m He ſubjoins his moſt importunate Requeſt to ſome eminent Perfon who did faithfully and fincerely draw in the ſame Yoke of Chriſt with him, even ſuch another in that Church at Philipp! (whom they well knew from the freedom he uſed when he plant- ed the Goſpel amongſt them, or might more diſtinttly know from Epaphroditus) as he had repreſented Timothy to be, ch. 2. 20. yome both Ancient and Modern would have this to be PauPs own Wite, whom he left behind, but ſeeing it doth not appear that when he wrote this Epiſtle he had ever ſtaid above two Months at Philipp?, he elſewhere reckons himſelf, .amongft the unmarried, 1 Cor. 7. 5» and wiſhed thoſe who had the gift of continency to continue fo, under the ſharp perſecution of the Church for which he was fre- quent in Journeyings, Labours.and Priſons, 2 Core 11. 23+ there 35 no cogent Argument to evince that he was then married z how- ever, he had liberty to have had a Wife, - as well as Peter and others, Mat. 19. 29. and 22. 28. with 1 Cor. 9. 5- SOMme con- ceive by Yoke-fellow here is meant the lawful Husband of one of the forenamed honourable Matrons: Others, one called by that proper Name in Greek, but the Epithet annex'd doth not fo well ſuit» It may ſuffice to ſay it was an intimate Collegue and iincere Companion of Pay?s who was alike affeted with him drawing in the ſame Yoke, for the furtherance of the Goſpel, his genuine helper. # Whoſe ſpecial Aid, and Advice, Prayer and otherwiſe, he ſolicited on the behalf of thoſe pious Women, who aforetime (though not by publick Preaching in the Church which he elſe- where diſallowed, 1 Cor. 14. 24, 25. 1 Tim. 2, 12. but privately) had not only wrought, but earneſtly ftriven together with him, by teaching Youth and other Women, good things,” 77t. 2. 3. put- ting themſelves in hazard with him, in that dithcult work he 1ad amongſt them, and induring troubies with him for the pro- pagation of the Goſpel, Ch. 1. 27. Ads 16.13. as Phebe and Triſ- feilla, and Mary elſewhere, As 19. 2,3, 26. Rom. 16. 2,3- I Tim. 5. 10. 2 Tim. 4. 19. in Offices proper to their Sex. 0 Clement probably was ſome Church-Officer of Roman extra in that Colony at Philippi, (whether he, about whoſe order in the Catalogue of R'man Biſhops, Hiſtorians diſpute, there 1s no certainty.) p The reſt whom he doth not name, only deſcribe by the affiftance they gave him in the Holy Work of-the Goſpel, probably were other Church-Otficers. q Whoſe names he did in Charity, apprehend to be enrollF'd in Heaven, (as our Saviour ſpeaks to the rejoycing of his Seventy Diſciples) Lake 10. 20» We are not to think there 13 any Material Bovk wherein their names were written, but that he uſeth it as a borrow'd Speech intimarting his perſuaſion of them (as of the Ele@ion of others, 1 Thefſ. 1. 4+ with 1 Pet. 1.2.) that their Life was as certainly ſealed up with God, as if their Names bad been written in a Book for that purpoſe, looking upon them by their Fruit as truly gracious Perſons, whom God had effettually called according, to his purpoſe, Rom. 8. 23, 29, 33» Which is a Book written, Exod. 22. 32. 1ſa. 4. 3» Exeke 13.9. Diite 12. ls Rev. 2+ 5. and 13.8. and 20. 12. and 21.27. wherein the Lord knows whoare his, 2 Tim. 2. 19.
4 Rejoice 7 in the Lord alway /, and again I ſay Rejoyce tr.
r He doth here, confidering, the Importance of Chriſtian cheerfulneſs, which he had twice before put them upon, Chap. 2. 18. and 2. x. ſtir up them to true rejoycing, not only by repe- tition of the injun&tion, but by extending the duty. / To all times, and, t under the conditions. .For though there be Woe to the Enemies of Chriſt's Croſs, who laugh at his followers, Luke 6. 25.*yet they who are really found in him, have evermore ground of rejoycing, for all the Benefits of God they have through him, and the far more excellent, they do expe to receive upon his account, .Fohy 16. 33. 1 Cor. 1.31. 1 Theſſ. 5. 16. 1 Pet. I. 8
5 Let your modcration « be known unto all men.
Janes, * The Lord 7s at hand .
"
va 4 Exerciling an even temper of mind, in governing the ſenſual
appetite, with modeſty, patience, and gentlenels, in oppolition to all impetuouſneſs, and inordinacy of afteCtions, yea to all excels and exorbitances in Words and Actions. w Both in the Eye of the Church, and thoſe without, according to our Saviour's Sermon and Example, Mat. 5. 15, 39, 40, 41, and 17: 27. not rigoroully iniſting upon our own Rights, but with due ſelt-denial putting the beft conftrution upon the words and deeds of others, not troubling our hearts, Fobn 14. 1. baniſhing that ſolicitude about the good things of this life, which he doth in the next Verſe cau- tion againſt ſo, 1 Cor. 7+ 29, 30, Z1- x Conſidering the cogent motive of the Lord's approach, as Heb. 10. 25. Fames 5. $. not on- ly in regard of his Deity, whereby he reigns amongſt his Ene- mics, 2s 17. 27. Fer. 23« 29. not in regard of his ſpecial aids te his ſervants, Pſ. 14+ 5+ but in regard of his coming to Judgment, and ſetting all things right in a juſt diſtribution of Rewards and Pu- niſhments to comfort his Children, and confound thoſe that diſobey bim, Mat. 18. 24, 25+ Mark 10. 29, 30. Col. 3. 24. and 4+ 1. Heb. 1". 27. 1 Pet. 3. 3, 9. Rev. 22. 20. But frill we muſt remember when we conceive of the Lord's being at handen regard of death end Judgment, we muit not take our own but God's meaſures, in Waitin;s our appointed time during iis pleaſure, Mat, 24. 36. fiUls I. 7.
Vol. II.
PAHILIFFT 4s
other, and the intereſt of Religion amongſt them who received
y: but 12 every thing 2 by prayer a and {upplication 6 with thankt- glving c, let your requeſts be made known unto God 4.