Philippians 4:10

Our apostle being now come to the conclusion of this epistle, acquaints the Philippians with what great joy he had received their charity sent unto him; and that it came no sooner, he believed did not proceed from any disrespect towards him, but only for want of either ability or opportunity of sending to him: yet withal gives them to understand, that he could bear want, or. strait condition, very well, for, having Christ for his teacher, he had learned in whatsoever state he was, therein to be content; he could bear either plenty or scarcity, fulness or want; yea, could do all things through Christ that strengthened him.

Observe here, 1. The vicissitude and great uncertainty of St. Paul's outward condition: at one time he abounds, at another time he is abased; at one time he abounds, at another time he is abased; at one time he is full, at another in want; teaching us, that the dearest of God's children, in regard of their outward condition, are subject to variety of changes.

Observe, 2. The general lesson which they have learnt, with reference to this variety of conditions, and that is, the lesson of contentment: I have learned, in whatsoever state. am, therewith to be content.

Observe, 3. The particular lessons learnt by him: Both how to abound, and how to be abased. They are both hard lessons, but, of the two, perhaps it is harder to know how to abound, than how to be abased.

Quest. 1. When may man be said to know how to abound?

Ans. When he sets. due value and right esteem upon the things of the world, and neither prizes them too high nor too low: when. man so uses his abundance as to avoid the temptations which do attend and accompany that abundance; when he is willing to part with his abundance at the call and command of God; and, in. word, when he attends more to the duties of his prosperous state, than to the sensual pleasures and satisfaction of it.

Quest. 2. What is it to know how to be abased?

Ans. Not to be discouraged, or suffer the spirit to sink or faint in the day of adversity: to be not only humbled by affliction, but humble under it; to suffer what God inflicts, without impatience or complaint, without sourness of spirit or discontent; to believe the hand of. Father: that whatever we part with, is but. perishing creature; that God is able to restore all our lost comfort with advantage to us, and will do it if it be good for us, either in kind or equivalency: this is to know how to be abased.

Quest. 3. How doth it appear harder to know how to abound, than how to be abased?

Ans. Thus: there are more duties, and harder duties, required of those that abound, than of them that want. There are more temptations, and stronger temptations, which attend those in abundance than them that want.

Hence it is that God gives so many solemn charges and commands to those that abound, to take heed to themselves, more than those that are in want. When thou art full, then beware lest thou forget the Lord thy God,, and thy heart be lifted up. Deuteronomy 6:12

In. word,. do not remember one instance in all the scripture of. full or prosperous condition, which was ever so much as the remote occasion of the sinner's conversion unto God; but. find in scripture that an afflicted condition has been blessed to many for this end, 2 Chronicles 33:12.

Observe, 4. The school which St. Paul learnt this great lesson in, to know how to be abased, and how to abound, and to be thoroughly content in every condition: it was not at Gamaliel's feet, but Christ's feet: I can do all things through Christ strengthening me. Christ was both his tutor and his strengthener, he taught him his lesson, and enabled him to practise it.

See here, 1. That. real Christian is able to do all things, all things that concern. Christian, all things that belong to the glory of God, and his soul's salvation; all things, not in. legal, but evangelical sense; not all things, nor indeed any thing, with. sinless perfection, but all things in respect of his love to the whole law, in respect of his purpose and resolution, in respect of his desire and endeavours.

Again, I can do all things; understand it in an active sense,. can deny myself, believe in. withdrawing God, conquer the world, subdue unmortified corruption, and live. life of evangelical perfection: take it also in. passive sense,. can suffer all things,. can bear Christ's cross, wear his yoke, endure any thing for him, or from him, when called forth to suffer.

Note, 2. That as. Christian can do all things, so his ability to do all things lies not in himself, but in Christ.. believer receives an active power from Christ, to enable him to do whatever he requires him to do: ability to subdue corruption, to conquer temptation, to bear affliction, and to glorify God in every condition: all this is from Christ; and the sincere Christian may say with this eminent saint, I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.