them and by them A good nature yee know reioyceth in euery opportunitie that is giuen him whereby he may shew himselfe thankfull and dutifull though it be to his trouble and cost Euen so the children of God though this life be full of trouble and griefe yet when their health is restored and their daies lengthned they reioyce in the opportunitie that God hath giuen them to doe good in the Church or in the common-weale and are carefull therein to shew themselues both thankfull and dutifull vnto their God For answer then vnto the point in man we are to consider briefly these two things the good of himselfe and the good of others vnto the glory of God In respect of the good of himselfe death is a speciall mercy of the Lord vnto euery childe of God because then they rest from their labours and their workes follow them And therefore the Apostle said it is best of all to be loosed and to be with Christ Phil. 1.23 But in respect of others and of the glory of God it is a speciall mercy of God vnto his children to be restored vnto health because so they are made farther instruments of his glory and of the good either of Church or of Common-wealth And therefore the Apostle addeth 24. neuerthelesse to abide in the flesh is more needfull for you Albeit then death had been a speciall mercy of the Lord vnto Epaphroditus in respect of the good of himselfe yet in respect of the Church at Philippi it was a speciall mercy of the Lord as our Apostle here saith that he was restored vnto health Neither yet would I so here be vnderstood as if I thought or taught that it is a speciall mercy of the Lord vnto his children to be restored vnto health onely in respect of the good of others and not at all in respect of the good of themselues for albeit death bee so a speciall mercy of God vnto them in respect of the good of themselues for that thereby they are freed from the troubles of this life and receiued into euerlasting ioy and blisse yet is health also and life a speciall mercy of the Lord vnto them euen in respect of the good of themselues because the oftener they passe through the fire the more they are purified and made the finer gold the more they are boulted and sifted the finer flower they will be Albeit therefore by life they haue moe troubles yet because by troubles they are made more glorious therefore is life and restoring vnto health a speciall mercy of God vnto his children not only in respect of others good but in respect also of the good of themselues Are then both death and recouerie of health speciall mercies of the Lord vnto his children If then we be the children of God let not our hearts be troubled nor feare in the bed of our sicknesse If it please the Lord by death then to cut off our dayes this let vs know that in mercy towards vs he doth it that so we may not see the euils that are to come that so we may haue rest from all our labours and from all the troubles of this life and that so wee may be euer with our head Christ Iesus and haue the full fruition of those ioyes which eye hath not seene neither eare hath heard nor hath entred into the heart of man to thinke of And againe if it please the Lord to restore vs vnto health let vs know that in mercy likewise he doth it that so we may confesse his name and sing praises vnto him in the land of the liuing that so wee may be further instruments of his glory in doing good vnto others either in in the Church or in the Common-wealth and that so being further tried wee may be further purified to returne as fine gold out of the fire Hath any of vs then cause to mourne for them that doe already sleepe in the Lord Let vs mourne but not as men without hope for the Lord hath had mercy on them and in his mercy towards them hath deliuered them out of prison into a most glorious libertie and hath brought them from a most troublesome sea of miseries vnto the most happy hauen of euerlasting blessednesse Againe hath any of vs beene restored from sicknesse vnto health Let vs remember that the Lord herein hath had mercy on vs as hee had on Epaphroditus For this mercy let vs shew our selues thankfull vnto the Lord and our thankfulnesse vnto the Lord let vs testifie vnto the world by walking worthy of this mercy He hath reserued vs vnto his further glory Let vs glorifie God both in our bodies and in our spirits for they are Gods Let vs be faithfully and painfully and carefully occupied in the workes of our calling whatsoeuer it be vnto the glory of our God And in particular as this time requireth as God hath had mercy on vs by restoring vs vnto health and bringing vs from the gates almost of death vnto life so let vs take pitie and compassion on our poore distressed brethren and by our morsels of bread and other releefe let vs saue their liues from death As our liues were precious in Gods sight so let their liues be precious in our sight who happily are as deare vnto God as wee are For know this that blessed are they that consider the poore and needie c. Psal 41.1.2.3 And not on him onely but on mee also Wee haue heard of Gods mercy on Epaphroditus in restoring him vnto health which was both a worke of the Lord and a worke wherein the Lord shewed his mercy on Epaphroditus Now see the riches and the bountifulnesse of Gods mercy herein for in restoring him vnto health Gods mercy was not shewed on him alone but on the Apostle Paul also The note which hence I gather is this that in the mercies of the Lord vpon his children there is oftentimes a blessing not for them alone in particular but for others of his children also So sometimes hee sheweth mercy on the childe and keeâ—â—h him aliue for his parents sake to be their staffe of comfort in their old age and againe sometimes he sheweth mercy vpon parents and keepeth them aliue for their childrens sake to bring them vp in the feare of God and in the knowledge of his will So likewise sometimes he sheweth mercy on the Pastor and from sicknesse restoreth him to health for his peoples sake both that they may be kept safe from scattering by the Wolfe and that they may bee taught in the wayes of the Lord and againe sometimes he sheweth mercy on the people for their Pastors sake lest that punishment which should iustly light vpon them should bring too much sorrow vpon him So we reade that he shewed mercy vnto that good King Ezechias being sicke vnto death 2 Reg. 20.1 in restoring him vnto health neither vnto him alone 7. but euen therein likewise he shewed mercy vnto the
dwelleth the loue of God in him As if the Apostle should haue said Whatsoeuer shew this man makes the loue of God dwels not in him neither he loueth God nor God loueth him Men and brethren what should more stirre you vp vnto this holy worke of releeuing of Gods poore Saints a thing so needfull now to be vrged and pressed what I say should more stirre you vp vnto it then this which hath already beene said It is a worke of Christ which Christ commandeth which hee loueth and liketh which Christ highly rewardeth and vnmercifulnesse to the poore he hateth and detesteth As euery man therefore wisheth in his heart so let him giue vnto the poore Saints not grudgingly or of necessitie for God loueth a cheerefull giuer 2 Cor. 9.7 If it be a worke of Christ it well beseemeth thee if thou be a Christian if he haue commanded it it stands thee vpon to obey it if he loue and like it thou hast great cause to moue thee to it if for his mercies sake he reward it thou hast great reason to be occupied in it and if he so hate the neglect of it it behoueth thee not to be negligent in it As therefore euery man hath receiued of the Lord so let him be ready to giue according to that he hath Hee that hath mercy on the poore Pro. 19.17 lendeth vnto the Lord and the Lord will recompence him that which hee hath giuen And blessed is hee saith Dauid Psal 41.1 that considereth the poore and needie the Lord shall deliuer him in the time of trouble Consider what I say and the Lord giue you a â—ight vnderstanding in all things and fill your hearts full of all knowledge that yee may abound in euery good vnto the glory of God the Father to whom with the Sonne and the holy Ghost c. Laus omnis soli Deo THE THIRD CHAPTER LECTVRE XLVIII PHILIP 3. Vers 1.2 Moreouer my brethren reioyce in the Lord. It grieueth me not to write the same things vnto you and for you it is a sure c. THe holy Apostle hauing in the first chapter of this Epistle first signified his good minde towards the Philippians by retaining them in perfect memorie by his longing after them all from the very heart roote in Iesus Christ and by his praying for them and hauing afterward exhorted them that they should not shrinke for his imprisonment because thereby the Gospell was confirmed and not diminished In the second Chapter as we haue heard he first exhorted them vnto humility that putting apart all contention and vaine glory they would haue euen the same minde that was in Christ Iesus who being God humbled himselfe to be man and became obedient to the death euen the death of the Crosse and was therefore highly exalted c. 2. Hauing grounded certaine exhortations vpon that example of Christ his humilitie and obedience as 1. That they would runne forward in that race of righteousnesse wherein God had freely placed them through Iesus Christ making an end of their saluation with feare and trembling and then that they would doe all things with their neighbours without murmuring and reasonings that they might be blamelesse and pure and the sonnes of God c. The Apostle I say hauing grounded these exhortations vpon that example of Christ his humilitie and obedience 2. For their comfort and confirmation against certaine false Apostles crept in amongst them hee both promised to send Timothy shortly vnto them and likewise that himselfe would shortly after that come vnto them and besides sent their Minister Epaphroditus presently vnto them Now in this 3. Chapter the Apostle instructeth the Philippians in the things wherein the false Apostles laboured to seduce them and so armeth the Philippians against them till his comming vnto them by confuting that false doctrine which they deliuered The doctrine which the false Apostles deliuered was that not Christ alone and faith in his name but circumcision also and the workes of the law were necessarie vnto iustification and saluation Which doctrine the Apostle doth at large confute in the Epistle to the Galathians because they had suffered themselues to be seduced and bewitched by it But here because the Philippians had manfully withstood it and giuen it no place amongst them the Apostle very briefly confuteth it and proueth that our righteousnesse is onely by Christ and faith in his name not at all by the works of the Law The principall parts of this Chapâ—er are three 1. He exhorteth them to beware of false Teachers verse 2. and instructeth them in that truth which the false Apostles gainesay vers 3. 2. The Apostle proposeth himselfe as an imbracer of that truth touching mans righteousnesse which they were to embrace à vers 4. ad 15. Lastly hee exhorteth them to embrace and hold fast the same truth with him and to walke as they haue him for an ensample from vers 15. to the end of the Chapter Now before he come to the handling of any of these principall parts 1. He setteth downe this exhortation reioyce in the Lord as a conclusion of that which went before as a ground of that which followeth 2. He excuseth hâ—mselfe for writing now the same things by epistle which before he had taught them by word of mouth That the exhortation is set downe partly by way of conclusion of that which he had spoken before may appeare by the entrance vnto it in that he saith Moreouer c. For it is as if the Apostle had thus said hitherto ye haue been full of heauines partly for my bonds and imprisonment Phil. 1.12.14 partly for Epaphroditus your minister his sicknes Now for my bonds they â—s I haue told you haue turned rather to the furthering of the Gospell inasmuch as many of the brethren in the Lord are boldned through my bonds to speake the word and now so it is that I am in good hope shortly to be deliuered from my bonds and to come vnto you Again for Epaphroditus God hath had mercy vpon him and now he is returned vnto you in good and perfect health What therefore now remaineth my brethren but that ye be glad and reioyce in the Lord in the Lord I say whom before I haue described vnto you in that Lord who being in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God yet made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the forme of a seruant c. Reioyce for that there is no other cause but that ye should reioyce but reioice in the Lord who became man for you died for your sinnes rose againe for your iustification setteth at the right hand of God to make request for you vnto whom euery knee in that day shall bowe and confesse that he is the Lord reioyce in him Againe it is partly set downe as a ground of that which followeth as if the Apostle should thus haue said I haue already as in a glasse
more then hee hath put them in minde of but his meaning is that if they thinke not as he doth touching the points mentioned but differ from him in iudgement yet God will also reueale this truth vnto them as he hath done other truths My note hence in briefe is that we are to take heed how we take things vpon the credit of the ancient Fathers The Lord is greatly to be blessed for them and it is with all thankfulnesse to be acknowledged that they by their godly labours haue greatly profited Gods Church But yet their words and the senses which they giue of the Scriptures are to be weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuarie and to be examined according to the Scriptures For this by examination we shall finde that diuers times they misse the meaning of the holy Ghost and sometimes they plainly alter the words of the holy Ghost This place giueth euident witnesse vnto both where both the words are so altered and the meaning so missed by this holy Father as that in both he swarueth from the holy Ghost as before was euidently shewed The more to blame they thâ—â— take a Fathers word for warrant good enough and thinke their plea good if in the exposition of a Scripture or debating of a question they haue the suffrage and liking of one or two Fathers The second thing which I note is the manner how the Apostle dealeth with such of the Philippians as differed from him in iudgement euen in these points of righteousnesse and saluation He doth not by and by despaire of them or reiect them as heretikes or thunder our sharpe threatnings against them but in all mildnesse of spirit signifieth his hope that God will reueale their errour vnto them that they which now are otherwise minded then he is may be of the same minde that he is But withall we must note what manner men they were with whom the Apostle dealt thus kindly They were no such men as wilfully opposed themselues against the truth or such as were so vtterly bewitched that they would not obey the truth but such as hauing not long since embraced the truth by his preaching were now a little seduced and drawne aside by such false teachers as were crept in amongst them Whence I obserue that we are for a time to beare with the ignorance of our weake brethren and to reteine a good hope of them though they doe not wholly subscribe vnto that truth which we embrace This also our Apostle teacheth vs to doe where he saith Rom. 15.1 We which are strong ought to beare the infirmities of the weake and not to please our selues we which are strong in knowledge in faith in hope or any good grace of God ought â—o beare with such of our brethren as doe yet come short of vs â—n any such grace neither ought we so to please our selues â—herein as to be puft vp in our selues and to contemne others â—ut being lowly in our owne eyes we are to hope that God will â—ake their darknesse to be light and supply what wanteth in â—heir weaknesse And much to the same purpose is that his exâ—ortation where he saith Brethren Gal. 6.1 if a man be fallen by occaâ—ion into any fault yee which are spirituall restore such a one with â—he spirit of meeknesse if a man be fallen by occasion of his â—lesh of the world of the Deuill or of any instrument of Saâ—an into any fault either of doctrine or of manners yee which â—re spirituall yee which are more strongly susteined by the â—pirit of God restore such a one with the spirit of meeknesse â—nd labour to bring him vnto that truth in doctrine or holinesse of life from which he was fallen Which sheweth that we are not to giue ouer for forlorne those that are holden with some error but rather that we are for a time to beare with â—hem and to hope that the Lord will bring them vnto the â—nowledge of the truth And see what great reason there is to moue vs hereunto Did we not all sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death Were we not all ignorant of the waies of God and of the things that belong vnto our peace Yes surely vntill the day-starre euen the sunne of righteousnesse arose in our hearts our mindes were full of darknesse and the way of truth we knew not For as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 2.14 The naturall man whose vnderstanding is not yet cleared by Gods spirit perceiueth not the things of the spirit of God but they are foolishnesse vnto him Hath then the Lord in his great mercy towards me made my darknesse to be light and brought me to the knowledge of his truth and shut him as yet vp in darknesse and in ignorance Or hath the Lord brought vs both to the knowledge of his truth and hath he suffered him by occasion to fall from the way of truth and susteined me by the strength of his holy spirit And shall I in either of these cases insult ouer him contemne or disdeine him determine or iudge rashly of him to be a forlorne man an Atheist a reprobate Or am I not rather bending the knees of my soule vnto the Lord for his mercies towards me to hope that in his good time he will lighten his vnderstanding that was shut vp in ignorance or raise him vp againe that was fallen and in the meane time to beare with the ignorance of the one and the error of the other Yes my brethren so long as their ignorance of the truth is vntainted with cankred malice against the truth we may hope that the Lord will call them at the sixt or ninth or some good houre and reueale his holy truth vnto them and in the meane time we are to beare with them and to support one another through loue And for this cause the holy Apostles when the word which they preached was vnto them that heard them as water powred vpon a stone yet ceased not to instruct them with all patience hoping that God would reueale the things vnto them which as yet were hâ—â— from their eyes This then should teach vs not to despaire of them vnto whom the Lord hath not yet reuealed some part of his truth nor to withhold from them such wholesome instructions and admonitions as may draw them from that ignorance or error wherewith they are holden but in all godly sort to labour with them prouing if at any time God will open their eyes that they may turne from darknes vnto light from the power of Satan vnto God The Minister is after the example of our Apostle to instruct with all patience them that be ignorant and them that be contrarily minded in that truth of Christ Iesus which hee hath learned and to deale with them to be like minded as he is and if they be otherwise minded yet to labour with them and to hope that God will reueale the truth vnto them Others likewise whose eyes the Lord
For when we haue done all that we can Christ hath taught vs to say that we are vnprofitable seruants Luc. 17.10 yea when we haue done all things that are commanded vs. And whatsoeuer afflictions we suffer in this present life Rom. 8.18 Paul hath taught vs that they are not worthy of the glory that shall be shewed vnto vs. The merit that we can talke of for our workes Dan. 9.9 Iob. 9.20 is to say with Daniel To vs belongeth open shame and with Iob If I would iustifie my selfe by standing vpon the merit of my workes my owne mouth shall condemne me Iam. 3.2 Esa 64.6 for in many things we sinne all and all our righteousnes euen the very best of it is as filthy clouts How is saluation then a reward due vnto our workes Euen for the promise sake made vnto vs in Christ Iesus For therefore do we claime saluation as due vnto our workes euen because God hath made that promise in Christ Iesus vnto our workes But what was the cause of his promise was it our workes seene or foreseene that they would be of such desert No but of his owne free grace and mercie towards vs according to the good purpose of his will he promised it vnto vs. And therefore the Apostle saith Eph. 2 8. Tit. 3.5 By grace are ye saued through faith not of works lest any man should boast himselfe And againe Not by the workes of righteousnesse which we haue done but according to his mercie he saued vs. Thus we teach and euery where we exhort all men vnto good works and holinesse of life without which no man shall see the Lord. First then here beloued learne you to skill what manner of men they be that charge vs that we preach onely faith but either mention not or else condemne good works Ye see we tell you out of our Apostle here that they shall further your reckoning in the day of Christ Iesus And therefore we beseech you to abound in euery good worke vntill the day of Christ Iesus and know them to be of their father the diuell that say that either we mention not or condemne good works vnto our people Secondly hence learne to acknowledge and to magnifie the great mercy of our God who accepteth that for a furtherance of our reckoning which if he should deale with vs in iustice could stand for no payment for how I pray you stands it We should bring gold for payment into the Lords treasurie But we bring lead and he accepteth it for gold Our best righteousnesse is full of vnrighteousnesse yet doth he accept it What for our righteousnesse sake No for his mercies sake and imputeth vnto vs the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus Let our mouthes therefore alwaies be filled with his praises for such his louing mercies towards vs. Thirdly let this be a sufficient motiue vnto you to stirre you vp vnto charitablenesse and vnto euery good worke for seeing such is their acceptance with God that in that great account they shall further your reckoning what should stay you but that ye should labour to be fulfilled with the fruits of righteousnesse Time cuts me off that I cannot speake of these things and I shall the next time be farther occasioned to speake of them by occasion of the text LECTVRE XCIII PHILIP 4. Verse 18. Now I haue receiued all and am well filled I was euen filled after that I had receiued of Epaphroditus c. NOw I haue receiued all Hitherto we haue heard the Apostles thankfulnesse vnto the Philippians for their care for him and his commendation of them for their liberalitie towards him Now he commendeth their liberality and withall addeth a promise of recompence of reward for their liberality and so concludeth the Epistle with praise and thanksgiuing vnto the Lord. In verse 18 first he signifieth the faithfulnesse of Epaphroditus when he saith Now I haue receiued all all what to wit all that you sent by Epaphroditus For herein he giueth him this testimony that he had receiued the whole summe of him which came from them which it is like they had specified Secondly he commendeth their liberality of the quantitie of it when he saith I haue plentie and am filled For hereby he signifieth that their liberality towards him was not scanted but was such as plentifully supplied his wants such as filled his desires not that the gift which they sent him was so great and magnificent for the Churches of Macedonia were but poore 2 Cor. 8.2 but though it were but small yet such was his contentment as that he was as well satisfied and as fully as the greatest man with his greatest riches Thirdly he commendeth their liberalitie of the acceptablenesse of it vnto God when he saith An odour that smelleth sweete c. For herein by a speech borrowed from sacrifices made by fire for a sweete sauour vnto the Lord he signifieth that their liberality was as acceptable and pleasant vnto God as the sacrifice that smelleth sweete in the nostrils of the Lord. These are the principall points contained in these words and this I take to be the meaning of them Now let vs see what notes we may gather hence for our further vse and instruction The first thing which here I note is the faithfulnesse of Epaphroditus who kept nothing backe of all that the Philippians sent vnto the Apostle but faithfully deliuered whatsoeuer they sent vnto him Whence I obserue a notable patterne of that faithfulnesse which ought to be in al Christians to discharge that trust whatsoeuer it is that is reposed in them euen such should be their faithfulnesse as that they whom it doth concerne may safely giue them this testimonie that they haue discharged the trust that was reposed in them Such was the faithfulnesse of Samuel who when he had asked of the people of Israel Whose Oxe haue I taken 1 Sam. 12.3.4 or whose Asse haue I taken or whom haue I done wrong to or whom haue I hurt or of whose hand haue I receiued any bribe to blinde mine eyes therewith and I will restore it you They said vnto him Thou hast done vs no wrong nor hast hurt vs neither hast taken ought of any mans hand So faithfully he had walked amongst them in all things that they gaue him testimonie of his faithfulnesse before the Lord and before his Annoynted Such faithfulnesse also our blessed Sauiour figureth out vnto vs in the Parable of the seruants vnto one of whom he gaue fiue talents and vnto another two to occupie withall vntill he should returne whence he went and in the end gaue them this testimonie It is well done good seruants and faithfull Mat. 25.15.20 1 Cor. 4.2 ye haue bene faithfull in little I will make you rulers ouer much enter into your Masters ioy And the Apostle telleth vs generally that it is required of the disposers that euery man be found faithfull Be it publique or priuate things for
thanksgiuing vnto God then should it also worke in vs all holy desire and labour to be daily more and more stablished and strengthned in the truth of Christ Iesus and in our fellowship with other Churches in the gospell And yet how wauering are we many of vs and how quickly caried about with euery winde of doctrine by the deceit of men and with craftinesse whereby they lay in waite to deceiue If a runnagate Seminarie that compasseth sea and land to make one of his profession and when he is made makes him twofold more the childe of hell then he himselfe is a sworne-vassall to that man of sinne a disloyall traitor to his Prince an vnnaturall enemy to his country if such a one I say shall with fained words creepe into secret corners amongst vs and glosingly slander the truth of the gospell of Iesus Christ and set abroche his owne damnable heresies how quickly doe we listen vnto them and are led captiue by them Howsoeuer it be with vs it is thus in too too many places But beloued let vs know that whosoeuer transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God 2 Ioh. 9. He that continueth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Sonne If there come any vnto you and bring not this doctrine 10. receiue him not to house neither bid him God speede I know they will tell you they bring the doctrine of Christ vnto you but doe yee as the men of Beraea did Act. 17.11 which are much commended for so doing examine it by the scriptures and search whether it be so and yee shall finde it to be the doctrine of deuills 1 Tim. 4.1 as the Apostle speaketh and as euen by that place it will appeare to be Wherefore beloued brethren as now yee haue fellowship with other Churches in the gospell of Iesus Christ so continue therein Let nothing bee able to remoue you from the truth wherein yee stand but hold fast your good profession vnto the end The third thing which here I note is the Apostles bold and neere and ioyfull approch vnto God in his thanksgiuing vnto God in that he saith I thanke my God Whence I obserue the manner of our thanksgiuing vnto God how we should offer our sacrifice of thanksgiuing vnto him And that is 1. with such assurance of Gods loue in his mercies towards vs as that in our thanksgiuing for them we dare boldly as sonnes say I thanke my God for so shall our sacrifice of thanksgiuing be acceptable vnto God if vpon assurance of his loue we boldly powre out our soules in praise vnto him And therefore the Apostle to the Hebrewes exhorteth Heb. 4 16. saying Let vs go boldly vnto the throne of grace be it in prayer or in thanksgiuing Let vs goe boldly vnto the throne of grace praying and giuing thanks vnto God through Iesus Christ our Lord. 2. Our thanksgiuing should be offered with such willingnesse and cheerefullnesse from our hearts vnto God that we might say I thanke my God So our Apostle in an other place 1 Cor. 14.18 I thanke my God I spake languages more then yee all How cheerefully he openeth his mouth in praise of his God And so shall our thanksgiuing be pleasing vnto God if we offer it from the heart cheerefully for he loueth a cheerefull giuer as of almes vnto the poore Saints so of thanks vnto his name And how can I goe vnto him with greater cheerefullnesse and thanke him then when I go vnto him as to my God and say I thanke my God 3. Our thanksgiuing vnto God should be offered vp with such soule-melting passion and affection that as if we had greater feeling experience in our soules of his goodnes then others and would be neerer him then others we should say I thanke my God for such the Lord loueth best as presse the neerest vnto him and then the sacrifice of praise pleaseth most where the soule is tied the closest vnto his God These are the things in which the manner how we should offer vp our sacrifice of thanksgiuing consisteth namely in faith and full assurance of Gods loue towards vs with all willingnesse and cheerefulnesse from our hearts and with a soule-rauisht affection as of a more then ordinarie feeling-experience of Gods goodnes towards vs. And this manner I take it may bee obserued from this that the Apostle saith I thanke my God Here then that cold and cursorie forme of thanksgiuing which commonly is vsed is vtterly condemned For what doe wee when the Lord hath remembred vs in mercy and done great things for vs I doubt not but there are who in their hearts cheerefully and with their mouthes ioyfully say with the Prophet thou art my God Psal 118.28 and I will thanke thee thou art my God and I will praise thee But a great many of vs like vnto horses and mules which haue no vnderstanding either remember not or regard not to giue God thanks A man may see it daily in many of vs that we come from our beds and from our meales as dogs from their kennels and oxen from their stalls Others of vs haue certaine words of course as to say God be blessed God be thanked I praise God I thanke God which being good words in themselues yet are so coldly and cursorily vttered by vs as that a man may well see they haue their beginning in the lips and their ending in the ayre but neuer pierce the heauens But beloued if we will haue our voice of thanksgiuing to breake thorow the clouds to come vnto the highest we must vse Maries magnificat and say My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit reioyceth in God my Sauiour Luc. 1.46 As therfore it becommeth vs to be thankfull so let vs remember in faith and full assurance of Gods loue towards vs to powre out our soules in thanksgiuing vnto him that so our sacrifâ—â—â— may be acceptable vnto him LECTVRE IV. PHILIP 1. vers 3.4 5. Verse 3. Hauing you in perfit memory 4. Alwaies in all my prayers for all you praying with gladnesse 5. Because of the fellowship which yee haue in the gospell from the first day vnto now NOw farther the Apostle signifieth this reioycing on the Philippians behalfe and his loue towards them by remembring them in all his prayers vnto God and by praying for them with gladnesse when he saith that he hath them in perfect memory alwaies in all his prayers c. It is vsuall with the Apostle in his Epistles as to signifie his thanksgiuing vnto God on their behalfe vnto whom he writeth so to signifie his remembrance of them alwaies in his p ayers But yet here the Apostle signifieth this his remembrance of them in his prayers in more then an vsuall manner In the Epistle to the Romanes to the Colossians the former to the Thessalonians and to Philemon he telleth them to whom he writeth that he maketh
is this thing whereof we now speake Hee will as it shall be for his glory continue vs in the fellowship which wee haue in the gospell if wee continue to aske it in faith and faint not This then may teach vs of what weight and moment our continuance in the fellowship of the gospell is It is not a thing which hapneth by fortune or which humane policie effecteth but onely it is of God and therefore alwaies in all our praiers we are to pray vnto him for it Let vs therefore pray vnto the Lord without ceasing for this grace let vs neuer forget to commense this suite in our praiers vnto God let vs alwaies pray for it and not faint The fift thing which here I note is that the Apostle praied for the Philippians with gladnes because of their growth in godlines and in the knowledge of Iesus Christ by the worke of his ministery Whence I obserue a necessary care which ought to bee in the whole Church I meane in all them that are taught in the word and that is that they so profit and increase in all knowledge and iudgement in all godlinesse and holy conuersation that their Pastors and Teachers may pray for them with gladnes Such a care it may seeme that the Romanes had vnto whom the Apostle giueth this testimonie that their faith which was published and their obedience which was come abroad much gladded him Rom. 1.8 Such a care it may seeme that the Colossians had vnto whom the Apostle giueth this testimonie that though he was absent in the flesh yet was he present with them in the spirit reioycing and beholding their order and their stedfast faith in Christ And such a care ought all the people of God to haue that they which watch for their soules as they that must giue accounts vnto God for them may now pray for them with gladnes and afterwards giue their accounts for them with ioy and not with griefe But this care is not common among the people for where the Pastor in an holy care for his people praieth for them he praieth for them in many places with great heauinesse with heauinesse I say for their neglect and contempt of the word with heauinesse for their ignorance in the things that belong vnto their peace and vnwillingnesse to bee instructed therein with heauinesse for their vngodly conuersation and vnchristian walking with heauinesse for spending his strength in vaine and for nothing amongst them Hee praieth but his soule mourneth because hee cannot gaine them vnto Christ Iesus he praieth but his soule mourneth because they runne and needs will runne headlong to the deuill So litle care commonly there is of profiting by the ministery of the word amongst them that are taught in the word Beloued let it neuer be said so of you but let your care be that they which labor in the word amongst you may pray for you with gladnes Jam. 1.21 Lay apart all filthinesse and superfluity of maliciousnes and receiue with meeknes the word that is graffed in you which is able to saue your soules Follow the truth in loue and in all things grow vp into him Eph. 4.15 which is the head that is Christ Let your conuersation be such as it becommeth the gospell of Christ and striue to increase in all good things with all godly increasing for so and so onely shall we haue cause to pray for you with gladnesse Lastly in that the Apostle hauing taught the Philippians the way of truth giueth thanks for them praieth for them and that with gladnesse because of the fellowship c. Hence I obserue a duty of the Pastors of the Church which if time had giuen leaue and the place had beene so conuenient should principally haue beene stood vpon and that is that the Pastors are not onely to teach their people with the wholesome word which cannot be reproued but they are also to pray for them that the word may haue a blessing among them that they may grow and increase thereby in all knowledge and holinesse to the Lord they are to be glad in their soules for their profiting in the word of grace and they are to giue thanks vnto God on their behalfe when they see their order their stedfast faith in Christ their growth in godlines and righteousnes and holy conversation This should be and might be and I wish it were and if it be not it is their perill in whom it faileth to be LECTVRE V. PHILIP I. Verse 6. And I am perswaded of this same thing that he that hath begun this good worke in you will performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ NOw giue mee leaue briefly to note one thing further from those words and that is that both our thanksgiuing and our praying are alwaies to bee vnto God Our thanksgiuing because all deliuerance in dangers all comfort in troubles all helpe in time of neede all spirituall graces in heauenly things and all corporall blessings whatsoeuer are from him the father of all mercies and giuer of all goodnesse for euery good giuing and euery perfit gift is from aboue and commeth downe from the father of lights Iam. 1.17 He vpholdeth all such as fall Psal 145.14 15 16. and lifteth vp all those that be downe the eyes of all waite vpon him and he giueth them their meat in due season he openeth his hand and filleth all things liuing with plenteousnes He killeth and maketh aliue bringeth downe to the graue and raiseth vp 1 Sam. 2.6 maketh poore and maketh rich bringeth low and exalteth He is our rocke and fortresse our strength and shield 2 Sam. 22.1 and he that deliuereth vs in all time of danger He is the father of mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 and the God of all comfort which comforteth vs in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any affliction by the comfort wherewith we our selues are comforted of him 4. He succoureth vs when we are tempted and suffereth vs not to be tempted aboue that we be able 1 Cor. 10.13 but giueth the issue with the tentation that we may be able to beare it He created vs Esay 43 7. Act. 17 28. Eph. 1. formed vs and made vs for his owne glory In him we liue moue and haue our being Hee blesseth vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things in Christ hauing chosen vs in him predestinate vs to be adopted through him redeemed vs through his blood iustified vs and sanctified vs washed and cleansed vs from our sinnes in him and begotten vs by faith vnto a liuely hope in him In one word he is all in all things vnto vs. Vnto whom then should wee sacrifice the calues of our lips Col. 3.11 and offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing but vnto him of whom through whom and for whom are all things and by whom we haue all blessings in good things and deliuerance from all