[1.] To intimate the difficulty, thereby to quicken his desire and diligence ; as if he had said, I know it is hard to come by this happy estate, but I resolve to pursue it by any means. It is a matter of great difficulty to attain to the glorious resurrection of the just, and have our portion in it ; but though it be a difficult thing, yet where the reality is believed, difficulties do but kindle desire and excite our diligence.
[2.] To express the variety of the means, or the way by which God bringeth his people into glory. There is doing good, and suffering evil for his sake. Now whether it be by living to God or suffering for God, Paul submitted to both or either way ; and therefore this, ' If by any means,' must be referred to his exercising himself to godliness, implied in that expression, ' Knowing the power of his resurrection ; or his patient suffering for Christ, implied in this expression, ' The fellowship of his sufferings, and conformity to his death.' Holiness of life is not the only means, nor are the afflictions of the gospel the only means ; sometimes God will use both. Some may get through and escape to heaven without any remarkable afflictions, if they be of eminent holiness ; or if they have afflictions, yet they may get to heaven without perse- cution, as in quiet times when the churches have rest : Luke ii. 29, ' Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.' Others with persecution, but not to effusion of blood : Heb. xii. 4, ' Ye have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin.' Some only suffer spoiling of goods : Heb. x. 34, ' And took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and enduring substance.' And others by plain and direct martyrdom : Kev. xii. 11, ' They loved not their lives unto the death.' Some have store of inward troubles, as Heman ; others not, but are exercised with outward crosses.
[3.] To set forth his full submission. We must neither except one means nor another in bringing us to glory. We know not which way he will take, but we must submit to all, even to death itself : Luke xiv. 26, ' If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.'
[4.] His unwearied diligence and earnest endeavour to obtain this happiness whatever it cost him ; and therefore he resolveth to be any- thing and do anything, if he might be happy at length. Though in the meantime we meet with many troubles and crosses, and are put upon duties displeasing to the flesh, yet we must not stick at any means to obtain so excellent an end.
[5.] The value of this benefit, and his ardent and vehement desire to attain it. Paul did all things for the resurrection's sake, or that
64 SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. [SeR. VII.
happiness to which the resurrection of the body is an introduction. He did rest satisfied with the hopes of eternal life, and that perfect holiness and felicity he should then enjoy, as a sufficient recompense for all his losses and labours, disgraces and troubles. The word is emphatical, et 7r&)? KaravT?]aco. The word avrqv, which we trans- late ' attain,' signifieth to come to the place which is directly opposite to that we are now in. So is the state of glory to the present life ; here is misery, there is happiness ; here is sin, there is holiness ; here shame, there glory ; here labour, there rest ; here the cross, there the crown ; here the conflict, there the full and absolute conquest ; here the work, there the reward ; here absence from God, there for ever present with him ; here weakness, there perfection ; then all good is perfected, and all evil shall cease ; here we are capable of a dissolution, the body and soul may be severed, but there eternally united never to part more ; here God's children are scattered up and down, living in several places and ages of the world, there all God's family shall meet together in one great congregation. So that the resurrection of the dead is the mark we should aim at in the whole course of our lives, and we should say, ' If by any means ; ' as if he should say, I shall account it well with me, and that I am recompensed enough, if at length I shall attain the perfection and happiness of that blessed estate.
Doct. That the blessedness of the saints at the general resurrection is so great, that we should be content to use any means, to run any hazards, so we might attain it. I shall show you —
1. What is the happiness of the saints in that day.
2. Give you a short account of the means by which God bringeth us thither.
3. Why we must submit to be guided by him in his own way to this glorious and blessed estate, or use any means that we may attain the resurrection of the dead.