* That is, = nurse = coufirm — G.
132 EXPOSITION OF
w'orldh', and to follow their belly, it calls them back with a ' but know for all this, God will bring thee to judgment ;' which, duly pondered, cannot but be as a hook in our jaws to bring us back to a more diligent watch over our ways.
And whose glory is in their shame.
A second part of the inward disposition, shewing that they glory in that •which brought shame to them ; for circumcision was a ceremony given to the church when it was but in the infancy ; and for them that were born in the strength of the chm'ch, being well grown, to glory in such beggarly rudiments was shameful. In the words, first consider the affection ; second, the object or end, for the word implies both. And in the first consider the sin, then the cure.
The sin that is reproved in them is ' vain-glory ;' that is, glorying in a thing not to be gloried in ; and it is grounded upon pride, which is a desire of excellency in vain things ; and it is for the most part in vain injudicious men, who ordinarily do glory in things that tend to shame. These Philip- pians saw that Paul was now committed. The doctrine he taught they thought was not good enough ; they would be wiser than he, and of deeper reach.
And thus even within the pale of the church, what a scandal is it that men should glory in a graceless grace of swearing, fQling up rotten dis- course with new devised oaths ! And others glory in their foolish con- ceited gallant apparel ; which was for no other end but principally to cover shame. Is not this to glory in shame ? And much more those, that blaming, as it were, God for making them no fairer, will mend the work- manship of God by painting. These, while they seek to keep outward blemishes from the eyes of men, do discover to the whole world that they have a spotted rotten heart within them.
And, indeed, it is too common for men ill bred up, to think admirably of themselves, when all their courses are mere vanity. He is the only man of account that cannot put up a cross word without blood. Is not this to glory in shame, whenas it is the glory of a man to pass by an offence, and they are the best men that can overcome themselves ? And as helpers on of this vain boasting, we have a generation of ignorant unsettled understand- ings, that admire at such shameless boasters, and so are causes of strength- ening such in their vain-glory. Such are flatterers of great men. Let them remember what is denounced against such. Woe be to them that call evil good and good evil.
In the next place, Shame is not only the object of vcnn-ylory, hut the end. They that are vain-glorious shall be brought to shame at length. Thus it is said of Babylon in Isaiah, and mystical Bab3'lon in the Eevelations : ' Though she say, I sit as a queen, and shall see no mom-ning, yet shall her plagues come in one day, death, and destruction, and mourning,' Isa. xlvii. 9, and li. 19 ; Rev. xviii. 8.
For God hath knit vain-glory and shame, a punishment proportionable and fitting to the sin, and striking the offender most near, even to the heart. And thus did God meet with Ahithophel, Absalom, and Haman. They sought vain-glory, and their ends were shameful; and such shall be the end of all such as boast that they can do mischief like Doeg, Ps. lii., title, et seq. And the righteous shall see, and fear, and laugh at them.
For use to ourselves, therefore, let us take heed of sin. For by nature the
PniLIPPIANS CUAP. Ill, VER. 19. 133
best of us are subject to it. We arc all inclinable either to glory in such things as we should not, or to receive glory from such things as we ought not ; or else to glory after an inordinate manner. And in that measure we glory amiss, in that measure wo consult shame to ourselves. Glory we may, but it must be well grounded, and in a right manner.
And to the attaining thereto we must first labour for a sound knowledge of God, and for a sound dependence upon him in all tliiuf/s, and also labour for to see our own estate, and our many rvants ; for wanting this knowledge, men glory in merits while they live. But when they die they grow ashamed of their courses and blind judgment. For while they live they judge of themselves by their own conceit of themselves, which is grounded either by comparing of themselves with those that are worse than themselves, as the Pharisee, that thanked God he was not as the publican, Luke xviii. 11; or else upon the conceit that shallow persons have of them.
1. But these are not rules for us to follow. Look rather what says the humbled conscience ; what says God's word and his justice ; and take example of the apostles and holy men of God, that gloried in the Lord reconciled to us in Christ, ' who is made to us wisdom, sanctification, and redemption,' 1 Cor. i. 30. ' Rejoice that our names are written in heaven,' Luke x. 20. Rejoice that we understand and know God to be just and merciful, Jer. ix. 23, 24. Glory in the testimony of a good con- science, that we are true Christians, though but weak, 2 Cor. i. 12.