2. An earnest endeavour for the future : ' But I follow after it that 1 may apprehend,' hidoKto. I run as hard as I can, pursuing and striving to overtake, with as great desire and diligence in that exercise, when he was behind another; so though he had not attained his crown, yet he would not slacken his diligence till he did attain : ' If I may apprehend,' el icai KaraXd^w, that at length he might take hold of it. ' If I may apprehend,' to exclude security, and to keep on his earnest pursuit by any means.
3. The reason of his diligence : ' That for which also I am appre- hended of Christ Jesus.' Christ's apprehending may be also inter- preted in the agonistical sense. Instead of the crown, he apprehendeth us ; for we are his joy, his rejoicing, his crown, if we hold out unto the end. Now we are apprehended by him —
[1.] In effectual calling, as he puts us upon this race, or inclineth us to this course of life. Paul was apprehended by Christ when persecuting the church, and running into destruction ; then he con- verted him, possessed him by his Spirit, thinking of no such matter, posting quite another way. When an enemy, he took hold of him, converted him, inclined him, fitted him for this race, that he might ob- tain everlasting glory.
[2.] By constant support ; for having apprehended us, he still
76 SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. [SER. VIII.
uplioldeth us. We are on his hands, and he doth influence, animate, draw, and strengthen us in this race, as concerned in it, that he may not lose the fruit of his own agonies. By his constant influence we are strengthened and quickened till we come to the goal.
Doct. 1. That God's best children, however assured of their good estate, yet till their race be ended, cannot look upon themselves aa quite out of danger.
Doct. 2. Whatever degrees are already attained, we must press to- wards perfection.
Doct. 3. That Christ's apprehending us for the obtaining the end of the spiritual race is a great encouragement to us to go on still.
For the first point, that none of God's children, however assured, can look upon themselves as past all danger till their race be ended.
I will prove to you two things —
1. That God's eminent servants may have assurance.
2. That they are not to look upon themselves as quite out of all danger till their race be ended.
I. That God's eminent servants may have assurance of their sincerity and good estate before God. So had Paul ; he asserteth it all along, as we have seen. They may have assurance of their present grace, for Paul looketh upon himself as in the race ; and of their final persever- ance, for he was apprehended of Christ, that he might at length touch the goal and obtain the reward, to excite his desire and diligence : they may, I say, have assurance in these cases.
1. When grace is not small and indiscernible, but in some degree of eminency, it may be discerned. When grace is weak and small, and doth not discover itself in any eminent and self-denying acts, it is not noted and observed, but where it is in some degree of eminency, it may be discerned. As in Phineas, because he was zealous for God, Ps. cvi. 31, ' That was accounted to him for righteousness ; ' it was accepted by God as a testimony of his holiness. Surely great things are more liable to sense and feeling than little ; a staff is sooner found than a needle. Some stars are so small that they are scarce seen. A strong faith, a fervent love, and a lively hope will soon discover themselves. It is hard to think that the soul should be a stranger to its own opera- tions ; though some lesser inconsiderable action may escape us for want of advertency, yet we know, and others about us know our ' work of faith and labour of love.'
2. It is eminent when this grace is not in their hearts, as a sleepy habit or buried seed, but in continual act : 1 Thes. i. 3, ' I remem- bering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope ; ' Gal. v. 6, ' For in Christ Jesus neither circum- cision nor uncircumcision availeth anything, but faith that worketh by love.' They that keep grace in lively exercise seldom doubt of the truth of it. The sap is not seen, but apples will appear upon the tree.
3. When they blot not their evidences by frequent interruptions of the spiritual life, and so many sins as others do, which make their sin- cerity questionable. Though it be hard to state what sins are, and what are not consistent with grace, yet though conscience be not observant of our particular actions, or be confounded by them, yet the course, drift, and tenor of our lives cannot be hidden from it. A man in a
VeR. 12.] SERMONS TTPOST PHILIPPIANS III. 77
journey doth not count his steps, yet observeth his way. When a man mindeth the business of going to heaven in good earnest: Phil. hi. 20, 1 But our conversation is in heaven ; ' and of approving himself to God in his whole course : 2 Cor. i. 12, ' But our rejoicing is this, the testi- mony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world ; ' 2 Cor. v. 9, ' Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.' Surely a man may know his drift and scope.