Richard Sibbes on Philippians 3:16

VERS. 16. Neverthelesse, whereto wee have already attained, let us walke by the same rule. THe word Neverthelesse, some reade it Onely, as if it were a condition; but it implyes both a precept and a condition, shewing that those that looke for revelation of further knowledge and goodnesse, they must walke according to that measure of knowledge they have. The word Rule, implyes in generall the Scripture; more particularly, a company of sound truthes, concerning faith, love, and hope There is a great Bible which is the whole Word of God, the little Bible is the grounds of Religion, and these are not onely to be understood in the Booke, but comprehended and invested in our understanding and affections, and according to these we must walke. Truth is no guide to us being onely in the Booke, but as it is seated in the heart. Doctrine. But lets come to some observations; first, we may learne that God out of his goodnesse, hath left to his Church a rule of faith and manners: there is a rule whereby men must walk, otherwise should we be in a labarinth of errors continually, having no other light but this torch-light of Nature, to guide us in this thick darknesse, wherein we are by nature. The properties of this rule are divers; First, its a fixt and unchangeable rule, and therefore we must bring all to it, not it to all. Secondly, this rule is a perspicuous and cleere rule, thy word is a lanthorne to my steps, and a light to my pathes. Thirdly, this rule is homogeneall: all things therein are spirituall, all holy, all pure, and therefore when the question is about Religion, we must have recourse thereto, as the onely absolute compleat rule. And therefore we must know this rule, and then be led by it, for the word Rule implyes, that there must bee a thing to be ruled, else what needs rule, or to what use should it serve? an instrument is in vaine without use: its true, many men make religion and Scripture, but a meere object of discourse. But their example ought to be no rule to us, if we looke to be saved, it must be by walking according to this rule, and therefore a Christian life is no licentious life, though hee be freed from the law, yet must he serve God day and night: therefore it is that the Christian prospers not, nor thrives in this world, because he will not lie, nor sweare, nor have a broad conscience, as the children of this world have, that take all occasion and scope to bee rich: but a Christian lives by rule, he hath little, and it is blest to him, for he lookes at riches and profits of another kinde. In the second place, wee may observe that a Christian walketh by this rule: he thinkes it not sufficient to take a step, but keeps a right course stedfastly onward. But how may this bee done?How to walk according to the Rule. may some men say. I answer, let us use the meanes; as first, let us treasure up the word in our consciences: let us get the rule within us, get the articles of faith, and assurance of the promises: and let this bee betimes whiles we are yong: its the ordinarie cry the Scriptures are hard, they cannot understand them. But whats the reason? they are bred up in earthly businesses, and are stuffed with them, so as they finde no place for the Word, and its a miracle to see men thus brought up, to live by this rule. Secondly, when wee have once treasured up the knowledge of these things, wee must learne to apply them upon severall occasions: for where no practice is, there knowledge is idle, and makes us worthy of more stripes, many have generall truthes in their mindes, but comming to apply them, they finde a great want. David knew adulterie was a sinne, and Peter knew it was dangerous for a man to relye on himselfe, yet how foulely did they fall? Thirdly, let us compare our experience with our rule, wee shall finde there is nothing therein but is fulfilled, that there is no suffering but for some sinne or other, and that besides heaven hereafter, God rewards particular obedience here, with particular rewards, and particular sin with particular corrections, we shall know that his judgements are not scarcrowes, the worke of the wicked is accursed, but it shall goe well with the righteous▪ and by this meanes we shall bee incouraged to good, and scared from bad courses. Fourthly, bee inquisitive and watchfull over our particular steps, take and heare admonitions and instructions, and bee inquisitive after them; those that are otherwise minded, no marvaile if they (like libertines) spurne against all instruction and advice, and accordingly feele the smart of their wayes before they see it. Fifthly, get a wonderfull jealousie over our hearts: wee often offend in thoughts and desires, which God the searcher of the heart lookes into, and we must therefore be jealous of idle thoughts and words, not only of othes, for so an hypocrite may be. But loose persons will say, Ob. O this is an unpleasant course, we must bid all joy farewell, when we come to this. I answer no, the wayes of wisedome are wayes of comfort and pleasure, Answ. God approves of them, and our consciences will tell us so, and thereby will fit us for life or death, and will so settle us, that no estate shall bee unwelcome to us: and as Psal. 50.23. To such as order their conversation aright, God will shew his saluation: and as in the text fore-going, God will reveale himselfe more and more, so as if we be faithfull and conscionable in little, wee shall have greater matters revealed to us; and and contrarily, if we be unfaithfully and carelesse, God will take from us the key of knowledge, and the use thereof, and will give us up to foule vices, even sinnes against nature, as he punished the Gentiles, and to beleeve lyes, as Paul sayes 2 Thes. 2.11. And will answer us as he did the Idolaters, even according to their multitude of Idols, Ezek. 14.4. So as would we have favour in our sinnes, and teachers that shall bolster us up in them, and not crosse our vaine courses? God will let us have our hearts desire, but we must know this is an unevitable way to a desperate estate, and therefore marvaile not so much at the loose liver because of his good breeding, for as they desire the ill, so they have and are justly punished therewith.

VERS. 16. Let us minde the same thing. OBserve here, that wee are not only to walke sutable to others, but wee must minde the same thing that others of our profession doe: Doct. So as this is a direction to concord, shewing that a Christian is a member of Christ as his head, and of the mysticall bodie the Church: faith ties him to Christ, love ties him to the body, so as he must walke with Christ, and also with the body, hee must looke to himselfe first, and then to the body: the ground of this union is laid downe here, to bee first an union of minde and affection, and this must bee in good, or else wee are brethren in evill. Its no marvaile 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 gospell that unites us, let us minde this same thing, and then we shall affect one another; and because our knowledge doth not extend to every particular alike, let us agree in the maine points, and let not lesse things breake us off one from another. If wee did walke according to our measure of knowledge in those things wherein wee agree, betweene us and the Lutherans, would not bee that bitternesse of spirit that there is, all censures and distempers would cease, and its a [illegible: 1 letter]ault in manie Christians, though bred up well in knowledge, yet being of a harsh spirit and nature, while hee walkes not according to the same rule, and mindes not the same things in the maine as hee should doe, he growes to be bitter, as for those that would be sincere, they must indeavour to bee united in one, as they have one God, one faith, one baptisme, for a Christian loves not to goe to heaven alone; and when he is there, he knowes he shall be one with Christ, and one with the holy Saints, and therefore will indeavour to be in perfect unitie here, considering there is no good he hath, but he injoyes it as being a member of the body of Christ, he knowes its a horrible thing, that members of the same bodie should fall out one with another, and therefore what shall separate or divide us? shall infirmities? Alas, we are all sicke of this disease, veniam petimus damusque: are they too hot, we are too cold, why should we not stoope and yeeld? Christ he stooped from heaven to us. Shall errors? why the time will come, God will reveale himselfe more fully. Shall sinne? Wee know what the Apostle saith, Gal. 6.1. those that are spiri[illegible: 1 letter]uall must restore such with the spirit of meeknesse, wee must not cut off members for every sore. Shall injuries? Its the honour of a man to passe by such, doe wee looke Christ should forgive us, when wee will not forgive others? consider it is the practice of all holy men; Paul became all things to all men, if by any meanes hee might winne some. Peter received reproofe of him, yet fell not out with him: some there are of such a perverse spirit, as if they see in any one any infirmitie, presently they breake out into these or the like words. I will not be of that mans profession; thus forsaking all the good in the holy profession, because of some weaknesse in the professors. If they will needs be separating, let them separate from the world, from scandalous, carelesse, riotous persons▪ else Sathan rules in division, he knowes hee is best able to deale with them that are alone, and therefore drawes Eve from Adam, and one Christian from another, and so quickly overcomes them. If in companie one fall, another may helpe him up, if hee be cold, another may warme him by exhortation and example. Consider therefore who are best minded, and minde the best things with them: if we finde we have attained to a greater degree in grace than others, indeavour to bring them to us, the Communion of Saints is an Article of our faith, every one beleeves it, but few knowes what it meanes, and therefore no marvaile they desire it not.