It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, that ye fhould earnestly con- Let every Soul be fubject unto the higher Powers. For there is no Power but of PHILIPPIANS ii. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Who, being in the Form of God, thought it not Robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no Reputation, and took upon him the Form of a Servant, and was made in the Likeness of Men: And being found in Fashion as a Man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Crofs. Wherefore God alfo bath highly exalted him, and given him a Name, which is above every Name, that at the Name of Jefus every Knee should bow, of Things in Heaven, and Things in Earth, and Things under the Earth; and that every Tongue fhould confefs, that Jefus Chrift is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father. HE Words now read to you have been strongly debated by Christians XX differing in Opinion about the Perfon and Dignity of our bleffed Saviour; and, as they are often handled, lead more certainly VOL. IV. B to 1 to the Knowledge of the Interpreter's Opinion than of the Apostle's. I intend not to prefs them into the Service of any particular Opinion, but fairly to expound them; and to infer nothing from them, but what may evidently be shewn to be in them, even by the Neceffity of the Apostle's Argument. To avoid Obscurity and Confufion, I hall proceed in the following Method: First, I fhall reprefent to you the Apostle's Argument entire and by itself. Secondly, I fhall confider the feveral Things implied in it; which, with respect to this particular Argument, we may call the Principles upon which the Apostle reasons. Thirdly, By comparing one Part with another, I fhall endeavour to lay before you the true Senfe and Meaning of each Part. First then, I shall represent to you the Apostle's Argument entire and by itself. At the Beginning of this fecond Chapter, St. Paul exhorts the Philippians to be at Peace and Unity among themselves, to love one another, and to be of the fame Mind, mutually aiding and affifting each other in all Things. Hear his own Words: If there be be therefore any Confolation in Christ, if any Comfort of Love, if any Fellowship of the Spirit, if any Bowels and Mercies; fulfil ye my Joy, that ye be like minded, having the fame Love, being of one Accord, of one Mind. And then, like a wife Physician, he searches to the Bottom of the Evil, which he would cure; and, well knowing that Pride and Vain-Glory are the perpetual Sources of Strife and Contention, the Bane of mutual Love and Charity, he exhorts them to fly from these Evils, preffes them to Lowliness of Mind, and admonishes them not to overvalue themselves, nor undervalue others; but that they should practise Humility towards one another, each efteeming other better than themselves. Thus far he advances in the two next Verses: Let nothing be done through Strife or Vain-Glory; but, in Lowlinefs of Mind, let each efteem other better than themfelves: Look not every Man on his own Things, but every Man alfo on the Things of others. To fupport this Doctrine, and to enforce their Obedience to it, he fets before them the Example of Chrift; and in lively Colours represents his great Humility: He thews them how much below himself he defcended B 2 defcended for their fakes; how truly great he was, and how truly low he made himfelf; by Nature, how much higher than the highest; by Choice, how much lower than the lowest. Let this Mind, fays he, be in you, which was alfo in Christ Jesus; who, being in the Form of God, thought it not Robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no Reputation, and took upon him the Form of a Servant, and was made in the Likeness of Men: And being found in Fashion as a Man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Crofs. And that their Obedience might want no due Encouragement, he fets before them, from the fame Example, what glorious Rewards they might promise themselves hereafter, for their prefent Humility and Lowlinefs of Mind: For this abandoned, this crucified Jesus, was not left to fink under the Obfcurity of his voluntary Humility; but, as a Reward of his Humility and Sufferings, he was raised to the highest Pitch of Dignity and Power: Wherefore, fays he, God alfo bath highly exalted bim, and given him a Name, which is above every Name: That at the Name of Jefus every Knee fhould bow, of Things in Heaven, and Things on Earth, and Things under the Earth; and |