Philippians 2

(Philippians 2:9) Therefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name, &c. Before we have spoken of Christ's Humiliation, now of his Exaltation: Before you saw the Sun of Righteousness in the eclipse, now you shall see it coming out of the eclipse, a…

Christ did humble himself more in lying in the Virgin's womb, than in hanging upon the cross. It was not so much for man to die, but for God to become man, that was the wonder of humility (Philippians 2:7). He was made in the likeness of men.

Quest. In what way does the greatness of Christ's sufferings appear? Resp. In the sufferings of his body, he suffered truly, not only a [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], an appearance; the Apostle calls it Mors Crucis, The Death of the Cross, (Philippians 2:8). Tully when he speaks o…

There are indentures drawn in baptism, and in the Lord's Supper: the indentures are renewed and sealed on our part, that we will be faithful and constant in our obedience. Therefore we must imitate Christ, who became obedient to the death (Philippians 2:8). The crown is set upon…

Response. Beg the Spirit of God. We cannot do it in our own strength; the Spirit must work in us both the [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] and [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], to will and to do (Philippians 2:13). When the lodestone draws, the iron moves; when God's Spirit draws, then we…

1. God's covenant people are a humble people (1 Peter 5:5): be clothed with humility. God's people esteem others better than themselves; they shrink into nothing in their own thoughts (Philippians 2:3). David cries out, I am a worm, and no man (Psalm 22:6) — though a saint, thou…

4. To have grace increasing is suitable to Christianity: Christians are called trees of righteousness (Isaiah 61:3). The saints are not only jewels for sparkling luster, but trees for growth, they are called the lights of the world (Philippians 2:15). Light is still increasing.

Aaron had Holiness to the Lord written upon his golden plate. Where there is sanctity in the soul, there Holiness to the Lord is engraved upon our life; we are adorned with patience, humility, good works, and shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15). We carry Christ's pic…

The will hangs forth a flag of defiance against God. Such as speak of the sovereign power of the will, forget Philippians 2:13: It is God that works in you [in non-Latin alphabet], both to will and to do. If the power be in the will of man, then what needs God to work in us to w…

Works are required in the Covenant of Grace, not so much in our own strength, as in the strength of another. It is God which works in you (Philippians 2:13). As the scrivener guides the child's hand, and helps him to form his letters, so that it is not so much the child's writin…

If to oppose Christ's members be such a sin, what is it to oppose Christ himself? 1. Jesus Christ is coequal with God the Father (Philippians 2:6). He thought it no robbery to be equal with God.

And he bids godly wives so walk, that their husbands may be won without the word, by beholding their pure conversation which is with fear. 1 Peter 3:1-2. And Paul bids the Philippians, to walk blameless in the middle of a wicked and crooked nation, as lights in the middle of the…

Hence it follows necessarily, that Jesus Christ is true God: and the whole tenor of the Scriptures confirms it sufficiently. 1. He is made equal to God the Father, who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God (Philippians 2:6): again, All things that t…

He is Lord of all (Galatians 4:1; Hebrews 1:2), and the saints are co-heirs, they go sharers with Christ. 9. God calls them the luminaries of the world: they give light by their precepts and example (Philippians 2:15). Among whom you shine as lights in the world: Lot was a brigh…

Now to be born again, is a work of no less importance than our first creation; and therefore wholly to be ascribed to God as our creation is. Indeed Paul (Philippians 2:12-13) bids the Philippians work out their salvation with fear and trembling: not meaning to ascribe to them a…

But how few such public spirits appear even among professors in this selfish generation? May we not with the Apostle complain (Philippians 2:21), All seek their own, and not the things that are of Christ. Few men have any great cares or designs lying beyond the bounds of their o…

In the saints' prayers (as Psalm 51) it's called even as to further degrees of this work, or restoring of lost degrees, creating of a clean heart, and renewing a right spirit within; and many more the like expressions there are, which show not only man's impotency and inability…

The soul may answer, it was not external preaching, nor my own free will, nor anything in me, but the power of God's grace, I have nothing but what I have received. It is on this ground that the Apostle (Philippians 2:12-13) presses and encourages Christians to their great work,…

It is said in verse 44, "No man can come to me except the Father draw him," and on the contrary, it is as expressly set down in verse 45: "It is written in the Prophets, they shall be all taught of God; every man therefore that has heard and learned of the Father comes to me," a…

I shall speak to this, first in general, and secondly, in some few steps or particular directions. 1. Then in general, you would consider that place, (Philippians 2:12-13): Work out the work of your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that works in you both to w…

A common truth, yet a truth fundamental to the Gospel, of which we are not to think the less or the worse because it is a common truth. When the fullness of time came (says the apostle, Galatians 4:4), God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the Law; who, as it is in…

And these four considerations (under which we may see him paying our debt) may clear it. 1. That he laid aside the glory which before the world was he had with the Father, for a time; which therefore that it may be restored to him again, he prays (John 17:5), it having been as t…

3. The word, He was [reconstructed: taken], sometimes signifies to deliver, as a captive is delivered when he is taken from him that took him captive, as it is, Isaiah 49:24, 'Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?' To which the Lord here answe…

1. That (Ephesians 1:20-21) he has set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come, and has put all things under his fee…

Who can declare his generation? Who can sufficiently declare and unfold how gloriously the Mediator is exalted: and he gives this for the reason of it, For he was cut off out of the land of the living; the force of which reason is, that he humbled himself, therefore God has high…

For he is there speaking of Jesus Christ, with whom the Covenant of Grace, as with the head of the Confederated Party, is principally made: it imports these four, which may be as so many reasons of this designation. 1. An humiliation, and inferiority, in respect of God, as it is…

3. It takes in the excellent victory, the great triumph and glory, that the Mediator should have by this means; He is exalted above every name that is named, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, of things in earth, and of things under the earth:…

2. Credit and trust Him, do not look for ill at His hand, what ground is there to suspect Him? It is His glory to do good to sinners, and He counts them His triumph and spoil; and to make conquest of them, He poured out His soul to death, or as the word is, Philippians 2, He emp…

And fourth, this also has influence on their being so much weighted, even the concern of honest ministers' own joy and comfort; It is true, as we hinted before, that neither a faithful minister's peace, nor his reward of grace does depend on it simply, I have spent my strength i…

In the original, the words are without any Article, [illegible]. It is as much as he has left no cross, no shame at all to be suffered by us; and (Philippians 2:8), he was obedient to the Father: he says not to the death, but to death, even death of the Cross, [illegible]. It ho…

Second: All skilled in the original languages, and all divines say that the particle "all" is taken pro singulis generum, vel pro generibus singulorum — all and every one of kinds, and for the kinds of all, though not absolutely excluding any kind. First, the word "all" is, in m…

If not, how shall they lay hold on Christ, and without Christ no life. A man in the state of nature neither does good, nor can he do any good, nor is he willing to do good; and therefore well does the apostle say, it is God that works in you both the will and the deed (Philippia…

As kings, to rule over all our lusts, and to rule all those whom God commends to our government according to God: as kings, to get victory and to conquer over the world, and to over-wrestle any difficulty as we meet with: as kings, anointed with the spirit of a king, of a royal…

Ministers should follow the Example of Christ, in his Readiness not only to Labor, but suffer for the Salvation of Souls, to spend and be spent for them. In this Respect the Apostle Paul imitated his Lord and Master; Philippians 2:17. Yea, and if I be offered upon the Sacrifice…

1. Oh then be affected with this great mystery, the death which the Son of God accomplished at Jerusalem; look upon it under a double notion, with respect to his Father's command, it was an act of obedience, carried on with such humility, patience, self-denial, resignation of hi…

It is to feed a humor, and damn the soul with that which should save it. Let no Christians, (as the Pharisees here,) make Prayer truckle to their credit (Philippians 2:3). Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory.

And thirdly when they have once gotten a name (though it be by other men's travail) they become so stout and full of stomach that they dare venture upon all things. Therefore they are pernicious and pestilent fellows, whom I hate even with my very heart: for they seek their own,…

And Luke says in the last of the Acts, that Paul when he had long striven in the tempests of the sea, even to heaviness of his spirit, was again refreshed, and grew bold when he saw the brethren that came from Rome to meet him at the market of Appius and three Taverns. Also, in…

Euery good inclination is of grace. Phil 2:13. Euery good worke is of grace.

S. Paul says, Christ was obedient to the death of the crosse, Phil 2:8. The triumph of Christ beganne upon the crosse, Col 2:15. and he could not triumph before he had made a full, and perfect satisfaction for vs. When Christ had procured deliverance from hell, and Right to life…

The first does not befall Christ: because for nature he is one and the same with the father. The second agrees to him, because of his own voluntarie accord, he abased himselfe, and tooke upon him the shape of a man, Phil 2:5. Obiect.

The last, is Excitation, whereby the spirit stirs and still moves the will and mind; after they are regenerate: because for the time of this life, the grace of God is hindered and oppressed by the flesh. Therefore after regeneration, there must still be new inclining (Psalm 119:…

Like Plutarch's Lamiae, or fairies, which carried their eyes in their heads when they went abroad, but when they came home put them up in a box. In doing good and being beneficial, we must not so much consider ourselves (Philippians 2:4); but in judging and reproving, we ought t…

Furthermore, although this name be attributed to the person of Christ, yet it ought to be referred to his human nature: for his Godhead being eternal, and that in respect thereof he has ever obtained equal glory with his Father, it was necessary he should take our nature upon hi…

Now the Scripture is often accustomed to use this argument, to wit, You are called to holiness, and not to uncleanness: (1 Thessalonians 4:7). Also (Philippians 2:15), Walk as children of the light, in the midst of a perverse and wayward nation. With many the like places.

As by the disobedience of one then, all were made guilty, (as Paul says) (Romans 5:19) so by the obedience of one, many were made righteous. And in another place; He was obedient to the death, even to the death of the Cross: (Philippians 2:8). This is the cause why he held his p…

There is another objection of as little weight. They assert that the name of Jesus is not worthy of veneration and awe, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, (Philippians 2:9, 10,) if it does not belong exclusively to the Son of God. For Paul does not attribute to him…

We see, at the same time, what sort of beginning the life of the Son of God had, and in what cradle he was placed. Such was his condition at his birth, because he had taken upon him our flesh for this purpose, that he might, "empty himself" (Philippians 2:7) on our account. When…

The reply is easy. If it takes nothing from his glory, that he was altogether, “emptied,” (ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσε, Philippians 2:6,) neither does it degrade him, that he chose not only to grow in body, but to make progress in mind. And certainly when the Apostle declares, that, “in all…

Here the reason and wisdom of the flesh must prove to be foolishness; and we must acknowledge, that "the foolishness of God" (1 Corinthians 1:25) excels all the wisdom that exists, or appears to exist, in the world. But this too was a part of the "emptying of himself," (Philippi…