Philippians 4

Thus did holy Paul glorify God; the Lord had cast him into as great variety of condition as any man, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often (2 Corinthians 11:23), yet he had learned to be content. Saint Paul could sail either in a storm or a calm; he could be anything that Go…

1. God the Father is the God of peace. As he is the God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33), so the God of peace (Philippians 4:9). This was the form of the priests blessing the people (Numbers 6:26): The Lord give you peace.

Soberly, in acts of temperance; righteously, in acts of justice; godly, in acts of zeal and devotion. It commends to us whatever is just, lovely, of good report (Philippians 4:8). This sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) cuts down vice.

8. The serpent and the dove, wisdom and innocence, is to be moderate yet zealous. Moderation is good in some cases (Philippians 4:5). Let your moderation be known to all.

Quest. 6. Wherein lies the dignity of such as have God for their Father? Resp. They have greater honor than is conferred on the princes of the earth; They are precious in God's esteem; (Isaiah 43:4) Since you were precious in my eyes, you have been honorable; the wicked are dros…

It was from contentment. (Philippians 4:11) I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. Content says, as Jacob (Genesis 33:11), I have enough: I have a promise of heaven, and have sufficient to bear my charges there, I have enough.

Question: How does faith come to be so strong? Response: Faith fetches Christ's strength into the soul (Philippians 4:13) [illegible]. A captain may give his soldier armor, but not strength.

A Christian spirit is not fretful, but humble, not craving but contented. See the picture of a Christian spirit in Saint Paul, (Philippians 4:12). I know [illegible], how to be abased, and how to abound.

This made David say, He would not fear evil, though he should walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Psalm 23:4: and Paul speaking of tribulation, anguish, famine, persecution, yea, and death itself says, In all these we are more than conquerors through him that has lov…

Again, we gather that prayer and thanksgiving must go together: for as in the six petitions we made request to God; so in these words we praise him, and thereby give him thanks. Philippians 4:6. But in all things let your requests be showed to God in prayer and supplication with…

If the Lord blesses not our labor we must be content: if he does, we must give him thanks. Now for this cause we are further to pray to God that he would open our eyes, and by his Spirit teach us in all his good creatures to see his providence, and when means fail and are contra…

For though men for their parts put up many abuses and injuries, yet their angels may take just revenge by striking them with plagues and punishments for their offenses. Thirdly, seeing angels are about us, and serve for the good of men, we must do whatever we do in a reverent an…

Theodosius thought it a greater renown to be Membrum Christi, than Caput Imperii; a member of Christ, than the head of an empire. The righteous are highly in favor with God, and he has enrolled their names in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3). It was a custom among the Romans t…

The Apostle in this regard, would have no man thinke it strange, no not when he is in the fierie triall; but rather to reioyce because he is partaker of Christs sufferings. Phil. 4. 31. And Christ says to Saul persecuting his Church, Saul, Saul, why persecutest you me?

(3) From the experience they have had of the Lord's dealing with their souls, and the love of God spread abroad in the heart, by the Holy Ghost: (Romans 5:3-5). (4) From a sincere aim and respect to all the commandments of God (Psalm 119:6; Acts 24:16; 1 John 3:20-21; 1 Thessalo…

This makes walking after the Spirit, and a parting from iniquity and being pure in Spirit and dying to [illegible] of no interest in Christ, contrary to (Romans 8:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:19; Matthew 5:8; 1 Peter 2:4; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:18), and contrary to the whole Gospel: which…

A man justified, is one that has his sins pardoned, for what was it that all our lifetime before made us afraid of God's displeasure, and we had much disquietness about our estates; oh, the sin of our souls that we had committed all our life long, the sin committed many a day ag…

Christ dwells in their hearts as on a throne (Ephesians 3:17): "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." The Holy Spirit guards them against all cares and fears (Philippians 4:7): "And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds throug…

By promises (1 Peter 5:7): Casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you. (Philippians 4:6-7): Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understand…

And hence, says Job, I will speak that I may be refreshed. And Scripture backs this in (Philippians 4:6). Be careful in nothing, but in every thing make your requests known to God, and unload your cares and fears into the bosom of God: but how? Why by prayer and supplication in…

Thus doing we care not whether our work does please or displease the Devil: whether the world love us or hate us. For we knowing our work to be well done, and having a good conscience before God, go forward by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report, etc. (Philippians…

And the peace of good conscience is as a guard to keepe our hearts and minds in Christ. Phil 4:7. The fault of most men is, They spend their daies and their strength in seeking riches, honours, pleasures: and they thinke not on grace and peace.

(1 Timothy 4:12): Be an example in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, purity. (Philippians 4:8): What you have seen in me, that do. (Matthew 5:16): Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works.

The sayings of the wise are as nails or stakes fastened to range men in the compass of their own duties (Ecclesiastes 12:11). Again, the peace of God, or the assurance of our reconciliation with God, is a guard, to keep our hearts and senses in Christ (Philippians 4:7). If this…

And it is also very probable, that the Sabbath of the new testament is limited and determined by our Savior Christ to the Lord's day. For Paul and the rest of the Apostles observed the first day of the week for a Sabbath day (Acts 20:7), and he says, Whatever you have heard, and…

And Paul bids us to procure honest things in the sight of all men. And whatever things are true, and honest, and just, and pure; whatever appertain to love, and are of good report, we must think on them, and practice them (Philippians 4:8). Yet we must seek for the approbation o…

Vers. 13. And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine, eating and drinking, for tomorrow we shall die. The Prophet condemns not joy simply: for we see that Saint Paul himself exhorts the faithful to rejoice with a true joy; to wit…

And what marvel? For as the same Apostle teaches (Philippians 4:7), this peace passes all understanding. Having once obtained this justice, we shall be no more disquieted with inward terrors, as we were when we felt that God was angry with us.

Think not then that God promises such a peace as carnal sense can comprehend. No, we must dive into the deepest thoughts of our hearts, reformed by the Holy Ghost in righteousness and holiness, if we will enjoy this peace which passes understanding, as Paul says (Philippians 4:7…

Men no sooner feel that God is near to them, but they cast away fear, or at the least so resist it, that they are not overcome by it. In nothing be careful, says Saint Paul, for the Lord is at hand (Philippians 4:5 and 6), of which sentence we have treated at large elsewhere. It…

Although all Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorified: for in this place we may see that two contraries are opposed one to another. If the ministers of the word be ordained to save men, it is a great honor to them when many are brought to salvation; if not, it makes them…

For then they boasted themselves as being Lords of the whole world: but in the end they should feel that it is the proper and particular possession of God's children. Everlasting joy may be referred to the external estate of the Church; because God daily furnishes them with ampl…

Our condition is now different: but the doctrine remains the same, that whatever we offer to God is polluted, unless, at least as much as lies in us, (Romans 12:18,) we are at peace with our brethren. Alms are called in Scripture sacrifices of a sweet smell, (Philippians 4:18;)…

There is therefore no reason to wonder, if Christ invites the rich and poor indiscriminately to apply to their Heavenly Father for the supply of their wants. No man will sincerely offer such a prayer as this, unless he has learned, by the example of the Apostle Paul, "to be full…

Of this concord speaks Saint Paul (2 Corinthians 11), where he says thus: I fear, lest as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupt from the simplicity that is in Christ: which is as much to say, as, I fear lest the Devil likewise deceive you…

The same Apostle is very often, in his epistles, expressing the affection of Joy, 2 Corinthians 1:12; and chapter 7:7; and verse 9 and 16; Philippians [1]:4; and chapter 2:1, 2; and chapter 3:3; Colossians 1:24; 1 Thessalonians 3:9. He speaks of his rejoicing with great Joy, Phi…

But for that which some call a nextPower, or an ability to believe in order of Nature Antecedent to Believing it self, wrought in us by the Grace of God, the Scripture is silent. The Apostle Paul saith of himself, [[original in non-Latin script]], Phil. 4. 13. I can do all thing…

But, as was said, this has been formerly fully and largely confirmed in our Declaration of the impotency of our Nature by Reason of its Death in Sin, and so need not here to be further insisted on. By the grace of regeneration and sanctification, a power and ability is given unt…

Section 31. If this is the condition of the command of holiness, how just and equal must it be confessed to be, and how highly reasonable that we should comply with it, and how great is the sin and folly of those by whom it is neglected — to neglect or despise this command is to…

As to the first, It must be premised that the Question does not suppose the heart or will of a Christian to be at his own command and dispose in this matter: we cannot resign it, and subject it to the will of God whenever we desire so to do: the duty indeed is ours, but the powe…

Isaiah 39:2 David had more than a common stock of inherent grace, yet not enough to keep him in an equal temper of spirit under great alterations, Psalm 30. 6, 7. In my prosperity I said I shall never be moved; you hidest your face and I was troubled. It is not every man can say…

(1.) Eye the Care of God for you, 1 Peter 5:7 He careth for you. Your Father knows you have need of these things, Matth. 6:32 It is but to acquaint him what you want, and your wants are supplyed, Philippians 4:6 , torture not your selves about it: you have a Father that cares fo…

(4.) And was it not a special Favour to us, to have Parents that went before us as Patterns of Holiness, and beat the path to Heaven for us by their Examples? Who could say to us, as Philippians 4:9 What things ye have heard and seen in me, that do; and as 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be…

Now the messenger bespeaks Job thus, The oxen were plowing, they were hard at their work, and the asses were feeding besides them. The word in the Hebrew is this, the asses were feeding at their hand, or at hand; to be at hand, does note nearness; in our language we say, such a…

But when God does hide himself, or withdraws a little the beams of his goodness, so that they seem bare and banished, then has the love and praise an end, neither can they love or praise the bare and unfelt goodness hidden in God: whereby they declare that their spirit did not r…

Now this precept is further set out, by two circumstances; First, of the time, it must be done quickly, & not deferred upon any pretence or shewe of our own right: Secondly, of the place, in the way, as wee goe to the Court. In this Precept, our Savior Christ gives unto us a not…

This is []lat Atheisine: and yet we must distinguish of Gods blessings, for some are common blessings which God oft gives to men without their asking, because they serve to preserue nature: as raine and fruitfull seasons, food, raiment, &c. Act. 14. 16. and yet even these common…

2. Christ abounds in grace; he is full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Hence our wants are said to be made up, according to his riches in glory, by Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:19). 3. They are good and excellent graces and qualifications with which the Mediator is furnished, suc…

4. Christ is tender even of believers' fears, and has provided so well for their peace, as he has appointed means not only to prevent their hurt, but also to prevent their fears: For, because of fear has he appointed this guard. 5. There is no King or Monarch so well attended an…

3. Though outward profession alone be not all, yet is it necessary for completing the commendation of a believer. 4. Although good works be not the ground of our relation to Christ, but follows on it, and though it be not on the account of our works that the Lord is pleased with…