looked unto God, and were lightned, Pſal. 34 5. Luther in a certain Epiſtle of his to Melancthon, complaineth thus: Ego certè oro pro te, & doleo te pertinaciſſimam curarum hirudinem, meas preces ſic irritas facere. I pray for thee, but to no purpoſe ſo long as thou giveſt ſo much way to carking cares.

Supplication with thank…ſgiving] We ſhould come to pray with our thanks in our hands; ſtanding ready with it, as Joſephs brethren ſtood with their preſent, Gen. 43.25. In the old Law, what ſpeciall requeſt ſoever they had to make, or what ſacrifice ſoever to offer, they were commanded ſtill to come with their peace-offerings. Praier goes up without incenſe, when without thankfulneſſe. The Church aſcends daily to her beloved Chriſt in theſe pillars of ſmoke, Cant. 3.6. for ſhe knows that unthankfulneſſe hindreth much the reſtfull ſucceſſe of praier.

p. 255Verſe 7. Shall keep your hearts] Keep as with a guard, foreign.or as in a gar…ſon. Solomons bed was not ſo well guarded with his threeſcore valiant men, all holding ſwords, Cant. 3.7.8. as each good Chriſtian is by the power of God without him, and the peace, of God within him: This peace, like Davids harp, drives away the evil ſpirit of cares and fears: It ſoon huſheth all God can ſoon raiſe up in his, an army of powerfull thoughts and meditations, ſo as their very inward tranquillity ariſing from the teſtimony of a good conſcience (called here, Their mindes) and the ſweet Sabbath of ſpirit the compoſedneſſe of their affections (called here, Their hearts) can make and keep them ſecure and ſound, yea bring aid when they are cloſe beſieged by ſin and Satan.

Verſe 8. Whatſoever things are true] This is that little Bible, as the eleventh to the Hebrewes is by one fitly called, A little Book of Martyrs. In this one verſe is compriſed, That Totum hominis, Eccleſ. 12.13. That Bonum hominis, Micah 6 8. For if ye do theſe things here enjoyned, ye ſhall never fall, but go gallantly into heaven, as Saint Peter hath it, 2 …et. 1.10, 11.

Verſe 9. And …eard, and ſeen in me] Est aliquid quod ix mag…o viro vol tacente proficias. The very ſight, nay thought of a good man, oft doth good. Whereas the tongue or heart of a wicked man is little worth. Prov. 10.20.Prov 10:20If their thoughts and diſcourſes were diſtilled, they are ſo frothy they would hardly yeeld one drop of true comfort.

And the God of peace] Not only the peace of God, as verſ. 7. Auſtin ſomewhere fiſheth a myſtery out of the word PAX▪ which conſiſteth of three letters, ſaith he, to note the Trinity from whom is all true peace.

Verſe 10. Hath reflouriſh…d]foreign. It had deflouriſhed then for a ſeaſon, and withered, as an Oak in winter, Iſa. 6.13. and as a Teyl-tree who…e …ap is in the root. The beſt tree may have a fit of barrenneſſe: So may the beſt men ſuffer ſome decaies for a ſ…aſon… the ſpirituall life may …unne all to the heart, as a people conquered in the field runs to the Caſtle. Howbeit, as Eu…ychus his life was in him ſtill; and he revived, though he ſeemed to be dead, and as trees in the ſpring grow green again: So do the relapſed Saints.

p. 256Verſe 11. In respect of want] The wicked in the fulneſſe of his ſufficiency is in ſtraits, Job 20.22. Contrariwiſe, the godly man in the midſt of his ſtraits is in a ſufficiency. He hath all things, as having the haver of all things.

For I have learned] In Chriſts ſchool: for Nature teacheth no ſuch leſſon.

Optat ephippia bos piger, optat arare caballus. Horat.The labourers were not content with their peny Mat. 20.13. They that have enough to ſinke them, yet have not enough to ſatisfie them: as a ſhip may be over-laden with gold and ſilver, even unto ſinking, and yet have compaſſe and ſides enough to hold ten times more. It is God only that fils the heart, and maketh a man ſay truly with Jacob, and not fainedly,Rabb-li. Col li. Gen 13.9. Gen, 33.11.Gen 13:9 as Eſau, I have enough my brother. Eſau had a deale, but Jacob had All, becauſe he had the God of all.

Verſe 12. I know both how, &c.] Sound bodies can bear ſudden alterations of heat and cold: So cannot diſtempered bodies.

Both how to be abaſed] So Chilo (one of the ſeven Wiſemen of Greece)foreign. L…ert. ſaid to his brother who took it ill that he was not choſen to be one of the Judges, I know how to be injuriouſly dealt with: but I hardly believe him. Socrates alſo could tell Archelaus, Arrian, apud Stob…um.that offered him large revenues, My minde and mine eſtate are matches. But fleſh and bloud could never carry him ſo far, for all his ſaying ſo. It is God alone that faſhioneth a mans heart to his eſtate, Pſal. 33.15. as a ſuit of clothes is fitted to the body.

I am instructed]foreign. I am initiated, I am a young ſchollar, newly entered in this high point of heavenly learning.

To ſuffer want] Either patiently to wait for what I deſire, or contentedly to want what God denieth.

Verſe 13. I can dos all things] A Chriſtian walks about the world like a conquerour, having power given him over all,Cyrus Major. Revel. 2.26, 27. It was a vain brag of that Heathen Prince, that cauſed it to be engraven upon his Tomb-ſtone, foreign,Arrian. I could do all things. None can ſay ſo, but the man in Chriſt.

p. 257Verſe 14. Ye have well done] For hereby as you have ſealed up your love to me, and ingaged me to pray for you (as for Oneſiphorus, 2 Tim 1.18.) So you have gotten a good teſtimony to your ſelves that ye are members of Chriſts myſticall body. The tongue is farre enough from the toe, the heel from the head, yet when the toe or heel is hurt, the reſt of the members ſympathiz… and ſeek help for it. So here.

Verſe 15. But ye only] One poor Philippian ſhamed a hundred rich cloſe-fiſted Corinthians. Araunah gave like a King, 2 Samuel 24.23. and is therefore crowned and chronicled, Zechary 9 7. Ekron ſhall be as the J…buſite, that is,T…cm…l. as this famous J…buſite Araunah, that parted with his free-hold for pious uſes.

Verſe 16. Ye ſent once and again] Charities fountain runs freſh, More perennis aquae, and is never dried up. The liberall man deviſeth liberall things, and holdeth that only his own, that he hath given to others.

Verſe 17. Not becauſe I deſire a gift] As thoſe Cormorants that with ſhame do love, Give ye, Hoſ. 4.18. as if they could ſpeak no other but the Dorick Dialect, the horſe-leeches language. S. Paul was none of theſe.

That may abound to your account] For God keeps an exact account of every peny laid out upon him and his, that he may requite it: and his retributions are more then bountifull.

Verſe 18. I have all] viz. That you ſent, and I give you an acquittance, which the Greeks, from the word here uſed,foreign call foreign Compare Prov. 3.27.

I abound, I am full] As a bird with a little eye, and the advantage of a wing to ſoar with, may ſee far wider then an Oxe with a greater: So the righteous with a little eſtate, joyned with faith and devotion, may feel more comfort, and ſee more of Gods bounty, then one of vaſt poſſeſſions, whoſe heart cannot lift it ſelf above the earth.

Verſe 19. Shall ſupply] Gr. Shall fill up as he did the widdows veſſels, ſhut the doors upon thee, ſaith the Prophet.foreign. 2 King. 4 4.2 Kgs 4:4 It was time to ſhut the doors, when one little veſſel muſt overflow and fill up many greater.

Verſe 20. Now unto God] Paul cannot mention Gods bounty without a doxology.

p. 258Verſe 21. Every Saint] A great encouragement to the meaner, to be ſo reſpected.

Verſe 22. All the Saints ſalute you] Chriſtianity is no enemy to courteſie. Gods ſchollars are taught better manners then to neglect ſo much as ſalutations.

They that are of Caeſars houſhold] When Caeſar himſelf lived and died an unconverted caitiff, and a caſtaway.

Verſe 23. The grace of our Lord] with this wiſh of grace grace to them,Prov. 4.7.Prov 4:7 he both begins and ends. Wiſdome is the principall thing.