THE Apostle having saluted these Philippians, and testified his sincere love unto them, and hearty prayers for them in the first eleven Verses; doth in the next place endeavour to comfort them against any offence or trouble which they might sustain by occasion of his sufferings for the Gospel, vers. 12, 13. assuring them that they tended to the defence thereof; many being thereby provoked, and by the example of his courage and comfort animated to speak the Word without fear, vers. 14. And although some indeed had evil and envious intentions to reproach his Apostleship, and to add affliction to his bonds, ⟨p. 2⟩yet Christ being preached, he did rejoice notwithstanding his own sufferings, as knowing that by the benefit of their prayers, and by the supplies of the Spirit of Christ, his own salvation, and the glory of the Lord should thereby be promoted, vers. 15-20. And if the Lord may be thus magnified, and himself saved, if his life may tend to the honour of Christ, and his death to his own advantage, he is most indifferent and contented to yield to Gods holy will either way; for, saith he, to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I live, my work, my conversation, my ministry will be wholly to serve and glorify him; and if I dye, my death will not only be glorious unto him, but gainful unto me, I shall be ever with the Lord, which is best of all. The Apostle therefore is at a stand, in a strait betwixt two, which to choose: On the one side Christ will be magnified in the edification of his Church; on the other side he will be magnified by the salvation of his servant; the one will be fruitful to the Philippians; and the other gainful to himself. He is wholly therefore indifferent whether he live or dye, because Christ will be both ways an advantage unto him, and he shall be both ways serviceable to the glory of Christ.
THE Apostle having saluted these Philippians, and testified his sincere love unto them, and hearty prayers for them in the first eleven Verses; doth in the next place endeavor to comfort them against any offence or trouble which they might sustain by occasion of his sufferings for the Gospel, vers. 12, 13. assuring them that they tended to the defence thereof; many being thereby provoked, and by the example of his courage and comfort animated to speak the Word without fear, vers. 14. And although some indeed had evil and envious intentions to reproach his Apostleship, and to add affliction to his bonds, ⟨p. 2⟩yet Christ being preached, he did rejoyce notwithstanding his own sufferings, as knowing that by the benefit of their prayers, and by the supplies of the Spirit of Christ, his own salvation, and the glory of the Lord should thereby be promoted, vers. 15-20. And if the Lord may be thus magnifiea, and himself saved, if his life may tend to the honour of Christ, and his death to his own advantage, he is most indifferent and contented to yeeld to Gods holy will either way; for, saith he, to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I live, my work, my conversation, my ministry will be wholly to serve and glorifie him; and if I dye, my death will not onely be glorious unto him, but gainful unto me, I shall be ever with the Lord, which is best of all. The Apostle therefore is at a stand, in a strait betwixt two, which to chuse: On the one side Christ will be magnified in the edification of his Church; on the other side he will be magnified by the salvation of his servant; the one will be fruitful to the Philippians; and the other gainful to himself. He is wholly therefore indifferent whether he live or dye, because Christ will be both ways an advantage unto him, and he shall be both ways serviceable to the glory of Christ.
