A12184:140
An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the…
An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians also two sermons of Christian watchfulness. The first upon Luke 12 37. The second upon Revel. 16.15. An exposition of part of the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philip. A sermon upon Mal. 4. 2.3. By the late reverend divine Richard Sibbes, D.D. master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Gray's-Inn.An exposition of the third chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians also two sermons of Christian watchfulnesse. The first upon Luke 12 37. The second upon Revel. 16.15. An exposition of part of the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philipp. A sermon upon Mal. 4. 2.3. By the late reverend divine Richard Sibbes, D.D. master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Grayes-Inne.
London: printed by T. Cotes and John Dawson for Peter Cole, 1639
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
VERS. 3. And have no confidence in the flesh.
These words are in truth included in the former: for he that glories in Christ, will have no confidence in the flesh. But the Apostle notes this as a plain demonstration and evidence of the glorying in Christ. For by the copulative conjoining of them, it is all one as if he had said: what a man trusts to, he glories in, and what he glories in he trusts to, and is confident of. If in wit his glorying be, he trusts ⟨p. 60⟩to it though it be to his ruin; as it fell out with Ahithophel. If in eloquence of speech, he trusts to it, and it brings shame, as it did to Herod. If in honour, he trusts to it, and brings himself to dishonour, as Haman did.
THese words are in truth included in the former: for he that glories in Christ, will have no confidence in the flesh. But the Apostle notes this as a plaine demonstration and evidence of the glorying in Christ. For by the copulative conjoyning of them, it is all one as if he had said: what a man trusts to, he glories in, and what he glories in he trusts to, and is confident of. If in wit his glorying be, he trusts ⟨p. 60⟩to it though it be to his ruine; as it fell out with Achitophel. If in eloquence of speech, hee trusts to it, and it brings shame, as it did to Herod. If in honour, hee trusts to it, and brings himselfe to dishonour, as Haman did.
By flesh, is meant outward things, as prerogatives, privileges, actions of a mans own doing, and particularly, he aims at Circumcision, which he calls outward, and that of the flesh. So as the observation that we may gather is: That confidence in Christ, takes away confidence in outward things. The reason is: if Christ be fully all sufficient, what need is there of any outward thing to put confidence in? For these are two opposite things, and one overthrows the other.