r In the mean time he gives them an account why he eſteemed 3t needful to ſend back Epphrodirus (whom ſome, but without ſuf- ficient warrant would have to be the ſame with Epaphras, Col. 1. 7. & 4. 12. Philem. v. 23.) unto them, not as if he had failed in do- ing what he was entruſted with, but for other weighty reaſons. / He would have them to know he had nothing to blame him for, but all in his commendation, whom in the common Faith he owned to be his Chriſtian Brother and Fellow-helper, or Fellow-worker in the Buſineſs of the Goſpel, as he calls others in the like circum- ſtances, Rom. 16. 3, 21. 2 Cor. 8.23. Col. 4. 11. 1 Theſſ. 3.2. Philem. 24. t And a faithful and conftant Affociate with him in the Chrittian warfare, 2 Cor. 10. 4. I Tim. 1. 18. Philem. 2. un- der Chriſt their Captain, againft all the aſſaults of the Devil, and the carnal World, which are continually warring to deſtroy real Chriſtianity. # But your Apoſtle, which muſt be underſtood largely, as it is ſometimes put for any Evangelift, Deacon, or Minifter of the Goſpel, Rom. 16. 7, 9. well rendred by us in this place, meſſenger, compared with ch. 4.18. 2 Cor. 8. 22, 23. not be- ins a ſpecial Apoftle of Chriſt, Mat. 10. 2. but an Officer of the Church at Philippi, delegated by them to carry relief to Paul. ww Unto whom it ſeems he did not only deliver the Preſent for his ſupport according to his truſt and commiſſion, wherein he faithfully ſerved the Church, but alſo as their publick Minifter, greatly help Paul the Priſoner in what he ſtood moſt in need of, which Paul could not but value, being the Romans were fo mild as to permit him a Captive ſo good attendance, and aſfiftance ; yet to declare his affetions to the Church at Philippz, he choſe rather to deny himſelf his necefſaries, than not to comfort them in remitting their way pes ſo greatly dehring their welfare, with this Let- ter to them,
* Philem. 22+.
*Ch4.19s
26 For he longed after you all x, and was full of |
=ra pag Z, decauſe that ye had heard that he had been LCK 2.
PHILIPPIANS.
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Chap, | x He gives them the firſt reaſon of his preſent ſending not tha; b Epaphrodreus was unwilling to ftay longer with him, but becauſ h . was greatly concerned for all of them of the Church at Ph 1 : who had his heartas they had Pau?s, ch. 1.8. & 4. 1, Rom " IPs Solicitous to be with them to do their Souls good. » frog contidering their great affettion to him, whom they had entruſt in this ſervice, he was in ſuch diſtreſs for them , that hj« SH rits were even ready to fail him, (as Marth, 26: 37.) ay Y Sympathy, 2 Cor. Ile 29. { Knowing how much the = = pig - bi —_— po in thoſe circumſtances. ; n : . = _ they could underſtand nothing of his recovery, would affe(} 27 For indeed he was fick nigh unto death ; but God had mercy on him b - and not on him only but on me allo c, leſt I ſhould have ſorrow upon fr.
row d.
4 By reaſon he was really taken with ſuch a Diſeaſe, a in it own nature was mortal, and in its tendency brought him ca Death's door, as 1/a. 38. 1. b But God who is the great Phrf- cian, and unto whom it belongs to ſhew mercy unto tho = addreſs to him (without whom bodily Phyſicians can do nathir ) by compalfionating of him in his miſery, was pleaſed to reftore hive to health, as 2 K7gs 20.5, 6. But if any ſay, Would it not bays been great mercy #0 bave taken him from the miſcries of bic lif, which are here prolong:d ? . Conſider chap. 1. 21. It may be anſwered 7. Death it ſelf, as it is a privation of life, and oppoſite to nature. was not deſirable by Paul any more than by our Saviour, but mizhe be looked upon as a kind of miſery, not to be preferred to Rl looked upon in it ſelf, but with reſpe& to another, ViFe AS it 4 paſſage to eternal life, To it is deſirable, for that life into which it leads the Godly, and ſois to be preferred to the miſerable con- dition of this life: Paul ſpeaks here of mercy, reſpeRing the for- mer, conſidering that this life it ſelf is a favour of God, for the ſervice of him, and our Neighbour. Further, 2. God's mercy here reſpetts not only the grievous ſickneſs of Epaphroditus, but the joint affliftion, that the loſs of him would be both to the 74; lippians, and to Paul in this junture, as we may ſee from what follows ; what Power Paul had for working of Miractes, was chiefly to convince Infidels, and he could only exert it when God fy good for his own Glory. Theretore he magnifies God's mercy here in a more ordinary way, asa return to Prayer, when he was fo atHicted for his Collegues illneſs, being upon an Office of kindneſs and compaſhon, his loſs would be in its tendency a ground of ſo much ſorrow to the Church, as well as to himſelf. 41 Whoſe Chrittianity had not extinguiſhed his natural affe&ions, but if the Church had then been bereft of Epaphroditus, would have added the affliction for his loſs, to his afiion by his ſuffering for Chrift, it would have doubled his afflition (yet ſomewhat in different ſenſe from that, c<. 1. 16.) it being an ill temper not to be grieved for the affliftion of the Church, Amos, 6. 6. yet all _ attettions are to be moderated according to the yill of 28 I ſent him therefore the more carefully e, that when ye ſee him again f'ye may rejoice g, and that may be the leſs ſorrowful h. |
e After his recovery, without delay, denying my ſelf the com- fort of his Society, T havediſpatched him away to you. f-Tothe end that he whom you look'd upon as dead, g might ſeaſonably ap- pear among you in Perſon, and cheer you up in your troubles for him and me. h And that T, who by reaſon of your kindneſs to me, have occaſioned his abſence from you , might upon his - afe return to you have ſomewhat to alleviate my grief, 2 Cr,
« IO.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord withall glad- neſs ;, and + hold ſuch in reputation &. 10h
z Hereupon having given his due charadter, he chargeth them "Ge all, Officers and People, to entertain him as a Servant. of the 8 Lord (as Chrift would have them receive his Servants, Mat. 10. | uy 40, 41. even with all ſpiritual joy) as ſometimes the Galatians "9 had received him, Gal. 4. 14. & Yea, as it becometh Saints, | Tx Rom. 16. 2. to have ſuch in eſteem very highly for their works , ſake, 1 Theſſ. 5. 13.
30 Becauſe for the work of Chriſt he was nigh unto death /, not regarding his life mz, to * ſupply your #10 lack of ſervice toward me 7. 164 1