Philippians 3:2 – Richard Sibbes

[page 84 of volume 5]

Beware the dogs.

Doct. 1. In this general exhortation, consider first the persons to whom it is directed, to all the Philippians; not only to the pastor, but even to the common Christians. ‘They must beware of false teachers.’ Is it so? Then surety they ought to take notice of them, and to know them; and therefore they ought to have rules to discern them by. Christ’s sheep they discern between a wolf and a shepherd, John 10:4, 5. His sheep discern an heretic or false teacher from those that are true shepherds in the main points of Christian religion. And therefore, 1 John 4:1, he bids all in general ‘to try the spirits;’ and the apostle, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, bids them ‘prove all things, and hold fast the good.’ If they were then all of them bound to try and prove, they were no doubt bound to know the rules by which they were to try, which rules are only laid down in the word of God.

Quest. But some popish heart may ask, How common people should know the word to be the word of God?

Ans. For answer, I would ask such an one, how they know the pope’s canons, or any book of his constitutions, to be the pope’s? They will say, their teachers brings them in the pope’s name, and they believe their teachers. So say we: we believe our teachers and ministers, who tell us this is the word of God.

Obj. But they object and say, that we make every one a judge.

Ans. I answer, there is a threefold manner of judging. First, a judging whereby we discern of anything; and this every Christian must have, so as it cannot be any plea to him at the day of judgment, to say, my teacher did mislead me. No. Both the leader and he that is led, if they be blind, shall fall into the ditch, Matthew 15:14. Then there is a second kind of judging, which is by way of direction. This is required principally in the pastor, to direct his flock. And there is a third kind: that is, of jurisdiction. This belongs to the church and the magistrate; yet every one must have a judgment to discern the good from the bad. For he that knows not his master’s will shall be beaten.

In the second place, not only the young ordinary Christians, but even the best settled Christians had need to beware also. The Philippians were a church established in the truth. Eve was seduced, being in her innocent estate. But I need not stand on this at this time. I proceed to the duty, which is to ‘beware.’ Which word signifies: first, to discern of, then to avoid. And because those that are aware of evil, by nature will avoid it; therefore ‘beware’ here, intends both discerning and avoiding of evil. For the church of God in this world is ever subject to danger. And God suffers it to be so: first, to try who be true, and who false; and secondly, to try them that are good, and to be as an evidence to them of their own estates, so as where such trial and danger is, it is true, ingeniosum est esse Christianum.

But concerning the words ‘dogs, concision, evil workers,’ they all signify the same thing; and he repeats the word ‘beware’ thrice, to shew the necessity thereof. Take heed of them that urge works of the law with doctrines of faith, especially of pastors. Nay, take heed of these, for so the word in the original is, ‘these dogs’. By ‘concision,’ he means those that urged circumcision, when it was out of date, and when it was dangerous to be admitted of. But observe the term the Holy Ghost calls these ‘dogs,’ a strange term, and such an one as I should not have dared to have given them, had not the Holy Spirit led the way thereunto. And therefore since it is so, let us not be more modest than he is; but boldly affirm that wicked men are dogs. Now, wicked men are either without the church or within. Without the church, all are dogs: Matthew 15:20, ‘It is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs.’ Of this number are all Turks and Jews, who were filii, children, but are canes, dogs. We were canes, but now through God’s mercy are come to be filii. All, therefore, that are without the church are dogs. But there are also dogs within the church; and therefore the Philippians were bidden beware of them, which St Paul needed not to have done if they had not been troubled with them. And those dogs he describes, in that they join works of the law and Christ together, in matter of salvation. These are in St Paul’s esteem dogs. And the reason hereof may be grounded on God’s esteem, on their behaviour towards other men, and in regard of themselves. For God’s esteem, we may see it in Isaiah 66:3; he detests them as dogs. For their behaviour towards men, whom they go about to seduce, they fawn on them, and use all manner of enticing, flattering, and false alluring words, Romans 16:18. Sec the picture of a Jesuited papist, a pleasing, humane, fawning nature. They creep into houses; and when these dogs cannot prevail by flattery, then they snarl and bark against them, by false calumnies, and slanders, and railings, and bitter scoffs, and the like; and this they do when they cannot bite. But having gotten power in their hand, they persecute with fire and sword, and the most exquisite torments that they can devise. In regard of themselves also they are dogs, rotten in nature, corrupt in life, filthy in their own courts, devouring their own vomit; and God justly punishing them, by suffering of them to heap up wrath in store, 2 Peter 2:22, and to return with the sow that was washed to wallow in the mire of corrupt courses. Hence we may observe and see, what a man is now brought to by sin. He that would be like to God is justly compared to the beasts that perish. Not all by nature are no better than dogs, who are all for their bellies, for present contentments, an envious and currish disposition against any that shall endeavour to cross them in their unlawful lusts; and that rule of reason which should overrule him and amend him, he so abuses it, as thereby he is made more like a devil than a dog. Would we be then changed? Let us attend on that word, that is able of lions to make lambs. It can cleanse us throughout, John 15:3. It sanctifies and alters us. Moral precepts may restrain and alter outward practices. The word that alters the condition and nature of men, it is the word of him that works all with his Spirit. And therefore take heed of them, and deal not more with them than thou must needs. They will fawn; they will not be dogged at the first: but till religion altereth him, assuredly he hath a currish nature. But to proceed. He saith not only, ‘beware of dogs’ in general, but beware of these dogs of the concision. And these also ought we to beware of, for there is a perpetual litter of them. Though those that the apostle spake of are gone, yet the same spirit is now-a-days in many. Fawners they are and flatterers, yet do they bark at Protestants; and of this sort are our Jesuited papists and seminaries. Our fathers were troubled with them. Let these take heed; for were these men dogs that press circumcision with Christ? and shall not such be also, that press merits with Christ, saints with Christ, and equal traditions with the word of God? The dogs in St Paul’s time had some excuse. Circumcision they urged, but it was first founded by God. But these men out of their own brain endeavour to establish fancies; and where they cannot prevail by conference, they by scattering of books seek to accomplish their intents. Magistrates therefore in their place ought to look to them; and every private person look to their own salvation. We ought also to take heed of neuters, such as are or would be mediators, and will be of every religion, or rather of none; who jumble religions, mixing truth and falsehood, light and darkness together. But he that made distinction between the ‘seed of the woman’ and the ‘seed of the serpent,’ made also eternal distinction between religion and irreligion. Though Judas thought he might keep fair quarter with the Pharisees and his Master, yet his fawning kiss could not keep him, but desperation overtook him. So these neuters; let them fawn never so much, let them halt between two opinions never so long, they shall at length know that they have betrayed their religion; and desperation shall at length assuredly overtake them, as it overtook Spira. Take heed of them. There hath been a continual brood of them. In the emperors’ time the Jews had some liberty granted to them, because their ceremonies carried a show’ of a reverend antiquity. The Christians they were ludibrium humani generis; there were even then, as St Paul found, such Christians as, finding they were scorned, because they would be scorned of neither, took part with neither.

Quest. But some will say, What a great matter do you make of this! Is it not policy and wisdom for us thus to avoid reproach, and to get the good will of all?

Ans. Remember what Christ says, ‘He that denies me before men, I will deny him before my Father,’ Matthew 10:33. True, say they, ‘I yet may inwardly be sound in my heart; I may honour Christ, though outwardly I may please others.’ What place is left for profession? ‘With the mouth man confesses to salvation,’ Romans 10:10; and such as are ashamed to confess Christ before men, Christ may justly deny to acknowledge them in that fearful day of judgment. For shall we try all things to be sure of our temporal estate, and shall not we much more seek to assure our spiritual and eternal estate unto us? God forbid.

In the next place, let us not be discouraged or hindered in a good course. Though these dogs bark never so much, yet they are but like the dogs who bark against the moon. Though we meet with many changes, let us keep our course still constantly, without turning aside. For thou must look to be barked at beforehand. Thou art or shouldst be a stranger to this world, and then assuredly the dogs will take notice of thee. And comfort thyself, thou shalt be admitted into thine own country, when these dogs shall be kept out, as it is in the last of the Revelations, Revelation 22:15. And though we cannot have too harsh a conceit of them in regard of their estate, yet are we to respect the image of God they carry about with them, and to esteem of them as of such as may become lambs. And thus did St Paul respect and reverence Agrippa. Yet see how sharp he is, not to those that are heathen, but to those that, making a profession of Christianity, did add circumcision to Christ, wherein we may observe his zeal for Christ’s honour.

Beware of evil workers.

Beware of such as in general were bad; and in this particular especially they were ‘evil workers,’ thereby seducing men from Christ. Seducers therefore are evil workers, and magistrates ought to look to them. They are the keepers of the two tables, and are to look to the souls of men as well as to their bodies. Let also private members look to themselves, lest they be seduced by them. Neither is it likely that these were only seducers by false doctrine, but were also ill men and wicked livers; for God justly gives such up to wickedness in life that are seduced in judgment. And thus dealt he with the scribes and Pharisees: ‘Do not after their works,’ saith Christ, Matthew 23:3. Some think if they so live as none can lay any gross sin to their charge, they are good enough. It is no matter what the heart is, how ignorant, how dark; God will hear with them. Alas! poor ignorant men, is not the understanding God’s, as well as the outward parts? ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy mind,’ Matthew 22:37. The understanding is spousa reritatis. And know God looks to purity of judgment. He cannot endure his children should he ignorant; for it is a dishonour to God for his children to conceit of things, in religion especially, otherwise than is fitting, yea, otherwise than they are.

Beware of the concision.

That is, as I formerly said, circumcision, called here by the name of concision, because it tended to cut and make a division and sect in the church, with a natural and proper elegance, not affected, describing and naming it by the effect. It is God’s use to call things from the event and effect of them. ‘Why will you perish?’ Jeremiah 27:13. That is, Why will you do those things that will lead you to destruction? The end of them is death; and those that neglect wisdom hate themselves. As it was also said to the Jews that neglected the gospel, ‘They judged themselves unworthy of salvation,’ Acts 13:46; because in effect they hated themselves and deprived themselves of salvation. Circumcision formerly had been an honourable ceremony, serving for a partition between Jew and Gentile, and for a seal of the covenant of grace. But the ceremony was to cease, it not having a continual promise. It was to last till Christ came, and when he died, it and all other died also. St Paul, and Christ, and Timothy, were circumcised. But after the time came that Christ had broken down the partition wall by his suffering, they did not only die, but were also deadly to all such as would maintain the observancy of them. The use of them was prejudicial to Christ’s honour, and therefore Paul bids us ‘beware of them.’ And now-a-days this instruction by proportion is of good use. For are there not those that teach concision, and that urge merits, as the papists do? Take heed of them. They say we are the concision; we have cut ourselves from the true mother church of Borne.

I answer, We have suffered a concision; we have made none. And again, we acknowledge we have separated from these Romans, not from those that were in Paul’s time. It is they that have made a concision, and cut themselves from the mother church. But to pass from these: we have a concision among us, and that in a contrary extreme, that think every ceremony and thing that suits not with their opinion to be antichristian and concision; not considering that there be many things urged as fitting for order, being no parts of God’s worship. Yet even for these things they make a concision, cutting themselves off from our church, and unchurching us. It is dangerous for such; for when the member is cut from the body, it must necessarily die; and how can we receive grace from Christ as our head, but by union of ourselves to the body, whereof Christ is the head.

It must be our duty to beware of all manner of seducers; and to this end let us,

Remedy 1. First, Get fundamental truths into our heart; affect and love truth: for want hereof the eastern churches were given up to Mahomet; and antichrist ruled over many in these western churches, because they loved not the truth, 2 Thessalonians 2:10. For none are seduced that are not cold in love.

Remedy 2. Secondly, Let us labour to practise that we know, and God will give its a fuller measure of knowledge, whereby we shall learn to find and know seducers. John 7:17, ‘If any man will do his will, he shall know.’

Remedy 3. Thirdly, Pray to God for wisdom to discern of schisms, and heresies, and ill-disposed persons. God hath promised us anything that is necessary for our strengthening, and bringing us to heaven. God will not deny us so necessary an aid as this is.

Remedy 4. Fourthly, Let us look that we keep in us an holy fear and reverence of God: Psalm 25:12, ‘What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way he shall choose.’ And those things are we duly to observe, the rather because we shall ever find seducers. It will ever be a hard matter for men to find the way to heaven. And though the doctrine and profession of religion be not ever in all places opposed, yet shall we ever find the practisers thereof maligned; as it is in these days, where none are accounted of to be protestants that are not loose libertines. And thus instead of concision from religion, they join that with it which is quite contrary to the power thereof. Beware also of such, for their courses of life are as pernicious as fundamental errors; for none shall be saved for his knowledge.