Philippians 3:6 – Richard Sibbes

[page 105 of volume 5]

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church.

Where zeal is, if it be meant in the largest sense, it is very hot against all opposites. It hath the name from fire, separating heterogenies, and gathering things homogeneal. Our apostle was none of those drowsy professors that would be content to mingle religions, so as where there is no opposition there is no zeal. And therefore those that would reconcile religions, false and true, they have not a spark of zeal, but are key-cold. Again, Paul well joins persecution and a Pharisee together, for there was never hypocrite but he was a persecutor. For he, making and grounding his profession on pride and a desire to be counted holy, when a downright person esteems him not, but by his integrity, puts the other’s outward profession out of countenance, presently he falleth a persecuting, especially if his hypocrisy brings any profit or gain, as it was with Demetrius in the Acts 19:24, 38; and as it is now with the Romish Church, whose chief end is profit, as appears by their purgatory, indulgences, pardons, dispensations, and the like. You shall have as much mass as you will, and as little preaching. We may observe further, that carnal zeal is persecuting zeal, and the persecuting church is the false church. Christ’s flock never persecutes wolves. It will not indeed endure to be near them, but it is not cruel against them. The papists indeed they speak much of their mildness and meekness, but what is the reason? Their hands are bound. Solve leonem et senties leonem, loose the lion and then you shall find he is a lion.

Touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

This was a great prerogative.

Obj. But how can he he said to be blameless as concerning the law, when he was without the law? Romans 7:9.

I answer, It is true he was without the law in respect of the inward man, in respect of sanctified knowledge, love, and fear; but in regard of his outward course of life, no man could blame him. Let this he observed by carnal civil men; they may he blameless as concerning outward conversation, and yet without the law.

Quest. But if he was blameless as concerning the law, how could he blame himself so as he did? Romans 7:15.

Ans. I answer, St Paul then had a new esteem and judgment; he had a new light which showed him much corruption, where before he saw none. This meets with weak Christians, that think themselves unconverted and castaways, because they see a great deal of sin in them. Paul was without blame; now ‘miserable man, who shall deliver me?’ Romans 7:24. Christians therefore are to be comforted; and to know that they are not the worse because they see themselves sinful daily more and more, but that they are better, as to whom God does daily bestow the light of his Holy Spirit, to make them see more clearly into their estates. We know that we see only the motes where the sun shineth; yet cannot we deny but all the air is as full as that part which the sun enlighteneth.

Let not such therefore be discouraged, but let them know where there is any opposition, there is spirit as well as flesh; and that at length the spirit will have the victory.