Holding Forth The Word Of Life - Phil 2:16
'Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell in Mesech,' &c., Ps. 120:5, and yet to comfort ourselves in this, that it will not be always thus with us. The time will come that we shall be freed from them, and we shall have communion with the Trinity and with all the saints. In the mean time shine here; swear not with them; be not dissolute with them, but be constant in going against the stream. Call to mind thy calling, that thou art the son of God. Thou art to be a light to those that are in darkness. Reason not for thy corruptions, but ever against them. I am a Christian; shall I hate him that I profess to follow? I am a son of God; shall company make me perverse? I am a light; shall I cease to shine? No, Lord; while I am here give me grace that I may grow more and more fit for that light and glorious estate that thou hast in keeping for me against that great day of accounts.
HOLDING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE
Holding forth the word of life. - VERSE 16 That which is of light is life, saith John, 1:4: 'The life was the light of men;' and therefore he saith we should be as lights, 'holding forth the word of life.' It is not enough for us to shine to ourselves, but we ought to shine to others in speech and conversation. By 'the word of life' here especially is meant the gospel; for the law is a killing letter.
We being in our corrupt estate, the law pronounces us dead as concerning ourselves. Then comes the gospel, that sends us out of ourselves to Christ; and in him it pronounces life to such as come to him; and it describes to us the way that leads to life, and the degrees of life, as redemption, grace, and glory, 2 Tim. 1:10. It again begins this life in us, and works faith in us, whereby we lay hold on life; and therefore it is also called the word of faith. It is called the word of the kingdom; for it offers the kingdom to us. It is also called the word of
reconciliation; for that it tells us where it is to be had, and works it in us. It is therefore the word of life; and those that believe it not, are dead in law, for the sentence is already passed upon such. He is already condemned as dead men. He wants sense, motion, and comeliness. For sense, he cannot relish any goodness, either in hearing or seeing it. He is blinded, and he stops his ear at the voice of the charmer; and this makes him wonder how others are affected with any good thing. For motion, he cannot set one step onward to salvation. And for that comeliness, we all by nature are more loathsome than the dead carcase. Abraham could not endure the sight of his own wife when she was dead, though living she was so dear to him, Gen. 23:4. Thus are we by nature altogether rotten and polluted; speech, fine discourse, favour, and all other outward good parts, they can put no comeliness upon us. They are but on us as flowers stuck upon a dead carcase. All men know that it is rotten and stinking, and void of all comeliness notwithstanding them. This then must teach us to regard more this word of life, and to pity them that have it not; and how to judge of such that withhold this word of life from them that live in darkness, as the papists do. Surely there is no cruelty like this cruelty, to starve men's souls. Observe we therefore from hence, he that refuseth God's ordinance he refuseth life. What shall we then think of those private devotions, wherewith many men put off God's ordinance, thinking that they can get as much good in their warm chamber by reading of books, as in the public congregation by hearing God's word taught? These are fools, setting their foolish inventions against God's wisdom, as though they could tell God better means to beget and strengthen faith, than he himself can appoint. Oh, but men will say, it hinders us from our callings; in seven years we lose a year. But dost thou not live by this word? Shalt thou do well to be ashamed of that, and lightly esteem of that word that brings with it life and glory? But why is this word no more esteemed? Surely men deceive themselves with self-conceit. They
think themselves good, when they are stark naught; and that they are alive, whenas like to the Laodiceans they are dead in sin and iniquity,
Rev. 2:16, seq.
(1.) The reason hereof is, they want the Spirit to convince them. For the Spirit convinces us of death. Where this Spirit is not, none will seek for life; for they know not that they are dead by nature; they believe not God's law that should convince them. No marvel then if they affect not a change.
(2.) A second reason is, for that such men as these are carried by sense. They see they want no outward content, and for other things they think God will be merciful; they think God loves them, for that he gives them worldly riches. There is another sort of men, and these are brought to despair; how is it that these, seeing their misery, do not esteem of this word aright, and come to it as to the word of life? I answer, they consider not of this word aright; they think their sins so many as that the word cannot enlighten their darkness. To such I say, they are most fit for this word of life; for Christ bids such come to him as are 'weary and heavy laden' with their sins, and he hath promised release, Mat. 11:28. And he saith he came 'to bind up the broken in heart and the bruised in spirit,' Isa. 61:1; and therefore, let such be encouraged by these and such like gracious invitations and promises to come to the word, and with attention to search into the depth of these promises made to them. But thus much of this, that the word is a word of life. Now we come to the next, that Christians must 'hold forth this word of light or life.' And this is done in speech and action, profession and confession, when they are called thereto.
For every Christian is a light that must shine. What use is there of light under a bushel? Many are of contrary judgment. They think it wisdom to be close in their profession; in company of papists, to be popish; of religious, to be religiously disposed. Surely this wisdom is
carnal and devilish. What use is there of such light? They are like false lanthorns, which are commonly called thieves' lanthorns. They carry their light to themselves; none is benefited thereby; they are fit for works of darkness. Of such, Christ hath already said, 'He will hereafter be ashamed,' Mark 8:38. Others there are inwardly one thing, outwardly another, contrary to the Christian's duty, which is to hold forth the light that he hath. And this do they, whenas in all passages of their life they are turned into the word, and cast into the mould thereof; then it teaches us to pray, to be patient, to joy, yea, in the midst of afflictions, and to do good even to those that hate us.
And if we, according as we are taught, do these things, then do we hold forth this word of life, and it will be an exceeding great comfort to us in life, in death, in all estates. It will assure us that we are transformed into the image of this word, and the holding forth of this word in our lives thus, will cause a far louder report in the ears of God than all the verbal profession we can make.
In temptation, if we find ourselves even at despair, by considering the curse of the law, due to us for our sins, if in this estate we can apply the gospel so to us, as thereby we find comfort out of it, and such as upholds us, surely this is a great sure sign that we are transformed; and by this we hold forth the power of the word, and thereby the light thereof. In the hour of death, when the devil is most busy to shake our faith, we notwithstanding are not daunted, but ground our faith on the word, and can comfortably apply that speech of St Paul, 'There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ.' We hereby do set forth the power, comfort, and truth of the word.
Contrarily, those that are impatient in trouble, and puzzled with every temptation, swallowed up with fear, and shew no assurance of faith in them, notwithstanding the great means they have had, these live as though there were no word. Nay, they do in a manner slander the word in their lives, making show as if the word had no power,