2. In the next place, whatsoever we do, let us lalour to do it with the hest advantage, labouring to practise and exercise as much grace, and as many as we can ; as in giving, give in zeal to God's honour, in love, in mercy towards our brother that is in need, and in regard of justice we owe it to him. God hath commanded us to give him, and he will reward it ; for we lend to the Lord when we give to the poor, Prov. xix. 17. If we are to abstain from any evil, we are to abstain from it with a perfect hatred thereof, and consider how it will offend. It will break peace of conscience and dis- honour religion, scandalise those that are weak, dishonour God, and bring shame to ourselves ; yea, we must remember that the talents that God gives us do increase in the use of them. The more we strive to do things exactly, the more perfection we shall attain to, in the use of performances.
3. Thirdly, Let iis not neglect little things either in good or ill. Omit no occasion of doing good, and take heed of the least beginnings of ill ; abstain from all occasions and appearance of evil, for though in comparison they seem small, they are of great consequence.
4. Fourthly, We must keep our affections to holy exercises and means ; for God works by means. Neglect none, for so much perfection thou losest thereby, and consider what means will fit our disposition when we are in- disposed. Are we dull in prayer ? Then read. If that will not be endured, then use the communion of saints ; and still remember that we be not wearied with prayer, for God sends not his away empty. And that these things may be the more eflectual, observe some motives to stir us up.
And to this end, consider,
1. The privilege of a perfect Christian. 'He is as mount Sion, which cannot be moved,' Ps. xlvi. 5. If we tell him of death, it is his heart's desire. Tell him of afflictions : he is resolute ; he looks for them ; he knows he lives God's child, and so he shall die ; when a weak professor fears afilictions, fears ill tidings, fears death, and when it comes, seeks for com- fort and hardly finds it.
2. Secondly, A perfect Christian is a beautiful example, and makes others 171 love uith religion. He is thoroughly exercised and practised. The weak- ling is scandalous, makes men offended at religion j soon takes offence, soon stumbles, and gets many knocks so as his life is bitter.
3. Thirdly, The perfect man honours God, and gets him much glory by hearing, reading, praying, and such duties. Now as parents love those children best that are most like unto them, so those whom the Lord finds like unto him, he will make them more near to him in likeness.
* There does not seem to be sufficient reason for the belief that the woman spoken of in this passage was Mary Magdalene. — Ed.
PniLIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 15. 117
4. Fourthly, The perfeder a man is, the more near communion he hath with Christ ; and hath the greater fruit of Christ's love, and findcth peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Spirit ; to such as these, Christ hath promised to come and sup, and feast and refresh with his graces. For even to this end Christ came, to make us holy and pure, that he might present us to himself a glorious church, Eph. v. 26, 27 ; and therefore that Christ may attain to his end in us, let us endeavour unto perfection.
5. Fifthly, Our estate hereafter should move us hereunto. We look for ' a now heaven and a new earth,' 2 Peter iii. 13, and we desire to he ever with the Lord in that heaven wherein dwelleth righteousness ; and there- fore we ought to be diligent that we maybe found in him in peace, without spot and blameless. It is the apostle Petex"'s argument, 2 Peter iii. 13, 14 ; and therefore ' as many of us as be perfect, let us be thus minded,' that we cannot go far enough ; we must strive still on to perfection.
And if in anything ye he otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
St Paul aims at the comfort of those that are weak, implying that every Christian stood not in this pitch of disposition with the apostle ; and yet they were not to be discouraged. God will reveal the same mind to them also in his time.
1. In which words we may observe, first, that some Christians see not so far as others, neither at some times so loell as at other times ; but are like the
man in the gospel ; they see at the first men walk like trees, and after see things more plainly. ' The way of the righteous shineth more and more unto the perfect day, as the light doth,' saith the wise man. Prov. iv. 18. And as the church grew to knowledge by degrees, so do we ; for we first know things in general. At the first, Peter knew not that the Gentiles should be called, Acts x. And the disciples were at the first weak and subject to many infirmities, and therefore we must tahe heed of judging and censuring others, and also that ive discourage not ourselves, by reason of our weakness. God will in his time strengthen us, and it may be call them. Secondly, Observe it is God reveals this unto such. It is God that must take away the veil first, the veil of the thing, opening our understandings by reading and hearing ; and thus the thing itself is made fit to be known. Then he opens the veil of the heart and affections, to embrace and love the things. It is God that opened the heart of Lydia, Acts xvi. 14. ,. Let us therefore bear with the ignorant. Though God's time is not yet come, it may hereafter.