60 SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. [SER. VL
and so spoken of everywhere in scripture ; as here it is called, ' the power of his resurrection ; ' so it is said, Eph. ii. 5, ' He hath quickened us together with Christ.' Not at the same time in our own persons, for so we are quickened a long time after Christ's resurrection in our effectual calling ; but by the same power by which Christ was quickened and raised we are quickened and we are raised also, every one of us in his own time. Our head and lord was dead, but is now alive and liveth for ever, for that end and purpose. By his resurrec- tion it appeareth that God is satisfied and appeased, death subdued and overcome, and Christ in a capacity, and exalted, to give us this new life, Acts v. 31. Christ rose ' as the first-fruits of the regenerate,' 1 Cor. xv. 20 ; as ' the first-born from the dead,' Col. i. 18 ; ' The first- begotten of the dead,' Rev. i. 5. He rose by his own power to immor- tality and life. So by the same power and virtue will he raise and quicken his members as the first-born among many brethren, and give the rest a share of the Father's goods.
But more particularly, I shall show you how, by virtue of Christ's resurrection, christians obtain the grace of a new life. [For this see sermon on 2 Corinthians v. 15.]
Secondly, The fellowship of his sufferings, ' that I may be conform- able to his death.' Here is the second privilege, conformity to the death of Christ ; so the apostle accounts it in this place. Here take notice —
1. Those that would be partakers of Christ must not fancy to them- selves an easy life free from all sufferings, but such a condition as they may be conformable to the death of Christ : Bom. viii. 17, ' If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.' We must be partakers of his sufferings if we would be partakers of his kingdom. If we be dead with him, and suffer with him, ' we shall also reign with him,' 2 Tim. ii. 12. The way to eternal salvation is to tread in Christ's steps, by the cross to come to the crown.
2. These sufferings for Christ should not seem grievous to God's children, and they should be so far from shunning sufferings when God calleth them to it, or from any repining or heartless discouragement, that they ought rather to think it their glory, and their great honour and happiness ; for Paul reckoneth it among his advantages. And else- where in scripture we are bidden to rejoice in it, if we suffer anything for Christ and his truth ; for indeed there is great comfort and joy to be had in suffering for him and with him in his mystical body. They that have tasted this sweetness count all things but loss and dung in comparison of it ; and so might we rejoice and be exceeding glad if we consult with the privileges of the Spirit rather than the interest of the flesh : James i. 2, ' Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations ; ' Mat. v. 11, 12, ' Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name's sake : rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.'
3. The two grand things which lighten all our afflictions and suf- ferings for Christ are those mentioned in the text — fellowship with him, and conformity to him.
[1.] Fellowship with him, ' That I may know the fellowship of his sufferings ; ' 1 Peter iv. 13, ' But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be
VER. 10.] SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. 61
glad also with exceeding joy.' How partakers of his sufferings ? He suffereth with them, and communicateth his Spirit, and that in a larger measure of comfort than to the rest of his people. As a special measure of wisdom and strength, so a more liberal allowance of sup- ports and comforts : Col. i. 24, ' Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh ; ' vo-repr/fiara XpiaTov, the leavings. The sufferings of christians are the sufferings of Christ, and the filling up of his sufferings. Not as if his personal sufferings for the redemption of sinners were imperfect, and to be supplied by our sufferings ; that cannot be, for ' by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified ; ' but partly because such is the sympathy between Christ and believers, that their sufferings are his sufferings : Acts ix. 4, ( Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? ' How persecute me ? Christ was far enough out of his reach, but he persecuted him in his members. When the toe is trod upon the tongue will cry out, You hurt me. And partly because so strict is the union which is between them and Christ, that he and they make up but one mystical Christ : 1 Cor. xii. 12, ' For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body ; so also is Christ.' That is not Christ personal, but Christ mystical ; they are one ; he partaketh of their sufferings, and they of his Spirit.