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PHILIPPIANS iii. 18--21.
"For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even
weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end
is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their
shame, who mind earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven;
from whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who
shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be
conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby
He is able even to subject all things unto Himself."
Nothing is so incongruous in a Christian, and foreign to his
character, as to seek ease and rest; and to be engrossed with the
present life is foreign to our profession and enlistment. Thy Master
was crucified, and dost thou seek ease? Thy Master was pierced with
nails, and dost thou live delicately? Do these things become a noble
soldier? Wherefore Paul saith, "Many walk, of whom I told you
often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the
cross of Christ." Since there were some who made a pretense of
Christianity, yet lived in ease and luxury, and this is contrary to
the Cross: therefore he thus spoke. For the cross belongs to a soul
at its post for the fight, longing to die, seeking nothing like ease,
whilst their conduct is of the contrary sort. So that even if they
say, they are Christ's, still they are as it were enemies of the
Cross. For did they love the Cross, they would strive to live the
crucified life. Was not thy Master hung upon the tree? Do thou
otherwise imitate Him. Crucify thyself, though no one crucify thee.
Crucify thyself, not that thou mayest slay thyself, God forbid, for
that is a wicked thing, but as Paul said, "The world hath been
crucified unto me and I unto the world." (Gal. vi. 14.) If
thou lovest thy Master, die His death. Learn how great is the power
of the Cross; how many good things it hath achieved, and doth still:
how it is the safety of our life. Through it all things are done.
Baptism is through the Cross, for we must receive that seal.
The laying on of hands is through the Cross. If we are on journeys,
if we are at home, wherever we are, the Cross is a great good, the
armor of salvation, a shield which cannot be beaten down, a weapon to
oppose the devil; thou bearest the Cross when thou art at enmity with
him, not simply when thou sealest thyself by it, but when thou
sufferest the things belonging to the Cross.
Christ thought fit to call our sufferings by the name of the Cross.
As when he saith, "Except a man take up his cross and follow Me"
(Matt. xvi. 24), i.e. except he be prepared to die.
But these being base, and lovers of life, and lovers of their
bodies, are enemies of the Cross. And every one, who is a friend of
luxury, and of present safety, is an enemy of that Cross in which
Paul makes his boast: which he embraces, with which he desires to be
incorporated. As when he saith, "I am crucified unto the world,
and the world unto me." But here he saith, "I now tell you
weeping." Wherefore? Because the evil was urgent, because such
deserve tears. Of a truth the luxurious are worthy of tears, who make
fat that which is thrown about them, I mean the body, and take no
thought of that soul which must give account. Behold thou livest
delicately, behold thou art drunken, to-day and to-morrow, ten
years, twenty, thirty, fifty, a hundred, which is impossible; but
if thou wilt, let us suppose it. What is the end? What is the
gain? Nought at all. Doth it not then deserve tears, and
lamentations, to lead such a life; God hath brought us into this
course, that He may crown us, and we take our departure without doing
any noble action. Wherefore Paul weepeth, where others laugh, and
live in pleasure. So sympathetic is he: such thought taketh he for
all men. "Whose god," saith he, "is the belly." For this have
they a God! That is, "let us eat and drink!" Dost thou see, how
great an evil luxury is? to some their wealth, and to others their
belly is a god. Are not these too idolaters, and worse than the
common? And their "glory is in their shame." (1 Cor. xv.
32.) Some say it is circumcision. I think not so, but this is
its meaning, they make a boast of those things, of which they ought to
be ashamed. It is a fearful thing to do shameful actions; yet to do
them, and be ashamed, is only half so dreadful. But where a man even
boasts himself of them, it is excessive senselessness.
Do these words apply to them alone? And do those who are here present
escape the charge? And will no one have account to render of these
things? Does no one make a god of his belly, or glory in his shame?
I wish, earnestly I wish, that none of these charges lay against
us, and that I did not know any one involved in what I have said.
But I fear lest the words have more reference to us than to the men of
those times. For when one consumes his whole life in drinking and
reveling, and expends some small trifle on the poor, whilst he
consumes the larger portion on his belly, will not these words with
justice apply to him? No words are more apt to call attention, or
more cutting in reproof, than these: "Whose god is the belly, whose
glory is in their shame." And who are these? They, he says, who
mind earthly things. "Let us build houses." Where, I ask? On
the earth, they answer. Let us purchase farms; on the earth again:
let us obtain power; again on the earth: let us gain glory; again on
the earth: let us enrich ourselves; all these things are on the
earth. These are they, whose god is their belly; for if they have no
spiritual thoughts, but have all their possessions here, and mind
these things, with reason have they their belly for their god, in
saying, "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." And about
thy body, thou grievest, tell me, that it is of earth, though thus
thou art not at all injured. But thy soul thou draggest down to the
earth, when thou oughtest to render even thy body spiritual; for thou
mayest, if thou wilt. Thou hast received a belly, that thou mayest
feed, not distend it, that thou mayest have the mastery over it, not
have it as mistress over thee: that it may minister to thee for the
nourishment of the other parts, not that thou mayest minister to it,
not that thou mayest exceed limits. The sea, when it passes its
bounds, doth not work so many evils, as the belly doth to our body,
together with our soul. The former overfloweth all the earth, the
latter all the body. Put moderation for a boundary to it, as God
hath put the sand for the sea. Then if its waves arise, and rage
furiously, rebuke it, with the power which is in thee. See how God
hath honored thee, that thou mightest imitate Him, and thou wilt
not; but thou seest the belly overflowing, destroying and overwhelming
thy whole nature, and darest not to restrain or moderate it.
"Whose God," he saith, "is their belly." Let us see how Paul
served God: let us see how gluttons serve their belly. Do not they
undergo ten thousand such deaths? do not they fear to disobey whatever
it orders? do not they minister impossibilities to it? Are not they
worse than slaves? "But our citizenship," says he, "is in
Heaven." Let us not then seek for ease here; there do we shine,
where also our citizenship is. "From whence also," saith he, "we
wait for a Saviour," the Lord Jesus Christ: "who shall fashion
anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body
of his glory." By little and little he hath carried us up. He
saith, "From Heaven" and "Our Saviour," showing, from the
place and from the Person, the dignity of the subject. "Who shall
fashion anew the body of our humiliation," saith he.
The body now suffereth many things: it is bound with chains, it is
scourged, it suffereth innumerable evils; but the body of Christ
suffered the same.
This, then, he hinted at when he said, "That it may be conformed
to the body of his glory." Wherefore the body is the same, but
putteth on incorruption.
"Shall fashion anew." Wherefore the fashion is different; or
perchance he has spoken figuratively of the change.
He saith, "the body of our humiliation," because it is now
humbled, subject to destruction, to pain, because it seemeth to be
worthless, and to have nothing beyond that of other animals. "That
it may be conformed to the body of his glory." What? shall this our
body be fashioned like unto Him, who sitteth at the right hand of the
Father, to Him who is worshiped by the Angels, before whom do stand
the incorporeal Powers, to Him who is above all rule and power, and
might? If then the whole world were to take up weeping and lament for
those who have fallen from this hope, could it worthily lament?
because, when a promise is given us of our body being made like to
Him, it still departs with the demons. I care not for hell
henceforth; whatever can be said, having fallen from so great glory,
now and henceforth consider hell to be nothing to this falling away.
What sayest thou, O Paul? To be made like unto Him? Yes, he
answereth; then, lest you should disbelieve, he addeth a reason;
"According to the working whereby He is able even to subject all
things unto Himself." He hath power, saith he, to subject all
things unto Himself, wherefore also destruction and death. Or
rather, He doth this also with the same power. For tell me, which
requireth the greater power, to subject demons, and Angels, and
Archangels, and Cherubim, and Seraphim, or to make the body
incorruptible and immortal? The latter certainly much more than the
former; he showed forth the greater works of His power, that you
might believe these too. Wherefore, though ye see these men
rejoicing, and honored, yet stand firm, be not offended at them, be
not moved. These our hopes are sufficient to raise up even the most
sluggish and indolent.
Chap. iv. ver. I. "Wherefore," saith he, "my brethren,
beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord,
my beloved."
"So." How? Unmoved. See how he addeth praise after
exhortation, "my joy and my crown," not simply joy but glory too,
not simply glory but my crown too. Which glory nought can equal,
since it is the crown of Paul. "So stand fast in the Lord, my
beloved," i.e. in the hope of God.
Ver. 2, 3. "I exhort Euodia, and exhort Syntyche, to be of
the same mind in the Lord. Yea, I beseech thee also, true
yokefellow, help these women."
Some say Paul here exhorts his own wife; but it is not so, but some
other woman, or the husband of one of them. "Help these women, for
they labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and the rest
of my fellow-workers whose names are in the book of life." Seest
thou how great a testimony he beareth to their virtue? For as Christ
saith to his Apostles, "Rejoice not that the spirits are subject to
you, but rejoice that your names are written in the book of life"
(Luke x. 20); so Paul testifieth to them, saying, "whose
names are in the book of life." These women seem to me to be the
chief of the Church which was there, and he commendeth them to some
notable man whom he calls his "yokefellow," to whom perchance he was
wont to commend them, as to a fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier,
and brother, and companion, as he doth in the Epistle to the
Romans, when he saith, "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, who
is a servant of the Church that is at Cenchrea." (Rom. xvi.
1.) "Yokefellow;" either some brother of theirs, or a husband of
hers; as if he had said, Now thou art a true brother, now a true
husband, because thou hast become a Member. "For they labored with
me in the Gospel." This protection came from home, not from
friendship, but for good deeds. "Labored with me." What sayest
thou? Did women labor with thee? Yes, he answereth, they too
contributed no small portion. Although many were they who wrought
together with him, yet these women also acted with him amongst the
many. The Churches then were no little edified, for many good ends
are gained where they who are approved, be they men, or be they
women, enjoy from the rest such honor. For in the first place the
rest were led on to a like zeal; in the second place, they also gained
a by the respect shown; and thirdly, they made those very persons more
zealous and earnest. Wherefore thou seest that Paul hath everywhere a
care for this, and commendeth such men for consideration. As he saith
in the Epistle to the Corinthians: "Who are the first-fruits of
Achaia," (1 Cor. xvi. 15.) Some say that the word
"yokefellow," (Syzygus,) is a proper name. Well, what?
Whether it be so, or no, we need not accurately enquire, but observe
that he gives his orders, that these women should enjoy much
protection.
All we have, saith he, is in the heavens, our Saviour, our city,
whatever a man can name: "whence," saith he, "we wait for a
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." And this is an act of His
kindness and love toward man. He Himself again cometh to us, he doth
not drag us thither, but takes us, and so departs with us. And this
is a mark of great honor; for if He came to us when we were enemies,
much rather doth He now when we are become friends. He doth not
commit this to the Angels, nor to servants, but Himself cometh to
call us to His royal man sion. See, we also "shall be caught up in
the clouds" (1 Thess. iv. 17), doing him honor.
Who then is to be found "the faithful and wise servant"? Who are
they that are deemed worthy of such good things? How miserable are
those who fail! For if we were forever to weep, should we do aught
worthy of the occasion? For were you to make mention of hells
innumerable, you would name nothing equal to that pain which the soul
sustaineth, when all the world is in confusion, when the trumpets are
sounding, when the Angels are rushing forward, the first, then the
second, then the third, then ten thousand ranks, are pouring forth
upon the earth; then the Cherubim, (and many are these and
infinite;) the Seraphim; when He Himself is coming, with His
ineffable glory; when those meet Him, who had gone to gather the
elect into the midst; when Paul and his companions, and all who in
his time had been approved, are crowned, are proclaimed aloud, are
honored by the King, before all His heavenly host. For if hell did
not exist, how fearful a thing it is, that the one part should be
honored, and the other dishonored! Hell, I confess, is
intolerable, yea, very intolerable, but more intolerable than it is
the loss of the Kingdom. Consider; if any king, or the son of a
king, having taken his departure, and been successful in innumerable
wars, and become the object of admiration, should with his army
entire, return to any city, in his chariot, with his trophies, with
his innumerable ranks of golden shields, with his spearmen, his
body-guard all about him, whilst the whole city was adorned with
crowns, whilst all the rulers of the world accompanied him, and all
the soldiery of foreign nations followed him as captives, then
praefects, satraps, and in the presence of all the rulers, and all
that splendor, he should receive the citizens who meet him, and kiss
them, and stretch forth his hand, and give them freedom of access,
and converse with them, all standing around, as with friends, and
tell them that all that journey was undertaken for their sake, and
should lead them into his palace, and give them a share of it, even if
the rest should not be punished, to how great punishment would not this
be equal? But if in the case of men it were a bitter thing to fall
away from this glory, much more is it so with God, when all the
heavenly Powers are present with the King, when the demons, bound,
and bowing down their heads, and the devil himself is led along in
chains, and all military force that opposeth itself, when the Powers
of the heavens, when He Himself, cometh upon the clouds.
Believe me, I am not even able to finish my words, from the grief
which lays hold of my soul at this relation. Consider of how great
glory we shall be deprived, when it is in our power not to be deprived
of it. For this is the misery, that we suffer these things, when it
is in our power not to suffer them. When he receiveth the one part and
leadeth them to His Father in heaven, and rejecteth the other, whom
Angels take and drag against their will, weeping, and hanging down
their heads, to the fire of hell, when they have first been made a
spectacle to the whole world, what grief, think you, is there? Let
us then make haste, while there is time, and take great thought of our
own salvation. How many things have we to say like the rich man? If
any one would now suffer us, we would take counsel of the things that
are profitable! But no one doth suffer us. And that we shall so
say, is clear, not from him alone, but from many others. And that
you may learn this, how many men have been in fevers, and said, if we
recover, we shall never again fall into the same state. Many such
words we shall then say, but we shall be answered as the rich man was,
that there is a gulf, that we have received our good things here.
(Luke xvi. 25, 26.) Let us groan then, I entreat you,
bitterly, rather let us not only groan, but pursue virtue too; let us
lament now, for salvation, that we may not then lament in vain. Let
us weep now, and not weep then, at our evil lot. This weeping is of
virtue, that of unprofitable repentance; let us afflict ourselves
now, that we may not then; for it is not the same thing to be
afflicted here and there. Here, thou art afflicted for a little
time, or rather thou dost not perceive thy affliction, knowing that
thou art afflicted for thy good. But there, the affliction is more
bitter, because it is not in hope, nor for any escape, but without
limit, and throughout.
But may we all be freed from this, and obtain remission. But let us
pray and be diligent, that we may obtain the remission. Let us be
diligent, I entreat; for if we are diligent, we prevail even through
our prayer: if we pray earnestly, God grants our request; but if we
neither ask Him, nor do earnestly aught of this sort, nor work, how
is it possible that we should ever succeed? By sleeping? Not at
all. For it is much if even by running, and stretching forth, and
being conformed to His death, as Paul said, we shall be able to
succeed, not to say sleeping. "If by any means I may attain,"
saith he. But if Paul said, "If by any means I may attain,"
what shall we say? For it is not possible by sleeping to accomplish
even worldly business, not to say spiritual. By sleeping, not even
from friends can anything be received, far less from God. Not even
fathers honor them who sleep, far less doth God. Let us labor for a
little time, that we may have rest for ever. We must at all events be
afflicted. If we are not afflicted here, it awaits us there. Why
choose we not to be afflicted here, that there we may have rest, and
obtain the unspeakable blessings, in Christ Jesus, with whom, to
the Father together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, power, and
honor, now and ever, world without end. Amen.
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