Use 2. And secondly, it ought to give us warning, that ive oinjht not to set upon anything, wherein we cannot expect God's gxifhoice ; and so conse- quently cannot trust on him for a blessing upon what we do. For if we do, we must look to meet the Lord standing in our way, as Balaam did, in opposing our lewd and wicked intentions.
Use 3. And thirdly, it ought to teach us to take nothing hut that for which ire may give God, the thanks and praise ; as contrarily many do, who may thank the devil for what they have gotten, and yet make God implicitly the giver of their most unjust exactions.
VEESE 25.
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus.
Paul thought it not enough to plant the seeds of the word amongst them, but he would be viewing it and watering. ' I purpose shortly to see you,' Baith he ; but because I am now in prison I cannot come myself, but I pur- pose presently to send you Epaphroditus, and afterwards Timothy ; and this he thought necessary — for well he knew that the residence of the pastor is necessary to the flock of the Lord, in some sort. But to stand upon this doctrine is not my purpose. The next thing I come to is, the com- mendations of Epaphroditus, which is divers ; out of which generally thus much we learn, that it is our duty to give them commendations that are praise- worthy, even to this end that thereby we might raise a good opinion of them, especially of the ministers of the gospel ; for hereby is the gospel itself glorified by us. And indeed it is a great sign that the spirit of the devil rests in that man, that doth detract and disparage the good children of God. For it comes hereby that the gospel of God is also blamed, and neglected. For the commendation of the minister is a preparative, and makes way for the word.
__^ My brother.
The word in this place signifies one of the same office. As judges call one another ' brother,' so doth St Paul call Epaphroditus ' brother,' in regard of his office and spiritual function ; and hereby he shews his love to him ; for ' brother' is a name of love and friendship. Secondly, it shews his care of Epaphroditus ; for one brother will care for another, unless they be of a Cainish nature. Thirdly, it is a name of equality, for brothers are equal. And hereby the apostle shews his humility, who being an apostle and pillar of the church, descended so low as to call one of inferior rank and calling, ' brother.' He had another spirit before his conversion ; he persecutes the church of God. But afterward those that he formerly per- secutes are now his ' brethren.' Now he thinks he is a debtor to all, both Jew and Grecian, Rom. i. 14. The proud man thinks ail are debtors to
OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. "37
him, that all do owe him respect and reverence ; and indeed it is the spirit of the devil that ' lifteth up.' Antichrist is his oldest son indeed, who lifteth himself up against, and above all that is called God. Contrarily Christ humbles himself to the death to call us brothers. Shall we then disdain to live together in terms of equality and love ? Is there not infinite difference between Christ and us ? Was there not in him such a glory as passeth our apprehension ? and what had we, or what have we, that we should lift ourselves up after this fashion ? If we will strive to bo above and outgo others, let it be in humility. Go each before others, in giving honour to others above ourselves. Observe, therefore, grace takes advan- tage of all bonds to increase love ; bonds of office as well as of nature. Men of the same profession emulate and envy one another. Thus it is naturally, but let religion teach us better, and take away this natural poison from us.
Fellow -lahourer.
The apostle commends him yet further. He calls Epaphroditus his ' fellow labourer,' in regard of the pains he endured ; and ' fellow soldier,* in regard of the perils and dangers he jointly did undergo with the apostle. The doctrine that hence arises is, that ministers are feUow-laboarers. They are not, or should not be, fellow-loiterers, as many are. No. The Scrip- tures compares them to the most painful and laborious professions ; to husbandmen, whose labour is circular, every year renewing as the year doth renew. Such is the ministers' labour, converting and strengthening others. It is a great labour to break the shell of the word ; to lay open the right interpretation thereof ; to divide it aright ; to convert a soul ; to preserve it from the devil. It is as the peril of women in travail ; ' My little children, of whom I travail in birth till Christ be formed in you,' saith Paul our apostle in Gal. iv. 19, Idle people are therefore unjust esteemers and judgers of the pains of ministers, they knowing it is out of their pro- per element.
Use. If ministers then be labourers, you to whom we preach are God's orchard ; you must submit yourselves to be wrought on. If we be builders, yoa must "be lively stones of this building. You must suffer yourselves to be squared, and cut, and made fit for this building while you are here. At the building and finishing of the material temple there was no noise of hammers, or such instruments ; all were fitted in the mountain. Thus* must we expect to be fitted here while we live ; for in that beautiful temple in heaven, there is no fashioning or fitting, either by crosses to hammer us, or by any other means. We must here be conformable to his death, that we may also be conformed to the similitude of his resurrection here- after. If ministers be husbandmen, you must be ' ground,' and such as may bring forth fruit to perfection, else -all our labour and pains that we take with you will be to no other end than to make you to be near cursing, Heb. vi. 7, And know, it is not sufficient that you bring not forth evil fruit ; but every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, must be hewed down and cast into the fire. Mat. iii. 10. Kemember Christ cursed the fig-tree for unfruitfulness ; and with what curse ? Even unfruitfulness. Thus will God do with us. If he finds us unfruitful, he will take away his Spirit, and we shall be unfruitful still ; and thisf by woeful experience we see daily, with many that come indeed within the sound of the word every day, but mend not one jot ; nay, they become every day worse. May not God complain, as he did of Judah in the parable of the vineyard, Isa, v, 5, * Misprinted ' this.'— G. t Misprinted ' thus.'— G.