J. HE blessed apostle in this chapter makes and amongst the rest, he puts up two rare a solemn prayer to God for these Philippians ; petitions for them.
TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
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1. Thatthey might be sincere. Verse 10.
2. Tliiit they might be fruitful, in the words of the text, "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness," &c. Where is observable,
1. The matter, " Being filled with fruits."
2. The manner of production, " by Jesus Christ."
3. The end, " which are to the glory and praise of God."
Doctrine from whence this great truth doth result, " That Christians should above all thinors endeavour after fruitfulness." The saints are called " trees of righteousness," Isa. Ixi. 3. These rational trees must not only bring forth leaves, but fruit ; " Being filled with the fruits of righteousness." For the further amplifying of this, there are two things to be inquired into.
1. How a Christian brings forth fruit.
2. What is the fruit he brings forth. 1. How a Christian brings forth fruit. I
answer ; he brings forth fruit " in the vine ;" by nature we are barren ; there is not one good blossom growing on us ; but when by faith we are ingrafted into Christ, then we grow and fructify, John xv. 4. " As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me." Jesus Christ is that blessed root which shoots up that sap of grace into his branches. The Pelagians tell us we have sufficiency of ourselves to bring forth good fruit : but how improper is this ? doth not the root contribute to the branches ? is it not of Christ's precious fulness that we receive ? John i. 16. Therefore it is observable Christ calls the spouse's grace his grace, Cant v. 1. *' I have gathered my myrrh with my spice." Christ saith not, thy myrrh, but my myrrh. If the saints bear any spiritual fruit, they are beholden to Christ for it, it is his myrrh, Hos. x'lv^. 8. " From me is thy fruit found."
2. What that fruit is which a good Chris- tian brings forth. Answer ; it is
1. Inward fruit. 2. Outward fruit. 3. Kindly fruit. 4. Seasonable fruit.
1. A Christian brings forth inward fruit: " Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentle- ness, goodness, faith," Gal. v. 22. Thus fruit is sweet, and mellow, growing under the Sun of righteousness ; this is that ripe fruit God delights to taste of, Micah vii. 1.
2. A Christian brings forth outward fruit. (1.) The fruit of good discourse, Prov. xv. 4. « A wholesome tongue is a tree of life." Gracious speeches fall from the lips of a god- ly man, as fruit from a tree.
(2.) The fruit of good works. Col. i. 10. God will say at the last day, show me thy faith by thy works, James ii. 18. A true saint doth all the good he can, " honourino- the Lord with his substance ;" he knows he is to be in the world but a while, therefore lives much in a little time, and crowds up a great deal of work in a little room ; it was Christ's speech not long before his suffering, " I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do," John xvii. 4. How can they be said to finish their work, that never yet be- gan a good work ?
3. A Christian brings forth kindly fruit. The godly man bringeth forth " liis fruit, Psal. i. 3. That is, he brings forth that fruit which is proper for him to bear. But what is this kindly and proper fruit? I answer, when we are good in our callings and rela- tions : in a magistrate, justice is kindly fruit, Deut. xvi. 19. in a minister, zeal, Acts xvii. 16. in a parent, instruction, Deut. iv 10. in a child, reverence, Eph. vi. 1. in a master, good example, Gen. xviii. 19. Eph vi. 9. in a servant, obedience, 1 Pet. ii. 18. in the husband, love, Eph. v. 25. in the wife, sub- mission, Eph. V. 22. in a tradesman, dili- gence, Exod. XX. 9. in a soldier, innocence, Luke iii. 14. A tree of God's planting brino-s forth his fruit, that which is suitable and proper. I shall never believe him to be good, that doth not bear kindly fruit; a good Christian, but a bad master ; a good Chris- tian, but a bad parent, doth not sound well. That minister can no more be good which wants zeal, than tliat wine is good which wants spirits ; that magistrate can no more be good which wants justice, than that pillar is good which is not upright. That child can no more be good who doth not honour his pa- rent, than a traitor can be said to be loyal. When Absidom did rise up in rebellion against his father, the mule which he rode upon (a-s if she were weary of carrying such a burden) resigns up her load to the great thick oak, and there left him hanging by the head betwixt heaven and earth, as neither fit
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TEEES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
to ascend the one, nor worthy to tread upon the other.
Let Christians be persuaded to bring forth proper and genuine fruit, and shine forth in their relations : consider,