A12184:478
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. 16. Let us mind the same thing.
VERS. 16. Let us minde the same thing.
Observe here, that we are not only to walk suitable to others, but we must mind the same thing that others of our profession do:1 So as this is a direction to concord, showing that a Christian is a member of Christ as his head, and of the mystical body the Church: faith ties him to Christ, love ties him to the body, so as he must walk with Christ, and also with the body, he must look to himself first, and then to the body: the ground of this union is laid down here, to be first an union of mind and affection, and this must be in good, or else we are brethren in evil. Its no marvel the world complains of want of love, when there is no agreement in the rule of our love; when there is no agreement in the objects of our love, its not riotous fellowship, but fellowship in the gospel that unites us, let us mind this same thing, and then we shall affect one another; and because our knowledge doth not extend to every particular alike, let ⟨p. 175⟩us agree in the main points, and let not less things break us off one from another. If we did walk according to our measure of knowledge in those things wherein we agree, between us and the Lutherans, would not be that bitterness of spirit that there is, all censures and distempers would cease, and its a •ault in many Christians, though bred up well in knowledge, yet being of a harsh spirit and nature, while he walks not according to the same rule, and minds not the same things in the main as he should do, he grows to be bitter, as for those that would be sincere, they must endeavour to be united in one, as they have one God, one faith, one baptism, for a Christian loves not to go to heaven alone; and when he is there, he knows he shall be one with Christ, and one with the holy Saints, and therefore will endeavour to be in perfect unity here, considering there is no good he hath, but he enjoys it as being a member of the body of Christ, he knows its a horrible thing, that members of the same body should fall out one with another, and therefore what shall separate or divide us? shall infirmities? Alas, we are all sick of this disease, veniam petimus damusque: are they too hot, we are too cold, why should we not stoop and yield? Christ he stooped from heaven to us. Shall errors? why the time will come, God will reveal himself more fully. Shall sin?