Section 1145
The Mutual Gain Of Christ And Christians In Their Life And Death
Occasioned By The Death Of The Reverend Joseph Stennet, D. D. Preached February 26, 1758
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is Gain—Philippians 1:21.
THIS epistle, of which the words of my text are a part, was written by the apostle Paul, when a prisoner at Rome, to the church of Christ at Philippi. Philippi was a chief city of a part of Macedonia; or rather, a city of the first part of Macedonia, [5383] and a colony of the Romans, at the time of the writing of this epistle. Hither the gospel was brought in a very wonderful and extraordinary manner. The apostle Paul, and those with him, intended to have gone elsewhere, but were overruled and directed by divine providence, to steer their course to this place; where their ministry was succeeded to the conversion of Lydia and her household, and of the jailor and his; which two families, in all probability, said the foundation of a gospel-church-state in this city; on account of which it became more famous, than for its being rebuilt by Philip king of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, from whence it had its name of Philippi; or for the battle fought near it, between Augustus Caesar and Mark Anthony on one side, and Brutus and Cassius on the other, when the latter were beaten by the former; or for the fountains of water, or the veins and mines of gold, with which it abounded, which formerly gave it the names of Crenides and Dathos, and since Chrysopolis; by which name, or as vulgarly Grixopolis, it seems it is now called. [5384] The church here was a well regulated one; it was in good order, and had its proper officers, bishops and deacons; one to take care of its spiritual, and the other of its temporal affairs. The members of it are described as saints in Christ Jesus; they were in Christ, being chosen in him to be holy as well as happy; and who, being converted, had an open being in him; they were called with an holy calling, had principles of grace and holiness wrought in their hearts, and lived holy lives and conversations. The apostle had a very great regard for them; he remembered them in his prayers, in which he gave thanks to God for their constant fellowship in the gospel. He expresses his strong confidence of the work of grace being begun in them, and of the performance of it until the day of Christ; believing, in a judgment of charity, that they were partakers of the same grace with himself. He declares the most strong and affectionate love to them, for the truth of which he appeals to God; and as an evidence of it prays for them, that they might increase in love, in spiritual knowledge, judgment, and sense; that they might be able to discern things that differ, and approve the most excellent; and that they might be upright and inoffensive in their conversation, abounding in the fruits of righteousness through Christ, to the glory of God. And whereas he was now in prison, he gives them an account of his bonds, and the usefulness of them; as that they were the means of spreading the gospel in many places, and even in Caesar’s court, and of emboldening the ministers of it to preach it without the fear of man; though this they did from different principles, and with different views; some of envy, strife, and contention, and insincerely, thinking to add to the apostle’s afflictions; others of good-will and of love to him, to the truth, and to the souls of men; knowing that he was set for the defense of the gospel. However, whatever were their views, the apostle declares it was, and ever would be, matter of joy to him, that Christ was preached; yea, he was persuaded, that the ill designed to him by some, would be overruled for his good, through the prayers of the saints, and the supply of the Spirit; for he had a well-grounded hope, that Christ would be magnified in his body, living and dying; seeing he knew, that should he live longer, it would be for the glory of Christ, and the advancement of his interest in the world; and should he die quickly, his death would be gain, both to Christ and himself; since he should die for his sake, in the faith of him, and the profession of it, and should be forever with him; for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain These words may be considered,
I. As one proposition, and be read, for Christ is gain to me in life and in death; as they are in the margin of our Bible, and by some interpreters of great note. [5385] According to this version of the words, Christis the subject with respect to both parts, and the attribute is gain; and this he was to the apostle, both living and dying. 4