And here he calleth them, that put themselves in jeopardy of loss, goods, favour of men, and danger of imprisonment, and death of body, to maintain the faith of the Gospel, to fight for the faith of it, and to fear no adversaries, nor yet their torments or punishments for the Gospel sake; knowing that they are blessed before God that suffer for Christ and for his Gospel (John, xii.). And they shall find life with Christ, howsoever they be here in this world esteemed, or counted, or what cruel death soever they shall suffer here for the Gospel.

And in nothing fear your adversaries, which is to them a token of perdition, but unto you a token of salvation, and that of God. That none should think they suffered hurt or damage of their adversaries, which cast in prison or put to death the faithful preachers, or setters forth of the Gospel; he saith, that persecution, imprisonment, or other cruelness of enemies, used to good ministers of God's word is to them no hurt, but profit, no perdition, but salvation to them, that patiently for the Gospel's sake, such great pains and torments do suffer. And the same afflictions and persecutions, which be to the good man a cause of salvation, be to the persecutors, enemies, and adversaries to God's word, the cause of their damnation.

And this place should greatly fear all adversaries of the Gospel, that they should no more persecute the Gospel, or the faithful preachers of it; lest they, persecuting the Gospel, get unto themselves eternal damnation in hell.

And also this place may comfort such, as suffer afflictions for Christ and for his word, that their afflictions be not to their hurt, but to their profit, health, and salvation.

Of this place also we may learn, that it is evil and

VOL. II.

damnable to persccute, torment, or otherwise to punish the true preachers or setters forth of the Gospel, or those that live after the Gospel. For to them this place of Paul threateneth perdition and damnation; and to them that be afflicted for the Gospel, and patiently suffer, it promiseth salvation. So, one work may be the cause of salvation and damnation: the cause of salvation to the good, and the cause of damnation to the evil. And that thing is not of man, but of God, that so ordereth the matter, that maketh the persecution of the Gospel to serve to his glory, and to the salvation of his people. Such is God's goodness, which turneth the malice of evil men to his glory, and to the profit of others.

Ver. 29, 30. For unto you it is given, not only that you should believe on Christ, but also suffer for his sake, and to have even the same sight, which you have seen in me, and now hear of me.

The cause is here shewed, why it was said that afflictions were the cause of health to these Philippians and that not of man but of God. For to them it was given, not only that they should believe in Christ, but also that they should suffer for Christ. And so they by patient suffering, should have health, life, and eternal salvation. And that this salvation should not be ascribed to corporal afflictions, as though afflictions and worldly persecutions deserved that thing; but to God is salvation only to be justly attributed.

This place sheweth, that faith and patience in adversity be gifts of God, and come of God, and not of our might or powers, without God's grace: for faith and patience be gifts of God.

And to have the same sight in you, which you have seen in me. It appeareth of this place, that the Philippians had stood stifly in defence of the

Gospel, and to have been constant in it, and patient in adversity for it, after the example of Paul, as is written Acts, xvi. The examples of good men help much to virtue and to patience in adversity; as these Philippians followed Paul in faith, and in patience of afflictions.

CHAP. 11.

Ver. 1-4. If there be amongst you any consolation in Christ, if there be any comfort of love, if there be any fellowship of the Spirit, if there be any compassion and mercy, fulfil my joy; that you may draw one way, having one love, being of one accord, and of one mind, that there be nothing done through strife and vain glory; but that through meekness of mind every man esteem another, better than himself. And let every man look, not for his own profit, but for the profit of others.

The Apostle exhorteth all men to the study of concord, and to the unity of the Spirit of God, shewing great mischief to come of discord, and much good of concord, peace and unity in Christ; that by that means he might clearly expel discord, and bring in concord and agreement in all goodness and godliness.

And first of all, note in Paul the Apostle of God great humility and gentleness, that when he might by his authority have commanded them, and charged them under the pain of suspension or excommunication to concord, yet he used not his authority, as bishops of Rome and their ministers do and have done; as "we charge you," we command you, under the pain of suspension, excommunication, interdiction, or such like, to do this or that." But he used a more gentle fashion to win them, and to bring them to fulfil his request, that was by humble petition and desire; by the which meek and humble hearts be sooner won and overcome than by rough and sharp words, stubborn and froward. And by gentleness he thought he should win them, and bring them to accomplish his purpose, rather than

by lordly commandments and evil threatenings : teaching all bishops and pastors to use all gentleness, rather than great threats and cruel punishments; and so by gentleness they shall be conquerors.

If there be any consolation in Christ, if there be any comfort of love. His humble manner and gentle fashion is now expressed, saying, " If there be any consolation in Christ" in you, and if any Christian exhortation have place amongst you, if you will do any thing for Christ's sake, fulfil my request and accomplish it. If there be any comfort of love in you, either towards God, your neighbour, or yourself, or your own salvation, do that, I require of you. If there be any communion of the Spirit of God in you; if the Holy Ghost be amongst you, and you partakers of him and of his gifts, by whose might and power you are all knit together in one body, and made one with Christ Jesus: if there be any tender mercy in you, as should be no otherwise, than the mother hath to the child born of her own. body, and one man should have towards another, and be not in you wanting or dried up; for all these and for the love that you have, not only to me, but to your own souls' health and salvation, fulfil this my request and joy. For there is nothing that can be to me more joy, than the fulfilling of this my request.

Behold, the gentleness of Paul, by the which he humbly and instantly desireth them, when he might justly have commanded them, and charged them by great threats. Unlike to Paul are those, that do not desire, but charge and command under great pains to the breakers, when so wholesome things be neither charged, nor desired to the people. And two things there were, that might have moved them to accomplish his desire, the place from whence Paul wrote these words; that was from the prison, where