Philippians 1

Philippians 1:1

THe Bishops] it seemes that by this name ought to be understood such of the sacred Ministers, whereof the Ecclesiasticall Senate was composed, which had the government of the Church, the censure of manners, &c. see Acts 20:17; Acts 20:28. Romans 12:8. 1 Corinthians 12:28. 1 Timothy 5:17. And by Deacons, not onely those who took care of the poor, Acts 6:2. Romans 12:7-8. 1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Timothy 3:12. but also the plain ministers of the Church Deacons] or ministers.

Philippians 1:3

Vpon every] namely, for all the good which I have known in you, which I do most pleasingly keep in my memory. Others, every time I think upon you.

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Which you] for the holy manner wherein you have participated of the doctrine and grace of the Gospel ever since it was preached to you.

Philippians 1:6

Vntill the day] untill Christs last comming, at which time the salvation of all beleevers shall be accomplished by the blessed resurrection, ver. 10 1 Thes. 3. 13. and 5. 23. Or he speaks thus, because that every beleever ought to be prepared each moment for the comming of the Son of God, as if he were thereby to finish the course of his life, see 1 Corinthians 15:52. 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

Philippians 1:7

Are partakers] have through a speciall favour and honour done you by God, vers. 29, 30. suffered the same calamities for the Gospell as I have done, and have maintained and sealed it by your faith and constancy: or you have joyned with me by open profession, and by all manner of Declarations and communications, as well in my sufferings as in mine actions and speeches for the maintenance of the truth, see Phil, 4. 14. Hebrews 10:33.

Philippians 1:8

In the bowels] with that intimate and boundlesse spirituall love as Christ engenders by his Spirit in all his members towards him, and one towards the other, which hath also no other foundation, reason, nor end, but onely Christ himself.

Philippians 1:9

Judgement,] namely a sound, and stedfast spirituall judgement in the truth of the Gospell, Hebrews 5:14. or a lively apprehension, experience, and sensible application thereof.

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Without offence] namely the offence, which it gives to the sinner himselfe, and is a trouble, and hinderance to others in the course of their heavenly vocation Till the day] the Italian, for the day; that you may then be approved of by the Lord, and obtaine the reward promised to those who persevere in faith and holinesse. Others, untill the day, as Ver. 6.

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The fruits] namely, holy works, and deeds by Jesus Christ, namely, which are brought forth by you and in you, by vetu of the mysticall conjunction that you have with him through his Spirit, which regenerates the person, and guids its actions.

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The things which] namely, mine imprisonment, and all that hath followed to this houre.

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My bonds] the fame of me a prisoner, hath spread it selfe abroad not by a popular cry, nor by a human celebration, or applause, but by a cleere manifestation of Christs power which accompanieth me, and worketh in me, and by me The Pallace] The Italian, the Praetorium, the Roman Emperours Palace, see Philippians 4:22. Or the Praetorian Fort, where the cohorts or companies of the Emperours ordinary Guard were lodged, as it is likely, that the Souldiers which kept Saint Paul, Acts 28:16. did publish many great matters of him, of his doctrine, acts, and miracles:

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In the Lord] namely, of that spirituall brotherhood, whereof the common faith in Christ, and 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 he himselfe by his Spirit, are the only tyes By my bonds] namely, by the example of me that am a prisoner, and by the comfort of the Spirit, and by the power of God which sheweth it selfe in me.

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Some] he meanes some adversaries of his, especially amongst the Jewes, who were jealous of the degree which he held in the Church, and were heads of faction against him: who seeing him in prison shewed great zeale in preaching the Gospell, to gaine themselves as much credit as Saint Paul had had; wronging not onely his authority, but even the very truth it selfe which they falsified; Philippians 3:2; Philippians 3:18. Of good will] with a godly, and upright intention, without any passion or proper interest, Or for good will towards me, to comfort me, faithfully seconding my labours, and joyning themselves with me in the cause for which I suffer.

Philippians 1:16

Not sincerely] namely, in regard as well of the substance, wherein they were of a different opinion from the Apostle, as of the perverse affection, and intention.

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In pretence] namely, to cover their owne passions of ambition, jealousie, hatred, avarice, &c. O upon occasion to make themselves a way of admittance to practice those passions.

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This shall] namely, that by these tryals God will confirme me in faith, constancy, and perseverance in my vocation, to finish the course thereof for my salvation Through your] as by a help appointed by God to obtaine the assistance of his Spirit from him, whereby I may obtaine the power of persevering In Jesus Christ] See upon Romans 8:9.

Philippians 1:20

My earnest expectation] the Italian, mine intent] namely, my care Ashamed] comming to faile in these tryals, against that glorious profession of persevering, which I have alwaies professed, upon the assurance of Gods invincible power Shall be magnified] laying open in me his divine powers, and verifying his promises In my body] in me whilst I live in this life: and in regard of my patience in these bodily afflictions.

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For to me] he gives a reason of this his hope: because that having had no other object, nor imployment for his life, he should at his death receive the reward for it, gayning thereby a glorious and immortall life.

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I wot not] weighing on the one side mine owne particular profit which would be, to be gathered in to mine everlasting rest: and on the other side, the profit of the Churches, which seemes yet to require my presence.

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In a strait] perplexed and ambiguous between these two thoughts and desires To depart] namely, to returne to my proper habitation, 2 Cor. 5. 6. 8. 9. 2 Timothy 4:6. Or to be set at liberty, and freed as from a prison, or a keeper.

Philippians 1:25

I know] it is likely that the Apostle said this at his first comming to Rome, and that then i was revealed to him, that his life should as yet be prolonged to him, as it was for two yeeres, Acts 28:30. at the end of which, he was divinely warned, that his death was approaching, 2 Timothy 4:1-22. 〈◊〉. Others beleeve, that he speaks only according to likelihood, by humane discourse, and not by any revelation Abide] in this world With you] in the communion of this life, not onely temporall, but spirituall also And ioy] that being borne up by my presence and ministery, your comfort and spirituall joy, grounded upon faith in Christ, may be confirmed, & increased.

Philippians 1:26

Your rejoycing] the Italian, Your boast, that you may have the greater cause of rejoycing, and glorifying your selves in Gods grace which he communicates unto you, by me your Pastor, and that you may for a long time boast of having had me to be your Apostle By my comming] it is likely that Paul having knowne by revelation that his death was not yet at hand, he did from thence by humane discourse gather this consequence, that he yet hoped once againe to see the Philippians: for it appeares, by the following verse, that he spake it doubtfully.

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In one] namely, by his power. Or in a holy union, whereof Gods Spirit is the author, and bone Striving] standing to all trials, assaults, and difficulties, Jude 1:3.

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Which is] the opposition wherewith they oppose you, and the assaults which they give you, are unto them a most certaine argument of eternall damnation Of Salvation] in that, by the community in Christs sufferings, and by his Name, and Truth, they have a certaine pledge of their conformity to his glory: and that he is just before God, in giving rest to those that are afflicted; for his cause, 2 Thessalonians 1:7. And that] for God hath established the foresaid order. Or not by your own power, but by meanes of Gods grace, who bearing you up in your afflictions, gives you thereby a certaine argument of the accomplishment of your salvation.

Philippians 1:30

Ye saw] he seems to mean the persecution which he suffered at Philippi, Acts 16:22.