ous, and acknowledzed with praiſe, whether he lived or died, Rom. 14.8. yea, in the earthen Veſſel of his body, 2 Cor. 4. 11. (about which he was not ſollicitous, having retigned it entirely to C hrilt ) either in his enlargement and preaching of the Doctrin of Chrit, or in his being, oftered up and ſealing it by his Martyrdo!N.
21 For me to live « Chritt, and to die 7s Eull f- f Some read it. For Chriſt is my gain in Life 1nd is; Dea. Or. For Chrilt is to me both in Lifz and in Death advantage Both ac- knowledz2e ic to be brought in, as a reaſon of P's hope in Lite and Dearh; and of his indifterency in ſubmiſhon to God S my ſure in Lite and Death, intimating *twas all one to him 10 Chri was maznificd in his Body, whether it were by Lite or Þy Death. They who follow our Tranſlation, do expound the propolition dil- junctively,. The former reterring to the honour Ot Chritt, and the latter to the Salvation of Paul, which 1s underſtood by tle name of p4i7. Som2 underftand the former breach ethciently, q- 4- T derive my ſelf from Chriſt, unto whom I am united, he being the principle of it, as Gal. 2. 20. but others rathcr objeRtively
and finally, 9. d. as 1 have hitherto made ir the buline!s 0t lite to ſzrve Chriſt in Preaching his Golp?l , ſo if he continues my Life, 1 purpoſe that ia my living Body, by Preaching his Goſpel, and ſuffering *for his Name, as he requireth, He {hall be 2lorified. Then for the latter branch, if 1 die, in bearing 1c- ſtimony to Chriſt, *twill be gain to my (elf, in that 1 ſhall be with Chrift, which is better for me, v. 23. being preſent with the Lord, 2 Cor. 5. $. in whom my Lite 1s hid, Cole 3. 3s v0 that death would not empoveriſh, but inrich him. They who chule the latter reading, take the propotition conjunQively, to the ſenie that h2 accounted gain to him, to have the honour of Chriſt magni ficd in his Body, whether it hapned to him to live or die, tith he faithfully ſerved him living or dying, and own'd himſelf to be his both ways, Rom. 14. $8. He was not (as he faith elſewhere) Acts 20. 24. mov'd with accidentals; neither counted he his lite dear to him to teſtifie the Goſpel of the Grace of God z reckoning he had no Life but from Chriſt; whom he made it his bu- fineſs to ſerve and enjoy, fo that if he continued in the Body, Chrift would gain in that he delign'd to ſpend his Lite, for the Edification of his Church; and it he died in that cauie, Chriſt would gain by his Death, in that his truth would by the Blood of him who was a Martyr, be further ſcaled, and his intereft promo- ted, and his Glory advanced, and h2 himſelr would gain, th up- on his departure he ſhould be advanc'd to be with Chriſt, 0. 23» who alonz makes his faithful Seryfints happy in Life and Death.
22 ÞBuT iti hve 1nthe fleſh, -this zs the fruit of my Iabour g : yet what [ ſhall chnſe, I wot not h.
g Some from the various uſe of the Greek Particles render this firſt clauſe interrogativ-Iy. But whether to live in the fleſh were worth the while ? or more profitable ? (underſtand than to die.) Ihe Apoſtle having intimated the equality and indifferency of his mind in an entire ſubmiſhon to the will of God, whether that Slorifying Chriſt by his Life, or that by his Death were more Eligible * is upon deliberation, finding the advantage to Chritr, and himſelf upon expence of circumſtances either way, in an equal Balance, weighing on? thing with another. Living in the fleſh, z. e. abiding here in this mortal Body, which he thus expretieth by way of diminution, Gal. 2. 20. 1 Per. 4+ 1. in oppotition to, and compariſon of dying for and in the Lord, and ſo being with him, v.23. +þ He ſeems, loving the ?Philippizns as himſelf, to be at a loſs what to determin, if God ſhould permit him his choice, whether by labouring in his Miniſtry for the good of their Souls, he ſhould bring more fruit to Chriſt, or by ſuffering that which would ariſe from the Blood of a Martyr, who himſelf ſhould re- ceive a Crown, 2 Tims 4. $.
23 For laman a ſtrait betwixt two z, having a de- fire to depart k, and to be with Chriſt, which 1s far better /.
7 Becauſe he knew not what to chuſe for the beſt, he was held in ſuſpence, Luke 12.50. As 18. 5. as one drawn both ways With weighty reaſons, which he amplifies with reſpett to himſelf, and the Church, that Chriit might be honoured in both. His love to the enjoyment of Chriſt and the Edification of his Members con- ſtraining him on cach hand ; the former was more delightful to him, and the latrer more profitable for them. & Being held not only with a bare inclination, but an ardent and perpetually ative deſire, to looſe from this Clayie Tabernacle, P/zl. 42. I, 2. Ecch 12. 7. Like 2. 29. and I2. 36, 2 Cor. 5. 1,4, 2 Tim. 4.6. Soto depart as to abide in a better place. 1 Upon being abſent from the Body to be preſ2nt with Chriſt, 2 Cor. 5. 8. in Paradiſe, Luke 23+ 43+ 1 Theſſ.4. 17. lo to leave the Body as to live with and en- joy him in, Heaven 1s by far much better for me.
24 Nevertheleſs, to abide in the fleſh, zs more necd- ful for you 2. |
m However with reſpett to the Church, by his ftaying here in this mortal Body he perſwades himſelf, knowing the ſubtility of falſe Apoſtles, who would enter in as grievous Wolves, As 20. 2g. it was necelfary, to ſtrengthen them and other Churches in the faith of Chriſt,
25 And * having this confidence z, I know o that I ſhall abide an4 continue with .you all, for your fur- therance and joy of faith p.
Viz. Being perſwaded of what went immediately before, how uſeful the continuance of his Life, for a further time in this World, would be to the Church of Chrift, and particularly to them z he determins (as ſhould ſeem) with more than probable! conjecture, (tho upon ſuppoſition it ſhould be otherwiſe, he gies them abundant ſatisfaction in their adhering to Chrift, v. 27. c. 2. : 424 by en with a well-grounded knowledge either by a prophetick SP1F3T Iron a particular Revelation, ſuch as he had ſometimes be- tore had, A-!S16. 9, 10. and 23.11. or by the ſanctifying Spirit witneſhng With his >Pirit, Rom. 5. 16. ftrengthning his Faith and perlwation, helped by their Faith and Prayer, we 19. compar'd
FRILIPPIMAME