John Trapp on Philippians 4

CHAP. IV. Verſe 1. Dearly Beloved, and longed for]

VVHat heart-melting language is here! Miniſters muſt wone had for Chriſt, and ſpeak fair, if they will ſpeak to purpoſe: Though I might be much bold in Chriſt to enjoyn thee, yet for loves ſake, I rather beſeech thee, Philem 8.9. How oft are men fain to ſue for that which is their own; and how heart-glad if by fair entreaties they can gather up their debts.

Verſe 2. I beſeech Euodias] A couple of diſagreeing ſiſters, whom the Apoſtle ſeeketh to reconc[illegible: 1 letter]le, and it was a wonder if they could reſiſt his rhetorike.Hei mihi quiv[illegible: 1 letter]s al[illegible: 1 letter]cubi re [illegible: 2 letters]rirc non poſ [illegible: 3 letters], &c. O that I could but once finde you together once (ſaid Auſtin of the differences between Hi[illegible: 1 letter]rome and Ruffinus) I would fall down at your feet with much love and many tears: I would beſeech you for your ſelves, and one another, and for weak Chriſtians ſake who are offended thereat, you would not ſuffer theſe diſſenſions to ſpread &c.

Verſe 3. And I intreat thee alſo] All men ſhould contribute their help to the compoſing of differences, and bring their buckets, as it were, to quench this unnaturall fire, when once kindled.

Verſe 4. Rejoyce in the Lord] That is the true and only joy (ſaid Mr Philpo[illegible: 1 letter] the Martyr)Act. and Mon. fol 1[illegible: 1 letter] 6[illegible: 1 letter]. which is conceived not of the creature, but of the Creatour: to this all other joyes being compared are but mournings, all delights ſorrows, all beauty filth, &c. Other joy beſides this may wet the mouth, but not warm the heart, ſmooth the brow, but not fill the breſt.

And again I ſay rejoyce] No duty almoſt more preſſed in both Teſtaments then this of rejoycing in the Lord. It is no leſſe a ſinne not to rejoyce, then not to repent.

Verſe 5. Let your moderation] Or equality, ſuch as was that of David, Pſal 26.12. The ſcales of his minde hung equall, giving him liberty in all occurrences to enjoy himſelf. All immoderations are enemies to he[illegible: 2 letters]th:Hippocrates. ſo they are alſo to the quietneſſe of the minde. Againſt theſe (as againſt poiſons) there be two kindes of antidotes, praier and patience, the one hot, the other cold, the one quenching, the other quickning. The word here uſed by the Apoſtle properly ſignifieth moderation in law-buſineſſes, or in laying claim to a mans own right, [non-Latin text not transcribed] [illegible: 1 span] c. lib. 5 cap. 10. Summ[illegible: 2 letters] [illegible: 1 word] ſumma i[illegible: 2 letters]uria. the preferring of equity before extremity, as holding utmoſt right to be utmoſt wrong. Austin tels us, That is was grown to a Proverb among his Countrey-men, Ʋt habeas quietum tempus, perde aliquid. For a quiet life, part with ſome part of thy right, as Abraham did, Gen. 13.9.

The Lord is at hand] To right you, and recompenſe you, to pay you for all your pains and patience, Iudex pro foribus, ſaith S. James. chap. 5.9.

Verſe 6. In nothing be carefull] Or care for nothing, viz. with a care of diſſidence and diſtruſt. See the Note on Mat. 6.25, 26 &c.

Bat in every thing by praier] This is the beſt cure of care: Caſt thy burden (or thy requeſt) upon the Lord, ſaith David, P[illegible: 1 letter]. 55.22. and he ſhall ſuſtain thee. Remove thy trouble from thy ſelf to God by vertue of that Writ or Warrant, and then all ſhall be well. They looked unto God, and were lightned, Pſal. 34 5. Luther in a certain Epiſtle of his to Melancthon, complaineth thus: Ego certè oro pro te, & doleo te pertinaciſſimam curarum hirudinem, meas preces ſic irritas facere. I pray for thee, but to no purpoſe ſo long as thou giveſt ſo much way to carking cares.

Supplication with thank[illegible: 1 letter]ſgiving] We ſhould come to pray with our thanks in our hands; ſtanding ready with it, as Joſephs brethren ſtood with their preſent, Gen. 43.25. In the old Law, what ſpeciall requeſt ſoever they had to make, or what ſacrifice ſoever to offer, they were commanded ſtill to come with their peace-offerings. Praier goes up without incenſe, when without thankfulneſſe. The Church aſcends daily to her beloved Chriſt in theſe pillars of ſmoke, Cant. 3.6. for ſhe knows that unthankfulneſſe hindreth much the reſtfull ſucceſſe of praier.

Verſe 7. Shall keep your hearts] Keep as with a guard, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. or as in a gar[illegible: 1 letter]ſon. Solomons bed was not ſo well guarded with his threeſcore valiant men, all holding ſwords, Cant. 3.7.8. as each good Chriſtian is by the power of God without him, and the peace, of God within him: This peace, like Davids harp, drives away the evil ſpirit of cares and fears: It ſoon huſheth all God can ſoon raiſe up in his, an army of powerfull thoughts and meditations, ſo as their very inward tranquillity ariſing from the teſtimony of a good conſcience (called here, Their mindes) and the ſweet Sabbath of ſpirit the compoſedneſſe of their affections (called here, Their hearts) can make and keep them ſecure and ſound, yea bring aid when they are cloſe beſieged by ſin and Satan.

Verſe 8. Whatſoever things are true] This is that little Bible, as the eleventh to the Hebrewes is by one fitly called, A little Book of Martyrs. In this one verſe is compriſed, That Totum hominis, Eccleſ. 12.13. That Bonum hominis, Micah 6 8. For if ye do theſe things here enjoyned, ye ſhall never fall, but go gallantly into heaven, as Saint Peter hath it, 2 [illegible: 1 letter]et. 1.10, 11.

Verſe 9. And [illegible: 1 letter]eard, and ſeen in me] Est aliquid quod ix mag[illegible: 1 letter]o viro vol tacente proficias. The very ſight, nay thought of a good man, oft doth good. Whereas the tongue or heart of a wicked man is little worth. Prov. 10.20. If their thoughts and diſcourſes were diſtilled, they are ſo frothy they would hardly yeeld one drop of true comfort.

And the God of peace] Not only the peace of God, as verſ. 7. Auſtin ſomewhere fiſheth a myſtery out of the word PAX▪ which conſiſteth of three letters, ſaith he, to note the Trinity from whom is all true peace.

Verſe 10. Hath reflouriſh[illegible: 1 letter]d] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. It had deflouriſhed then for a ſeaſon, and withered, as an Oak in winter, Iſa. 6.13. and as a Teyl-tree who[illegible: 1 letter]e [illegible: 1 letter]ap is in the root. The beſt tree may have a fit of barrenneſſe: So may the beſt men ſuffer ſome decaies for a ſ[illegible: 1 letter]aſon[illegible: 1 letter] the ſpirituall life may [illegible: 1 letter]unne all to the heart, as a people conquered in the field runs to the Caſtle. Howbeit, as Eu[illegible: 1 letter]ychus his life was in him ſtill; and he revived, though he ſeemed to be dead, and as trees in the ſpring grow green again: So do the relapſed Saints.

Verſe 11. In respect of want] The wicked in the fulneſſe of his ſufficiency is in ſtraits, Job 20.22. Contrariwiſe, the godly man in the midſt of his ſtraits is in a ſufficiency. He hath all things, as having the haver of all things.

For I have learned] In Chriſts ſchool: for Nature teacheth no ſuch leſſon.

Optat ephippia bos piger, optat arare caballus. Horat. The labourers were not content with their peny Mat. 20.13. They that have enough to ſinke them, yet have not enough to ſatisfie them: as a ſhip may be over-laden with gold and ſilver, even unto ſinking, and yet have compaſſe and ſides enough to hold ten times more. It is God only that fils the heart, and maketh a man ſay truly with Jacob, and not fainedly, Rabb-li. Col li. Gen 13.9. Gen, 33.11. as Eſau, I have enough my brother. Eſau had a deale, but Jacob had All, becauſe he had the God of all.

Verſe 12. I know both how, &c.] Sound bodies can bear ſudden alterations of heat and cold: So cannot diſtempered bodies.

Both how to be abaſed] So Chilo (one of the ſeven Wiſemen of Greece) [non-Latin text not transcribed]. L[illegible: 1 letter]ert. ſaid to his brother who took it ill that he was not choſen to be one of the Judges, I know how to be injuriouſly dealt with: but I hardly believe him. Socrates alſo could tell Archelaus, Arrian, apud Stob[illegible: 1 letter]um. that offered him large revenues, My minde and mine eſtate are matches. But fleſh and bloud could never carry him ſo far, for all his ſaying ſo. It is God alone that faſhioneth a mans heart to his eſtate, Pſal. 33.15. as a ſuit of clothes is fitted to the body.

I am instructed] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. I am initiated, I am a young ſchollar, newly entered in this high point of heavenly learning.

To ſuffer want] Either patiently to wait for what I deſire, or contentedly to want what God denieth.

Verſe 13. I can dos all things] A Chriſtian walks about the world like a conquerour, having power given him over all,Cyrus Major. Revel. 2.26, 27. It was a vain brag of that Heathen Prince, that cauſed it to be engraven upon his Tomb-ſtone, [non-Latin text not transcribed],Arrian. I could do all things. None can ſay ſo, but the man in Chriſt.

Verſe 14. Ye have well done] For hereby as you have ſealed up your love to me, and ingaged me to pray for you (as for Oneſiphorus, 2 Tim 1.18.) So you have gotten a good teſtimony to your ſelves that ye are members of Chriſts myſticall body. The tongue is farre enough from the toe, the heel from the head, yet when the toe or heel is hurt, the reſt of the members ſympathiz[illegible: 1 letter] and ſeek help for it. So here.

Verſe 15. But ye only] One poor Philippian ſhamed a hundred rich cloſe-fiſted Corinthians. Araunah gave like a King, 2 Samuel 24.23. and is therefore crowned and chronicled, Zechary 9 7. Ekron ſhall be as the J[illegible: 1 letter]buſite, that is,T[illegible: 1 letter]cm[illegible: 1 letter]l. as this famous J[illegible: 1 letter]buſite Araunah, that parted with his free-hold for pious uſes.

Verſe 16. Ye ſent once and again] Charities fountain runs freſh, More perennis aquae, and is never dried up. The liberall man deviſeth liberall things, and holdeth that only his own, that he hath given to others.

Verſe 17. Not becauſe I deſire a gift] As thoſe Cormorants that with ſhame do love, Give ye, Hoſ. 4.18. as if they could ſpeak no other but the Dorick Dialect, the horſe-leeches language. S. Paul was none of theſe.

That may abound to your account] For God keeps an exact account of every peny laid out upon him and his, that he may requite it: and his retributions are more then bountifull.

Verſe 18. I have all] viz. That you ſent, and I give you an acquittance, which the Greeks, from the word here uſed, [non-Latin text not transcribed] call [non-Latin text not transcribed] Compare Prov. 3.27.

I abound, I am full] As a bird with a little eye, and the advantage of a wing to ſoar with, may ſee far wider then an Oxe with a greater: So the righteous with a little eſtate, joyned with faith and devotion, may feel more comfort, and ſee more of Gods bounty, then one of vaſt poſſeſſions, whoſe heart cannot lift it ſelf above the earth.

Verſe 19. Shall ſupply] Gr. Shall fill up as he did the widdows veſſels, ſhut the doors upon thee, ſaith the Prophet. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. 2 King. 4 4. It was time to ſhut the doors, when one little veſſel muſt overflow and fill up many greater.

Verſe 20. Now unto God] Paul cannot mention Gods bounty without a doxology.

Verſe 21. Every Saint] A great encouragement to the meaner, to be ſo reſpected.

Verſe 22. All the Saints ſalute you] Chriſtianity is no enemy to courteſie. Gods ſchollars are taught better manners then to neglect ſo much as ſalutations.

They that are of Caeſars houſhold] When Caeſar himſelf lived and died an unconverted caitiff, and a caſtaway.

Verſe 23. The grace of our Lord] with this wiſh of grace grace to them,Prov. 4.7. he both begins and ends. Wiſdome is the principall thing.