Lectures upon the vvhole Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians, deliuered in St. Peters Church in Oxford: by the reuerend and faithfull seruant of Christ Henry Airay ... and now published for the vse of Gods Church by C.P. ...

LECTƲRE XXXVIII.

PHILIP. 2. verse 15, 16, 17, 18.

That I may reioyce in the day of Christ that I haue not runne in vaine, nor laboured in vaine &c.

THus farre of the former reason, and of the vses thence to bee made by vs heretofore. Now followeth the latter reason drawne from the Apostle himselfe in these words, that I may reiojce in the day of Christ &c.

That I may reioyce &c.] This is the Apo∣stle his latter reason whereby he would en∣force his former exhortations: and it is as if he had said; My beloued, I exhort you that you make an end of your owne saluation with feare and trembling; and that ye do all things with your neighbours and brethren without murmuring and reasonings: and these things I would haue you to doe as for your owne sakes, that yee may be blamelesse and pure &c; so for my sake also, that I may reioyce &c. Yea, and if yee marke it, euen in these words he would haue them to doe as he hath exhorted them both for his sake, and for their sakes also. For he would haue them to walke before God in all obedience with feare and trembling, and with their neighbour in all loue without murmuring &c. why? that he may reioyce: thats for his owne sake. But wherein doth he desire to reioyce? Euen in their saluation, that he hath not runne in vaine, nor laboured in vaine amongst them, but that by his Ministerie and Apostleship they are gained vnto Christ; That I may re∣ioyce in the day of Christ &c. By the day of Christ the Apostle meaneth that day when God shall iudge the secrets of all men by Iesus Christ; that day of Christ his second comming vnto iudgement, when it shall be rendred vnto euery man accord∣ing to that he hath done in his flesh be it good or euill; as also in many other places of the new Testament. This day is cal∣led

sometimes the day of Gods wrath, sometimes the day of his appearing, sometimes the day of iudgement, sometimes the great day, sometimes that day, sometimes the day of the Lord, sometimes the day of our Lord Iesus Christ, sometimes the day of Christ. Now that day of Christ his second com∣ming vnto iudgement is therefore called the day of Christ, because in that day God shall giue all iudgement vnto him, and he shall descend from heauen with a shoute, and with the voice of the Archangell, and with the trumpet of God, and all shall appeare before his iudgement seate, and he shall sepa∣rate the sheepe from the goates, and set the sheepe on his right hand, and the goates on the left, and shall say to the one, Come yee blessed of my Father; and to the other, Depart from me yee cursed. Now the Apostle would haue the Philippians so to walke both before God and men, that in this day of Christ when he shall giue to euery man according as his worke shall be, he may reioyce: wherein? that hee hath not runne in vaine &c, .i. that by his labours he hath gained them vnto Christ. The manner of speech which the Apostle vseth, seemeth to be borrowed from them that runne in a race, wherein though many runne, and labour hard toward the marke, yet one alone receiueth the price, and the rest runne in vaine, and labour in vaine, because they obtaine not the pr••ce or the thing which they runne for. So the Apostle ma∣keth his account that in respect of them he should be like vn∣to those that runne in vaine and labour in vaine, if hauing la∣boured to gaine them vnto Christ, they should not walke worthy of Christ. This therefore in this place is the summe of the Apostle his desire, that the Philippians would so walke worthy of Christ both before God, and with their brethren, that in the day of Christ, when his labours in the Lord should not be in vaine he might reioyce that he had not spent his strength amongst them in vaine, but by his preaching of Christ Iesus vnto them had gained them vnto Christ, who should then giue both vnto him and them the crowne of sal∣uation for their glory. This is the summe, and the sense like∣wise of that which the Apostle speaketh in this place. Now let vs see what vse we may make hereof for our selues.

Here then 1. I note that the saluation of Gods people is the ioy & crowne of the faithfull Minister of Christ in the day of Christ. This shall be his glory in that day with his Christ, whose Minister he is, that he hath gained many vnto Christ. And therefore this our Apostle in another place calleth the Philippians his ioy & his crowne; whereby he signifieth both the present ioy & comfort which he taketh in them, and the sure hope which he hath that they shall be his ioy and his crowne in the day of the Lord. To the like purpose he writeth to the Thessalonians, saying, what is our hope, or ioy, or crowne of reioycing? are not euen you in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ at his comming? Yes yee are our glory & ioy: when? not onely now present, but in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ at his comming. As plaine to this purpose is that in the last of Da∣niel, where he saith, that they that turne many vnto righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer and euer; which no doubt is principally meant of the Ministers of Christ Iesus. And if it shall be said in that day vnto euery good and faithfull ser∣uant, It is well done good seruant and faithfull, enter into thy ma∣sters ioy; how much more shall it be said so vnto the faithfull Minister of Christ Iesus? What greater encouragements can there be vnto the Ministers of Christ Iesus to make them faith∣full and painefull in their places, to make them labour with all alacritie and cheerefulnesse to gaine many vnto Christ, to turne many vnto righteousnesse? O but there are many dis∣couragements: For who more contemned, who more disdai∣ned, who more hated, who more disgraced then the Ministers of Christ Iesus? True it is, and it is the shame of our times, that they are counted of many as the very of-scourings of the world; and the more faithfull that they are the more they are hated, and oftentimes the more persecuted. If we sowe cushions vnder all arme-holes; if we speake smoothing and fawning words; if we cry peace, peace, all is well; if we med∣dle not with the sinnes of the people, but onely teach a truth in a generalitie, happily we shall please, or not displease, but liue in rest and quiet. But if we lift vp our voices like trum∣pets, and tell the house of Iacob their sinnes, and the house of Israel their transgrassions; if we search, and cut vp, and lance

the sores of our people; if we sharply reproue such & such sins whereof their own consciences condemne them to be guilty, then they begin to hate vs, to disgrace vs, to persecute vs, to tra∣duce vs as cursed Chams, as seditious fellowes, & troublers of the State, and to speake all manner of euill sayings against vs. Herod, ye know, when he heard Iohn did many things, and heard him gladly. But after that Iohn had reproued him for his incest he quickly lost his head. The Iewes likwise heard Steuen a great while answering for himselfe: But when he began to come somewhat neere vnto them, and to touch them to the quicke, when he came vpon them with, Yee stiffe-necked and of vncir∣cumcised hearts and eares, yee haue alwaies resisted the Holy Ghost &c. then it is said, that their hearts brast for anger, and that they gnashed at him with their teeth, and quickly after stoned him to death. I say not that it fareth so at this day. For sinne, God be thanked, may be boldly rebuked without feare of such dan∣ger. But this we finde true by experience, that whose sore we touch his hatred most commonly we purchase, and if wee be but suspected in our reproofes of sinne to note such and such men, we shall not want whatsoeuer they can say or do against vs. Thus render they vnto vs hatred for our good will, and when we strike at the roote of any sinne, and wound only that we may heale; they tell vs we only vtter our choler or malice, and that we might well enough finde our selues other matter then to note them in our Sermons. But this, as I said, is the shame of our times, that the more faithfull and painefull they are the worse commonly they are intreated. But herein we comfort our selues that our conscience beareth vs witnesse in what singlenes of heart as before the Lord we doe the worke of our ministerie, and that howsoeuer now through their dis∣graces, and reproches, and contempts, and hatreds, and perse∣cutions our reioycing be diminished; yet our reioycing in the day of Christ shall no man take from vs, but then they that haue beleeued, and they that haue beene conuerted from go∣ing astray out of the right way by our ministerie, shall be vnto vs the crowne of our reioycing. Then for that we haue laid out our talent to the best aduantage we could, we shall heare that voice, It is well done good seruant and faithfull, and then

those that hated vs without cause, and disgraced vs without our desert, shall not dare to hold vp their heads against vs, but shall be confounded in that day. In the meane time, if when we haue sowen the seede of Gods word many sharpe showres doe follow, and many blacke tempests ouertake one another, yet must we with the husbandman patiently expect the time of haruest; we must in patience possesse our soules vntill the day of Christ, and then we shall reioyce in the pre∣sence of our Lord Iesus Christ at his comming, when we and they whom we haue gained vnto Christ shall meete him in the clouds, that we may be euer with the Lord. For they whom we haue gained vnto Christ shall be the crowne of our reioy∣cing in that day.

Yea but what if when we haue laboured either we see no fruits of our labours in them that heare vs, or that fruit which seemed to shoote forth in the blade doe afterwards fall away and wither, as the Apostle complaineth that they of Asia were turned from him, doth the glory of the Minister in that day depend vpon the saluation of them that heare him? Doth he runne in vaine, and labour in vaine, if he gaine not them vnto Christ? Certainly of this I am perswaded that the moe soules they gaine vnto Christ, the more glorious shall be their crowne of reioycing. And therefore the Apostles glory, no doubt shall be exceeding glorious, by whose labours so many Churches were planted, so many soules were brought vnto the faith. Yet his glory in that day doth not wholy depend vpon the saluation of them that heare him. The vsing of his talent faithfully shall be accounted vnto him as gaining with it. Neither is his running and his labouring in vaine in re∣spect of himselfe, but onely in respect of them whose hearts the Lord doth not open that they should heare, and be∣leeue, and be saued: as it is plaine out of Esay, where Christ in his members thus complaineth, I haue laboured in vaine, I haue spent my strength in vaine, and for nothing: but my iudge∣ment is with the Lord, & my worke with my God: though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. By which words it is out of all doubt cleared, that howsoeuer the Ministers labour be often

in vaine, howsoeuer his strength be often spent in vaine in re∣spect of them that heare him, because thereby their hearts are not mollified, and they brought vnto the obedience of the faith, yet for themselues their iudgement is with the Lord, and their worke with their God. Though they that heare them be of such vncircumcised hearts and eares that they can∣not be gained vnto Christ, yet shall they be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and their God shall be their strength. To the like purpose is that in Ezechiel, where the Lord instru∣cting the Minister, and watchman of the house of Israel in his dutie, he saith, Sonne of man I haue made thee a watchman &c. if thou warne the wicked, and he turne not from his wicked∣nesse, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquitie, but thou hast deliuered thy soule &c. What is then the Ministers dutie? To warne the wicked: and his dutie is to turne from the wick∣ednesse of his waies. If the Minister warne, his labour is not in vaine in the Lord, he deliuereth his owne soule: but if the wicked being warned turne not from the wickednesse of his waies, he dieth in his iniquitie; so that his Minister in re∣spect of him hath runne in vaine, and laboured in vaine, be∣cause he hath not reclaimed him from the wickednesse of his wayes.

Here then is a notable aduertisement for them that are hea∣rers of the word, to take heede that their watchman which is set ouer them spend not his strength in vaine, and for nothing amongst them. The Minister, yee heare, he runnes, he la∣bours, he sweates, he is still playing his prizes, still trying his maisteries, still plowing vp the fallow ground of your hearts, in euery season, yea in season and out of season sowing the im∣mortall seede of the word, alwaies on his watch tower in cold and in heate, giuing warning of euery enemie which he doth descry. Happily yee haue another conceit of the Ministers labour, at least many haue, that it is no such continuall la∣bour, that there is no such care or paines therein as is preten∣ded. Well whatsoeuer account yee make of the labour, there∣in he spends his strength, and oftentimes his bloud. It is for you to looke vnto it that he spend not his strength in vaine. If he teach you the waies of the Lord, and yee receiue not

instruction, if he reproue such sinnes as breake out amongst you, and ye hate to be reformed, if hee call to fasting, wee∣ping, and mourning, and ye fall to eating, drinking, and dauncing; if he exhort you to study to bee blamelesse, and pure, and the sonnes of God in the middest of a naughty and crooked nation, and to shine amongst them as lights, holding forth the word of life, and ye giue your members seruants to vncleanesse, and to iniquity, to commit iniquity; in a word, if he out of the word either teach, or improue, or correct, or instruct in righteousnesse, & ye refuse to hearken to the voice of the charmer charme he neuer so wisely, what else doth hee in respect of you but runne in vaine, and labour in vaine? And if he spend his strength in vaine amongst you, his worke is with his God; but your bloud is vpon your owne head, yee die in your sinnes, but his soule is deliuered. The minister his desire is to reioyce in the day of Christ, but wherein? in your saluation. If in that day he shall not reioyce in your saluation, what do ye thinke will be your portion? His desire is not to runne in vaine, nor to labour in vaine: but it is in respect of you, that he may gaine you vnto Christ. For hee knoweth that his labour is not in vaine in the Lord. Hearken therefore and obey, and harden not your hearts as in the prouocation, and as in the day of tentation in the wildernesse. If thou hearken, thou shalt be the crowne of his reioycing, and the crowne of his reioycing is in thy saluation. And in any case take heed that thou iudge not amisse of him that is set ouer thee in the Lord, to admonish thee of thy w••••es. For whatso∣euer it is wherein he either teacheth, or improueth, or corre∣cteth, or instructeth thee it is that hee may reioyce in the day of Christ, that he hath not runne in vaine, nor laboured in vaine. And this much of this later reason to enforce the for∣mer exhortations.

Yea and though I be offered &c.] The Apostle as yee haue heard vrged the Philippians that they would walke in all obe∣dience with God, and in all meeknesse with their brethren, e∣uen the rather for his sake that he might reioyce ouer them in the day of Christ. Now the better to enforce this reason drawne from himselfe, in these words hee assureth them that

such is his longing after their saluation, that if by his death they might be confirmed and strengthened in the faith, hee would most willingly and ioyfully giue his life for them, and if he shall do so, he would not haue them to be sory, but to be glad and reioyce thereat. The manner of speech here vsed is drawne from the sacrifices of the old law, wherein the Priests were commanded after their comming into the land of Ca∣naan, alwaies to poure out a drinke offering vpon the sacrifice that was offered. The Apostle therefore alluding hereunto saith, that if his soule should now bee poured out as a drinke offering vpon that spirituall sacrifice of their faith, which by his ministery and Apostleship they had embraced for their farther confirmation and strengthening therein, he would be glad, and reioyce with them for that their faith by his death were strengthened.

Here then we may obserue how zealous the Pastor ought to be of the saluation of his flocke, he ought with Saint Paul in this place to be willing to giue vp his life for them. The good shepheard, saith our Sauiour, giueth his life for his sheepe. Christ himselfe was indeed this good shepheard here spoken of, who when wee were yet sinners died for vs. But herein likewise he set before vs a paterne, how we should approue our selues to be good shepheards. Nothing should bee so deare vnto vs as the good of them ouer whom the Lord made vs ouerseers, persecution and banishment, stripes and imprisonments, yea the losse of life it selfe must rather bee indured then their sal∣uation be neglected. What then? are wee simply to giue vp our liues for our flockes: What if they be such as will bee glad thereat, and rather then faile will themselues persecute vs, yea and take our liues from vs? Such sheepe indeed there are as persecute their shepheard, and desire if they can to make him wearie of his life. But this is that which now from our Apostle we teach, that if our death may bee for the enlarging of Christ his kingdome, and for the confirmation and en∣crease of their faith vnto whom we haue preached the Gospell, then we are not to loue our liues vnto the death. What then? because our death may be for the confirmation of their faith, are we to offer our selues vnto death? Nay wee may not seeke

death, nor willingly runne our selues into danger. But if the will of the Lord be such that by our bloud wee seale that testi∣mony which we haue giuen to Christ Iesus, and so confirme our brethren in the things that they haue heard and learned by our ministery, we are not to shrinke at it, but willingly to embrace it. Yea but the cuppe of death is bitter, how then can we be glad and reioyce in it. True, happily we should not greatly reioyce in that violent and vntimely death being con∣sidered in it selfe. But knowing that our bloud is the seede of the Church, and that by our death and persecution many are made more bold to professe the Gospell of Christ Iesus, wee should be glad and reioyce in the fruit that we know comes to the Church by our death and persecution. And thus our Sa∣uiour by precept hath taught vs to doe saying, Blessed are yee when men reuile you, and persecute you &c. reioyce and bee glad, for great is your reward in heauen. Thus the Apostles likewise haue taught vs by example, who when they had bin cast in pri∣son, and afterwards beaten, departed reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for Christ his name. As they by precept and example haue taught vs, so ought wee to reioyce in tribulations and persecutions, & to be glad though we be offered vp vpon the sacrifice of their faith who by our ministerie haue belieued.

Should then the saluation of your soules, and the confir∣mation of your faith be so deare vnto vs, euen dearer then our owne liues? How ought ye then to be affected towards vs, and our ministerie? It was a notable testimonie that the Apostle gaue vnto the Galathians, wherein he bore them record that if it had beene possible they would haue pluckt out their owne eies, and haue giuen them to him. Nothing more deare then their eyes, and yet so neere had their soules beene knit vnto him in reuerence and loue for the Gospells sake, that they would haue giuen him their very eies to haue done him good. Shall I say that ye ought to be thus affected towards vs? I say not so: but I say that ye ought so to thinke of vs, as of the mi∣nisters of Christ, and disposers of the secrets of God. Yee ought to thinke of vs as of the Embassadors for Christ, and that we pray you in Christs stead, as though God did beseech

you through vs. In a word, if we ought to lay downe our liues for our sheepe, our sheepe ought to heare our voice. And certainely if we were so liuely and Christianly toucht with a feeling of the sweetnesse of the word of life as we should be, if the powerfulnesse thereof had so seasoned and seazed vpon our soules as it ought, then would we heare his voice, and o∣bey him, and follow him, we would reuerence and regard him for the truths sake which he preacheth. It is said of Lydia, that when she had heard Paul preach, and the Lord had so o∣pened her hart that she belieued the things that Paul spak, she was so desirous that Paul and those that were with him should come into her house, and abide a while with her, that she ne∣uer left them till she had constrained them; If yee haue iudged mee to be faithfull to the Lord saith she, come into mine house, and abide there, and she constrained vs saith Luke. It seemes besides other purposes which shee had, that she thought her house would be the better if she might get them into it. Not many Lydiaes. I wish we might haue such hearers, as Peter had, that when they had heard vs would be pricked in their hearts, and say vnto vs, men and brethren what shall we doe? such as would be so carefull to heare what we speake that they would lay the same vp in their hearts, and digest it in their soules. Our de∣sire is as I said ere while, that our labour in the word may not be vnto you in vaine, but that by our ministery we may offer you vp as liuing sacrifices, holy, and acceptable vnto God. If we ought not to spare our liues vnto the death for you, yee ought so to heare the word of vs that yee grow vp in faith, and loue, and euery good worke. If wee ought to poure out our bloud for an offering for you, for the confirming of your faith, ye ought first by faith through our ministery to be made a spirituall sacrifice vnto God, that so our soules may be pou∣red out as a drinke offering vpon the sacrifice of your faith. For both these are implied here in our Apostle. Wee heare what Pastor and people should doe: and wee see in daily ex∣perience what they doe, euen both so little answerably vnto that they should doe, that it may be as truly now said, as it was in the Prophets time, like Pastor, like people. But I will not now stand farther to open and cut vp these soares. Consider

only in a 〈…〉〈…〉 me, I beseech you, a reason which mee ••hinkes may be gathered from these words for the stirring vp of both Pastor and people vnto that they should doe.

If ye marke it, both the obedience of their faith which are gained vnto Christ by the ministerie of the word, and likwise the martyrdome and death of those that giue their liues for their sheepe, are by a borrowed speech called sacrifices and offerings. Though I be offered, there the Apostle his death is called an offering: vpon the sacrifice and seruice of your faith, their faith, whereunto by his seruice and ministery they had obeyed, is called a sacrifice. Now what sacrifices be these? These be the sacrifices of the new Testament: these bee liuely sacrifices and holy, and acceptable vnto God: and these to∣gether with the sacrifice of praise, and of the workes of loue are the only sacrifices which now Christians are to offer vnto their God. An end of all other sacrifices was then when Christ cried vpon the crosse, it is finished. These onely remaine, and these are our reasonable seruing of God. How should not this stirre vp both Pastor and people to doe that they should? In the Pastor his burning zeale to giue his life for his people, in the people their obedience of faith by the ministery of their Pastors, are their holy and Christian sacrifices, and their rea∣sonable seruing of God. And these sacrifices are now no lesse to be offered by vs in the new Testament, then were those sa∣crifices of beasts and other like things to be offered in the old Testament, and surely are farre more acceptable vnto God then were they. But I promised only to speak of this in a word. Now a word likewise of that that followeth.

For the same cause &c.] In these words the Apostle armeth them against sorrow if he should be offered vp vpon the sacri∣fice of their faith. As he would be glad and reioyce with them if their faith should be confirmed by his death, so hee would haue them likewise to be glad and reioyce with him if hee by his bloud should seale the testimony of their faith. What then? must we be glad and reioyce when our best Pastors and teachers are taken from vs? Did not the Church well, when Steuen was stoned to death, to make great lamentation for him? Yes no doubt they did well: and whensoeuer the

Church is depriued of any worthy member, especially of a∣ny worthy Pastor and Teacher, there is iust cause of great sor∣row. And the Apostle alloweth a moderation in lamenting for the dead, so that we sorrow not as they that haue no hope. And it was a part of Iehoiakims plague that he should be buried like an Asse, and none to make lamentation for him. The mea∣ning then is not, that we should reioyce and be glad, and not mourne simply at the death of our best Pastors and Teachers, but that wee should bee glad and reioyce at the fruite which comes to the Church by their death, if they suffer martyrdom for the confirmation of the brethrens faith. For seeing their constancie and their cheerefulnesse to seale that truth with their bloud which they taught and preached, this should both make vs reioice that God giueth such strength vnto his Saints, and likewise confirme vs in the faith of Iesus Christ, and fur∣ther animate vs patiently to endure whatsoeuer tribulations for Christ his sake. The Apostle himselfe would not, no doubt, reioyce simply in his suffering and death, but in that onely thereby God should be glorified, and Gods children streng∣thened. So we are to reioyce not simply that our Pastors and Teachers are taken by the hands of Tyrants, and racked, and martyred, but in that God vouchsafeth thus to conforme them to the image of his sonne, and to make their bloud the seede of the Church, so that thereby both the faith of them that are already in the Church is confirmed, and others like∣wise are brought vnto the faith. Here only wee are to looke to this caueat, that we do not iudge of a martyr only by his suffer∣ing, but further by the cause of his suffering. For not the suf∣fering, but the cause of his suffering makes him a Martyr. If he suffer death for the testimonie of Christ Iesus his death is well called a martyrdome. And in his death we are so to reioyce as already ye haue heard. Thus farre of the reasons enforcing o∣bedience to those exhortations which the Apostle inferreth vpon the example of Christ his humility and obedience, which the Apostle laid as a most strong and sure ground of his exhortation vnto humblenesse and lowlines of minde.

Notes

• Phil. 4.1.
• 1 Thes. 2.19
• 20.
• Dan. 12.3.
• Mat. 25.21.
• Mar. 6.20. Mat. 14.10
• Act. 7.51.54.55.
• 2 Tim. 1.15
• Esay 49.4.
• 5.
• EZec. 3.17.19.21
• Num. 15 7
• Joh. 10.11.
• Mat. 5.11.12. Act. 5.41.
• Gal. 4.15.
• Act. 16.15.
• Act. 2.37.
• Act. 8.2.
• 1 Thes. 4.13.