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. ...

LECTVRE XCII.

PHILIP. 4.

Verse 17. Not that I desire a gift, but I desire the fruite which may further your reckoning.

18. Now I haue receiued all &c.

NOt that I desire a gift &c. In these words the Apostle signifieth the very true cause of that his ioy in the Lord, whereof he spake before verse 10. and the very true cause of this his commendation of their liberality in the two verses next before. For, as before he signi∣fied in verse 11. that the principall cause of his reioycing was not because of his want, because his want was supplied by their liberalitie; so now he signifieth that the principall com∣mendation of their liberalitie was not for that he desired a new gift of them, as some thereby might haply imagine; but the principall thing which he regarded both in the one, and in the other, the principall cause both of his reioycing in the Lord for their care for him, and of his commendation of their liberalitie both first and last towards him, was the fruite which followed thereupon to further their reckoning in that day of the great account. But I desire &c. The phrase of speech here vsed is borrowed from the Merchants counting-bookes: for as in case of the debt of a great summe of money to a Merchant, the more mony that is noted in his booke as payed, the more his reckoning is furthered that payed it; so the Apostle hereby signifieth, that the more of their chari∣table workes towards him, were noted, as it were, in Gods booke, the more their reckoning was furthered with God, who in the great account should reckon that to their fruite & aduantage, which they had done to him. What was then the things which the Apostle principally desired, euen more then their gifts though he needed them? It was the fruite of their liberalitie, that they might reape the fruite thereof with

God. And what was the fruite of their liberality? Namely, the furthering of their reckoning with God in that day when they should giue accounts of that they had done in their flesh, whether it were good or euill; for the Apostle knew that this fruite should follow their liberalitie towards him, that thereby their reckoning should be furthered with God, who would reckon that vpon their head to their vantage that they had done to him. And this was it which principally cau∣sed the Apostle to ioy in their gifts and liberality. Thus much for the opening of the meaning of these words. Now let vs see what obseruations we may gather hence, whereof to make some farther vse for our selues.

Not that I desire a gift. The first thing which here I note is the Apostles diligent care to cleare things as he goes. In verse 10. of this Chapter the Apostle signified his great reioy∣cing in the Lord for the Philippians great care for him, shewed by the things which they sent him by their minister Epaphro∣ditus. Whereupon lest it should be thought that before he receiued their gift, he had bene cast downe through heaui∣nesse, or were not able to endure his want, he cleares himselfe of all suspicion of any such abiect mind, and tells them in the next verse, that he spake not because of want, that is, y^t he re∣ioyced not so much, because his want was supplied by their liberality, but there was another matter in it. Againe, in ver. 11.12. he signified that he could be content with whatsoeuer state he were in, that he knew how to be abased, and how to abound, that he was instructed both to be full, and to be hun∣grie, to abound and to haue want. Whereupon lest he should seeme to haue boasted himselfe too much of himselfe, as if by his owne power and strength he had bene able to do all those things, he cleares himselfe of all such arrogant presuming of his owne strength, and tells them verse 13. that he is able to do all those things: but how? by his owne power and strength? No, but through Christ which strengthened him. Againe, the Apostle hauing said that through Christ which strengthened him he could endure want, and he could be content whether he were full or hungrie, &c; hereupon it might be thought that he made small account of their bene∣fit,

and could as well haue bene without it as with it. He therefore cleares this point also, and tels them that notwith∣standing he could do all things through Christ, yet they had well done to communicate to his affliction. Againe in verses 15.16. he highly commended the Philippians for their great liberality towards him euen from the first vnto the last, and preferreth them before all other Churches of Macedonia. Whereupon lest he should seeme to affect a new benefit, to desire a new gift, he cleares himselfe of any such desire, and tels them plainly that he doth not so commend them for that he desireth a gift of them. Thus, sometimes to cleare the truth of doctrine, sometimes to free himselfe from vniust suspiti∣ons, alwaies to rectifie them that they do not misconceiue of things, euermore he cleares matters as he goes. Whence I obserue a good lesson for the Minister of the Gospel of Christ Iesus, which is, that he giue all diligence in his teaching so to cleare things as he goes, as that his people may not miscon∣ceiue any thing either touching the truth, or touching him∣selfe. He is to be iealous of both, euen with a godly iealou∣sie; of the truth, that no speech of his may cause them to erre touching the truth; that he speake not any thing against the truth, but for the truth; that in all simplicitie and plainnesse he deliuer the truth; or if at any time he speake something which may be mistaken, yet he so cleare it before he leaue it, as that there neede to be no doubt of it. Of himselfe, that no speech slip him, nor any action passe him whereby he may be noted of impatience, or pride, or contempt, or couetousnesse, or any such spot of life; or if he do speake, or do any thing whereby any such suspition is or may be fastened on him, that he so cleare it, that he quite wipe it out; for if the truth be preiudi∣ced,* 1.1 it is a stumbling blocke in a brothers way, and a woe is vnto him that putteth a stumbling blocke before his brother to cause him to fall: or if his own person be preiudiced, it is an hinderance vnto the worke of his Ministerie, & wherein shall he haue any comfort if not in the worke of his Ministerie? If the example of our Apostle euen in this Chapter were not a sufficient president for all Pastors of Gods people to this pur∣pose, I might adde thereunto both the example of our blessed

Sauiour, and likewise of the rest of the Apostles: for who so looketh into the new Testament shall see them alwaies so di∣ligent in this point, as they do not misse the teaching of any thing which might either preiudice the truth, or their owne persons. But I passe ouer further proofe for this point.

This first might serue for a very good instruction vnto ma∣ny in the Ministerie in these our daies; for how many are there in many places, that sometimes moue moe doubts then they do answer? How many that sometimes so speake, as that they leaue their hearers in greater suspence then they found them? How many that so speake, as that their hearers by that they speake, cannot discerne whether they be Protestants or Pa∣pists? How many that couch their matters so closely, and handle things so obscurely, as if they would not be vnder∣stood? of whom ye shall heare some say when they come from them, they are fine men, great schollers, learned Diuines: but aske them what they learned? they can say iust nothing. How many are there that say they care not what, nor what men gather of that they say? How many that speake smoothingly, how many that speake egrely, and yet neuer labour to cleare themselues of hatred, and of flatterie? Some are negligent & carelesse to consider what they speake, and these neuer thinke of clearing things as they go. Others are so little zealous of y^e truth, that though something slip them which may hazard the truth, yet they will willingly let it go; and these care no•• for clearing things as they go. Others loue to carrie things in the clouds, and so to speake as that a man shall be little the better or the wiser; and these will not cleare points as they go. But beloued, what should I speake to you of these things? Ye see what duty lyeth vpon vs by the example of the Apostle; e∣uen so to cleare things as we go, as that ye may not miscon∣ceiue of what we speake.

Hence then learne you to giue al diligence in hearkening to the things that we speake: for if we be to be so carefull as that nothing slip vs which we cleare not, lest ye should miscon∣ceiue of any thing, then surely are ye to be as carefull of atten∣ding to that we speake, that so ye may conceiue aright of eue∣ry thing that is spoken. Otherwise if your thoughts be wan∣dring,

and your wits (as we say) a woll-gathering, what paines soeuer we take in clearing of things, yet do ye mistake things. And hereupon it is that we sustaine many wrongs of them that heare vs. We must take paines, and labour that ye may conceiue aright of all that we speake; and ye must sleepe a little and heare a little, and wander in your thoughts a little and heare a little; and then in something mistaking vs, ye must runne vpon vs, and we said, ye know not what. Howsoeuer this be commonly a fault amongst hearers, yet beloued, let it not be so amongst you. When ye come hither, pray vnto the Lord that he will stirre vp your dull minds by his holy Spirit, that he wil vouchsafe to blesse the ministery of his holy word vnto you; and when ye are here, giue all diligence to hearken, that so ye may conceiue aright of the things that are spoken, that so by the things which ye heare the Lord may be glori∣fied, and your selues edified, & builded vp into a perfect man in Christ Iesus.

The second thing which I note is, the Apostles fatherly af∣fection towards the Philippians; for in that he saith, that he de∣sireth not a gift, but the fruite which may further, &c. he sheweth that as fathers in their tender affection towards their children desire not any thing of them but for their behoofe and good; so he in his tender loue towards them, desires not any gift of them, but for their behoofe and good in the day of Christ Ie∣sus. Whence I obserue what a fatherly affection there ought to be in the Pastor towards his people, namely such, as that he seeke not theirs, but them; not his owne profit, but the pro∣fit of his people, that they may be saued. Thus our Apostle often professeth that he did; as where he saith, that he sought not his owne profit,* 1.2 but the profit of many that they might be saued; and againe where he telleth the same Corinth. that he sought not theirs, but them. Wherein he hath left a president for vs, that as he hath done so we should do also. What then? Is not the Pastor to labour with his people in the word and doctrine for their saluation, and to desire nothing of them, to looke for nothing at their hands? No, not so; for we heard the last day, that where spirituall things are sowne, there carnall things are to be reapt, and that he that teacheth may as well require

them of them that are taught in the word, as the souldier may do his pay, or the labourer his wages, or he that planteth a vineyard of the fruite of the vineyard, or he that feedeth a flocke of the milke of the flocke. But as at the first he is not to vndertake this sacred and holy function in any couetous or ambitious desire for worldly maintenance or promotion, but in an holy desire to gaine men vnto the faith and knowledge of Christ Iesus; so at no time is he so much to respect the gift and maintenance that he hath by his people, as the saluation of his people in the day of Christ Iesus. In a place therefore where his liuing is allotted, and his maintenance set, the be∣nefit of his liuing should not so much reioyce him, as to see his people offer their duties willingly, and giue them cheareful∣ly; for that this is a token of their growth in pietie, & a fruite which shall surely further their reckoning. And so likewise in a place where onely a voluntary contribution is made for a time, the allowance whatsoeuer it is, is not so much to reioyce him, as the euident tokens of their pietie therein which make it, which shall further their reckoning. And the care which in both places is by him to be taken, is not to be for his owne profit, but for the profit of his people that they may be saued, euen for the gaining of them in the faith and knowledge of Christ Iesus. To which purpose also is that of the Apostle Pe∣ter, Feede the flocke of God which dependeth on you,* 1.3 caring for it not by constraint but willingly, not for filthie lucre but of a readie mind.

But as our Apostle saith to the Corinthians,* 1.4 Though ye haue ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet haue ye not many fathers; so may it now be said, though many Churches and many congre∣gations haue many Ministers and teachers, yet haue they not many so fatherly affected as seeke not their owne profit, but their profit that they may be saued. If we should looke into the Popish Clergie, it would easily appeare by their practise what it is they seeke and desire. For to what end are their trentals, diriges, masses, buls, pardons, and such other their trash, but for that they desire gifts, and seeke after their owne profit? It were to be wished that they onely were such, and that there were no such amongst vs. But what shall we say of

them that so they may get in, care not how they come in, in at the window, or downe at the house top? that sticke not at these matters of simonie and corruption, but swallow them downe greedily? that take the fourth, fifth, seuenth, tenth, twentieth part of the liuing, and leaue the rest vnto the Pa∣tron? that flie to Tarsus when they should go to Niniueh, and rather reside any where then where they should? that heape li∣uing vpon liuing, and dignitie vpon dignitie, and come ei∣ther at none, or but at some one of them? that feede them∣selues, and fleece their flocks, but do not labour with them in the word? that keepe no proportion concerning the matter of giuing and receiuing, but reape as many carnal things as they can, and sow either none, or as few spirituall things as they can? Do not these seeke their owne profit more then the pro∣fit of the people that they may be saued? Are not these of those that seeke their owne, and not that which is Iesus Christs? If they could say any thing for themselues, it is all well, surely I cannot say any thing for them. I wish that they who by their place may and ought to looke to the reforming of these things, would in an holy care looke vnto them, and as much as in them is reforme them. Worke there will be; for hardly will these things be reformed.

Now as there are many in the Ministerie that neither are, nor wil easily be perswaded to be so fatherly affected towards their people as to seeke them, and not theirs, or more then theirs; so, beloued, are there many among you that heare vs, and vnto whom we are sent, that will hardly be perswaded of any of vs that we seeke not yours but you, that we seeke not our owne profit, but yours that you may be saued. Nay if we tell you that it is not your worldly commodities that we so much seeke after, that it is not your carnall things that we so much desire, but that the principall thing that we long after euen from our very heart roote, is your godly growth in the faith and knowledge of Christ, and your saluation in the day of Christ, what do ye commonly twit vs withall? namely this, that we shall long tell you thus before you will beleeue vs. And this is one great cause in my iudgement why oftentimes we labour all night and catch nought, why we spend our

strength in vaine, and for nothing amongst you, euen your hard perswasion of vs as wanting all such fatherly affection towards you. But as the fault is great of such in the Ministe∣ry as want such affection towards you, so is your fault also great to thinke that none in the Ministerie are so affected to∣wards you. Where therefore their presence, their diligence, their watchfulnesse, their care ouer you giue you no other cause, there perswade your selues the best of your Ministers and Teachers. Yea perswade your selues of this, that they seeke not yours but you, that they seeke not their owne pro∣fit but yours that ye may be saued, that they desire not a gift, but the fruite which may further your reckoning.

The third thing which I note is that the Apostle saith, that the fruite of their liberality towards him shall redound to the furtherance of their reckoning in the day of Christ Ie∣sus. Whence I obserue a notable commendation of charita∣blenesse towards the poore, afflicted, and distressed, and generally of good workes. The commendation is this, that looke what we giue vnto the poore and afflicted members of Christ Iesus, looke generally what good we do, that shall as it were be reckoned vpon our head in that day when we shall giue our accounts what we haue done in the flesh, whether it be good or euill. For imagine that it were with God as it is with man, and that he had a booke wherein were noted as our debts so our payments; in the day when the ac∣count shall be made, whatsoeuer charitable worke we haue done vnto any of Gods Saints shall be reckoned vnto vs for good payment, and the moe we haue done, the more shall our reckoning be furthered; nay the good workes that here we haue done they shall then be recompenced with eternall glo∣ry in the heauens.* 1.5 He that hath mercie on the poore (saith Salo∣mon) lendeth vnto the Lord, and the Lord will recompence him that which he hath giuen.* 1.6 Whosoeuer (saith our blessed Sauiour) shall giue vnto one of these little ones a cup of cold water onely in the name of a Disciple, verily I say vnto you he shall not lose his reward. And in the last day, Come (shall he say) ye blessed of my Father,* 1.7 inherit ye the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungred, and ye gaue me meate, &c. The reason of

such recompence of reward is, because Christ reckoneth it as done vnto himselfe, whatsoeuer is done vnto his members here on earth. If they be persecuted, he is persecuted, as that his voyce from heauen shewed when he cryed,* 1.8 Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? when not he, but his Disciples were per∣secuted. And againe, if they be relieued he is relieued, as that place of Mathew sheweth,* 1.9 where he saith, Verily I say vnto you, in as much as ye haue done it vnto one of the least of these my bre¦thren, ye haue done it vnto me. Now shall any good be done vn∣to Christ the euerlasting Sonne of the Father, and shall the reward bee lesse then euerlasting glory in the hea∣uens?

What shall we say then? Is saluation in the heauens the re∣ward of our workes? yea, it is so. Is it a reward due vnto our workes? Yea, it is so. Is it a reward due vnto our workes vpon the merit of our workes? No, in no sort. For when we haue done all that we can, Christ hath taught vs to say that we are vnprofitable seruants,* 1.10 yea when we haue done all things that are commanded vs. And whatsoeuer afflictions we suffer in this present life,* 1.11 Paul hath taught vs, that they are not wor∣thy of the glory that shall be shewed vnto vs. The merit that we can talke of for our workes,* 1.12 is to say with Daniel, To vs belon∣geth open shame: and with Iob, If I would iustifie my selfe by stan¦ding vpon the merit of my workes, my owne mouth shall con∣demne me;* 1.13 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 sal∣uation 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,* 1.14 By grace are ye saued through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast himselfe. And againe, Not by the workes of righ∣teousnesse 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 ei∣ther 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 be∣seech 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 furthe∣rance 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 trea∣surie. But we bring lead, and he accepteth it for gold. Our best righteousnesse is full of vnrighteousnesse, yet doth he ac∣cept it. What? for our righteousnesse sake? No, for his mer∣cies 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.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 18.7.
• * 1.2

  1 Cor. 10.33. 2 Cor. 12.14.
• * 1.3

  1 Pet. 5.2.
• * 1.4

  1 Cor. 4.15.
• * 1.5

  Prou. 19.17.
• * 1.6

  Mat. 10.42.
• * 1.7

  Mat. 25.34.35.
• * 1.8

  Act. 9.4.
• * 1.9

  Mat 25.40.
• * 1.10

  Luc. 17.10.
• * 1.11

  Rom. 8.18.
• * 1.12

  Dan. 9.9. Iob. 9.20.
• * 1.13

  Iam. 3.2. Esa. 64.6.
• * 1.14

  Eph. 2 8. Tit. 3.5.