with them, he might by his Miniftry further their Faith in Cho; 3 their joy in the Holy Ghoſt, and more abundant gloryin Wins, power of Jeſus Chrift, for his ſafety, and being reitore3 5, mi... as we ſee in what follows, and Fph. 4. 12. with 2 Tim. 4. Pers find from his firſt Tmpriſonment at Rome, (when likely th; MP wh was written) he was delivered and for ſome years reftrored « (#6 Churches which he had planted. | : 00 0 IO
26 That * your rejoicing may be more abungarr
in Jeſus Chriſt tor me, by my coming to you 4541 ,
with them, he expreſſeth an admirable affetion to them that 1.5 12. can be content for a time to be depriv'd of the glorious Pw whe Chriſt, that he might ſee and ſerve them, and thar under I tion 3 that they might upon his return to them more abyng ith glory together, not in themſelves, but, Chriftian-like, in Chr; ſus, the Author of that Do&trinhe had preached to them the tain of their Salvation, and the common Head of Chriſtianity.
27 Oaly let your converſation be as it DECOMEth the Goſpel of Chriſt 7, that whether 1 come and {.« you, or elſe he abſent, 1 may hear of your Affairs [ that ye ſtand faſt in one ſpirit, with one mind +. "Sy ving together for the faith of the Goſpel v.
7 q. 4 In the mean time whatever becomes of me, that which is for your part ſolely incumbent” on you, who are brought jn:q the fellowſhip of the Goſpel, is to demean your ſelves truly ny able to that ſtate. The original phrale as afterwards ek Epiſtle, ch. 23. 20. and 4. 8. and elſewhere, As 25, 1. import; that. their deportment ſhould be anſwerable to their Citizenſtin that they ſhould behave themſelves as might be mc to the Mw: lick good of the ſociety to which they do relate, not heins of 1 World here, any more than their Head, foln 15. 19. and 1” 16. Their courſe of life ſhould be every way anſwerable to thei: High Calling, Eph. 4. 1. Col. 1. 10. 1 Thefſ. 2. 12. bringins fort fruit meet for repentance. / Intimating that itdid behove them conſtantly to adorn the Goſpel, in the exerciſe of Chriſtian Gr. rage, unanimity and patience as well when he was diftant f:9n them, as when among them to overſee them : not as if he douhtcs of returning to them for their greater edification, but furth:; tg ſatisfe them as to his entire ſubmiſhon unto God's Pleaſure on his journey, or at home, 2 Cor. 5.6, 8. and to excite them to ſhake off floath, and to diſcharge their duty with all diligence, which would greatly cheer his heart. rt By 1. their ftedfaft endeavour atter a ſweet, cloſe, holy, laſting union among themſelves, tor one ſpirit, one ſoul or mind, here ſeem to imply one underftand- ing enlightned by the Santtifying Spirit, and one heart as a2 in- ward uniting principle, which muſt upon no temptation be chan- ged 3 compare ch. 2. 1. and 3. 16. and 4. 2. with Ron 12. 16, and 1 Cor. 1.10. 2 Cor. 13. Il. Eph. 4.2.3. 1 Per. 3. $. accord- ing to our Saviour's Prayer, Fohn 17.11, 20, 21, 22, 22, whit was heard, As 1. 14. and 2. 46. and 4. 22. and £. i nor oaly by their Union in heart and mind, but 2. Their mutoal hepful- neſs in attion, as ſpiritual Champions jining their Forces tore ther, for the defence of their Royal Charter, the maintenance ot the main principles of Chriſtianity, againſt all troublers of the Church, and ſubverters of the Evangelical Faith, 1 Cor. 9. 24,25» Gal. 1. 13. Eph. 6. 14. with 2 Tim. 4- Jo. u-2. A couravions Spirit under ſufferings trom their moſt malignant Gain-layers, and Perſecutors, who do wittingly and willingly oppoſe the 7 ruth, ard them profeſſing of it, as $imoz Magys and others did, Adtts $. 13, 20, 21. 1 Tim. I. 20. 2 Tim. 1. 15. :
28 And 1n nothing terrified by your adverſarics which 1s to them an evident token of perdition n, but * to you of ſalvation x, and that of God y. 6 .*. The original word which the Apoſtle uſeth, imports, they ſhould not be appailed or affrighted, as Men and Horſes are apt ' to be when furioutly charg'd by their deadly enemies, bur ſtoutly receive them, keeping their ground, Mar. 10. 28. Lile 12. 32, w Conhidering on one hand their moſt pertinacious T1ge, 1S 0 0- ther than an evident and convincing argument, -or Cercain tore- runner of the adverſaries utter ruin, Exod. 22, 22, 24. AVille 2. 0, 9. 2 Theſſ. 1.5, 6,8,9. x But on the other hand to ſound belic- vers who behave themſelves as becomes the Goſpel, a manr feſt demonſtration of their everlaſting welfare and glory, Mai. 5. 10. and 10. 32, 39. Rom. 2. 7, 10. Eph. 2, 12. 2 Th/(ſ. 1. 6,7-
atitly y - it lee Can
»y By the diſpoſal of the all-wiſe and righteous Governor, who
may for a time permit his or his Peoples Adverſaries co domineer, Fob 1. 21. Prove 16, 4. but being a rewarded of thoſe that dili- gently ſeek him, Zeb. 11. 6. will of his grace lenifie the ſharpne!s
of the Croſs z enable Believers to hold out againſt all the opp0- tition of their Enemies, make them partakers of his Holineſs, and bring them to Glory, Zeb. 12. 10, 11. 2 Tim. 2; 11, 12. Which might abundantly comfort the Philippians as others, Gl.6. 17
29 For unto you * it 1s given & in the beialt Os Chriſt a, not oaly to believe on him b, bur allo TO gu, ſiffer for his ſake c. :
z He adds a further argument to move them unto that B2 had exhorted, from God's treely beſtowing of his merc grace wat
he had required of them. 4 Upon the account of Chritt's Merit and Mediation ; not that they could have either exangelical Faith, or Patience, by virtue of their own ftrength, c<. 4. 13%. 6 12at they did not only believe Chrift, but believe on him, Was not from any power of their own, Fobn 6. 37, 44. but of Ged's ire? gift, Eph. 2. 8. as they had an inftance among them in Ly4:4 Atts 16. 14. unto her and others was this victorious Grace ol Faith freely given by the hearing of the Word, which was nv! unto many others that heard, Mat. 13. 11. 2 Thefſ. 3 2» Tits 1+ 1+ and as the grace it felf was given, ſo was the exXercue 0! If c Sith upon the account of Chriſt, patience was given, {0 that ft ſuffer here, doth not only import a power to ſutter, but actitis ſuffering ; not-only the habit of Faith, but the act of Felieving z even as the Fruits of Trees at the firſt Creation were proto!
With, I Pct. ie $. p To theſe ends that by his perſonal preſence
as well as the Frees which had a power to- bear then; Vr north
ANNE +
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q Here, in confidence of being again with them, and ſtaring 142-4:
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Chap. II
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