SEEMON IX.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect ; hut I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. — Phil. iii. 12.
Use 2. Is to teach us three duties which are to be observed to the very last — diligence, watchfulness, and self-denial.
1. Diligence. The race is not ended as soon as begun ; it is a race from earth to heaven by the way of holiness. New converts are carried on with a great deal of affection and zeal, and make a swift progress at first, but flag and faint afterwards. Therefore you must renew your resolutions for God and heaven. There is many a corruption yet to resist and conquer, many a temptation to overcome, and much necessary work to do, and you received life from Christ to do it. How much is
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all that you have done already beneath your duty, beneath the majesty of God whom you serve in the spirit, beneath the precious love of Christ, which should both incline and oblige you to live more to him ; beneath the promises and advantages you have by grace for your growth and increase ; beneath the weight and worth of endless glory into which yon are entering ! And therefore you should be best at last, from good grow better, and the nearer to enjoyment, be the more earnest in your motions, and the more confidence of obtaining, the more abounding in the work of the Lord.
2. Be not secure, but use all caution and watchfulness that you miscarry not. Man is a very changeable creature, therefore we should always stand upon our guard ; considering —
[1.] The course of temptations may be altered ; the devil doth not always play the same game ; as it is said of Joab, 1 Kings ii. 28, he ' turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom.' A man may withstand one kind of brunt, yet fail in another. Every new condition brings new snares : Hosea vii. 8, ' Ephraim is a cake not turned ; ' that is, baked but of one side. The children of God prosper- ous differ from the children of God afflicted : Phil. iv. 12, ' I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound ; everywhere and in all things I am instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.' Age hath its weaknesses and frailties as well as youth.
[2.] Corruptions are sometimes strangely disguised. A man may withstand open enemies, yet fail by the insinuations of those who have a show of godliness : 1 Kings xiii. 4, 19, the man of God withstood the king, but was overcome by the old prophet. We read in history of some that lost their limbs in defence of the truth under pagan per- secutions, but after made shipwreck of the faith by errors. Many with- stand violence, bear it out well in a storm, yet are soon deluded and turned out of the way.
[3.] There is danger after suffering. Many suffer many things for the truth who after make foul defection from God ; they may suffer a while upon the example of others ; their particular interest is wrapt up in the public applause which sufferers for the truth receive from the lovers of truth, and that will make even hypocrites suffer much. Yea, continued sufferings may make the soul faint for the present time ; the best, being left to themselves in the hour of temptation, may shrink, and without continual aid from heaven will dishonour God and them- selves. No experience from heaven, no experience of former joy and sweetness which they have found in the way of truth, nor their former sufferings, will make them adhere to it.
[4.] Where there seemeth to be least danger there is many times most cause of fear. Lot, that was chaste in Sodom, miscarried by incest in the mountains, where was none but his own family.
[5.] When conscience is cast asleep, a child of God may fall into grievous sins. David's heart smote him when he cut off the lap of Saul's garment, yet fell into un cleanness and blood, and lieth asleep in it for a long time, till Nathan the prophet roused him up. Who would have thought that such a tender conscience could ever have been so charmed ? But the conscience of a child of God may be strangely
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deadened and laid by for a time, even after he hath passed over the terrors of the law, and gotten some peace and confidence.
3. Continual self-denial ; if you have suffered for Christ, you must suffer still, that you may not lose your cost: Gal. iii. 4, 'Have you suffered so many things in vain ? ' They are lost as to anything you can expect from God. If you have ministered to the saints, you must minister: Heb. vi. 10, 11, ' For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope to the end.' If you have mortified and subdued the flesh, you must mortify and subdue it more and more, that you may not be cast- aways : 1 Cor. ix. 27, ' But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway ; ' as those are who begin in the Spirit and end in the flesh : 2 Thes. iii. 6, 7, ' Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us ; for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you.' If you have endured afflictions, you must endure still : Col. i. 11, ' Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long- suffering with joyfulness.' The danger is not over whilst you are yet in the way. Take heed of miscarrying in the haven, and falling at last.