NOTES.
(a) P. 8. — ' No perfunctory thing can please God. To this end, as Seneca sayp, of performing of duties natural, so in religious duties there is required : first, a right judgment of the nature of the thing we do ; secondly, an aflfection to do it,' &c. This is a commonplace of the Stoic philosophy ; and while I have not been able to trace the words, the sentiment is frequent in the Letters of Seneca, as well as in those of Cicero.
(6) P, 15. — ' " Fortiter pro te, suaviter pro me, Domine," saith the father.' A varia- tion or adaptation by Augustine of the apophthegm, 'Fortiter in re, sitaviter in modo.'
(c) P. 21. — ' " My soul waitelh on God with silence,'' for so is the signification of the word.' The literal rendering is, ' Only to God (is) my soul silent ; ' one of the standard proof-texts with the Quakers, in support of their ' silent ' meetings.
{d) P. 22. — ' Homo sum, said Salvian, secreta Dei non intelligo.' This is one of various of the reverential sayings of this priest of Marseilles, who is usually classed with the Fathers. It occurs in the most thoughtful of his books, his De Providentia Dei, which, from its frequent citation by the Puritans, must have been a favourite with them. Cf. lib. i., near beginning.
(e) P. 23. — ' Harmless.' The word signifies without all mixture or composition ; or else void of hurt, without harm, as the word imports. The word is 'a/Z/E/ATro/, on which cf. Bishop Ellicott, who gives valuable references on its derivation and lexical meaning. G.
OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.*
But I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come shortly. — Phil. II. 24.
In the former verses the apostle Paul shews his care and love that he bore to the Philippians, iu that he would not leave them destitute of a guide and director ; and therefore he sends Timothy, whom he commends, to shew his love the more ; and for his greater commendations, he shews the wicked- ness of the contrary sort, that thereby Timothy his sincerity may the bet- ter appear ; ' others seek their own, but Timothy as a son hath served me.' He lays down the causes of this his sincerity. He first had learned the Scriptures of a child ; then he had a gracious grandmother and mother. It is an excellent comfortable thing whenas children can say, ' I am the son of thy servant and thy handmaid,' Ps. Ixxxvi. 16. And a third cause or help was his conversing with him. He drew in the sweet spirit of the blessed apostle. God, he derivesf good to men by good society. They are there- fore enemies to themselves that regard not good, choice company ; for it makes of good excellent, and of those that are not yet good, if they belong to God, it makes them good.
In this verse he shews a further degree of his care of the Philippians. There are J divers ways to come to the knowledge of men's estate : as first by report ; secondly, by messengers ; thirdly, by letter. St Paul had used all these ; but his care w'as such as all these would not content him. He must see them himself, which is indeed the surest means and way of all.
In these words, therefore, consider the manner of the delivery of this speech, ' I trust in the Lord.' Then the matter, which contains a purpose of his coming. Then the ground, his trust in God. Here, fii'st of all, mark the language of Canaan ; and the heavenly dialect,
1. To express future purposes icith a reservation of, and resiynation to, God's will and yuidance. ' I trust in God,' saith the apostle ; for the hearts of men, yea of kings, are in God's hand, to turn and wind them as the rivers of waters, Prov. xxi. 1. This shews Christ to be God, for ho ia the object of trust. Observe in the second place,
2. God's providence extends to every jJarticular thiny. He guides our incomings and our outgoings ; he disposes of our journeys ; nay, his pro- vidence extends to the smallest things, to the sparrows and to the hair of our heads ; he governs every particular passage of our lives.
* ' Of the Providence of God ' immediately follows ' The Christian Work,' without separate title-page, in the 4to of 1639. Cf. note, page 2. — G.
t That is, ' communicates.' — G. t Misprinted ' is.'— G.
36 OF TRE PROVTDENCK OF GOD.
Use 1. This plionld teach ns to set upon onr afHxirs vilh looking vp to Jieaveii far permissio')!, power, and fiiiJJ'ereDice ; and this St James enforces by reproving the contrary. ' Go to,' saith he in his fourth chapter, and ver. IBth, and adds the instruction thereupon ; ' for that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that.' Let us therefore in all our affairs he holy, and not hind or limit our holiness only to coming to church ; but seeing at all times and in all places we arc Christians, and ever in the presence of God, let us place ourselves still in his eye, and do nothing but that we would be willing God shall see ; and labour to behold him in every good thing wo have, and give him thanks in all the good we enjoy.