VER. 13, 14.] SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. 93
scions to our own infirmities more than we can be to others. We have a sense of our own sins, which being compared with that remote view which we have of the sins of others, will make us more condemn our- selves than them. We know our own hearts ; we know not another's. We know our own infirmities by experience, others only by speculation. A man that hath the toothache feeleth his own pain, not that of another man's, therefore judgeth his own greater; or they that are troubled with a sharp disease think no grief or pain like theirs.
Use 2. Let us be sensible of our imperfection, and take notice of our defects for caution and humiliation.
1. In point of knowledge : Prov. xxvi. 12, ' Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit ? there is more hope of a fool than of him.' As he said of learning, Many had come to learning, if they had not conceited themselves learned already ; so many had attained more perfect know- ledge of the ways of God, if they were not blinded by their own prejudices and self-conceit, and their preconceptions. If we had a true sense of our own imperfection, we would not refuse to yield anything we had taken a liking to, if afterwards it were disproved by apparent and clear light ; but dogmatising, especially in doubtful points, hath much divided the christian world.
2. In point of daily practice.
[1.] As to the humble and broken-hearted, suing out the pardon of sin : John xiii. 10, ' Jesus saith unto him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet ; ' that is, to cleanse himself from his daily defilements ; as a man under the law, if he had touched any unclean thing, was to wash his clothes before even. We are not to sleep and lie down in our sins, upon any pretence of our former justification, as if errors would be pardoned of course, without such running to our advocate, as there was to be a morning and evening sacrifice.
[2.] As to caution and watchfulness, as if quite out of harm's way, and we might play with temptations to sin, and no harm come of it. No ; this playing at the cockatrice-hole will cost us dear : Mark iii. 37, ' And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch.'
3. In point of perseverance, as if we might rest in former doing and suffering for Christ : Ezek. xxxiii. 13, 'If he trust in his righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered ; ' that is, if he presume upon his good estate so as voluntarily and deliberately to fall into sin ; if we think our profession shall excuse us in our covetousness, or our countenancing the ways of God in our oppressions, or our praying atone for our sensuality. Man is very apt to make one part of his life a recompense for another, and to excuse his defect in some duties by exceeding in others. The indulgence is sometimes antedated, and we sin upon a presumption we will afterwards repent of it. Sometimes it is postdated ; because we have done thus and thus for God, we think God will not be severe to us, but spare us for such a good service or property we think to be in us. Oh, no ! you must persevere in a constant, uniform, and self-denying obedience : or1 think, I am a child of God ; as if that would bear us out in sin.
Secondly, He asserts his endeavour after perfection. Wherein observe —
1 Qu. ' not ' ?— ED.
94 SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. [SEE. IX.
1. The thing pursued after, ' The prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ/
2. The manner of his pursuit —
[1.] By fixing his end ; for he calleth it o-kottov, his mark or scope.
[2.] By seriousness, making it his business, ' This one thing I do ; * I wholly mind this.
[3.] The earnestness of his pursuit, showed in his diligence and perseverance.
(1.) His diligence, ' I press toward it.'
(2.) His perseverance, ' Forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forth to the things that are before.'
1. The thing pursued after, to fipafielov tt}? avco KKrjaeooq, ' the prize of the high calling/ The thing pursued after was salvation by Christ, or heavenly glory, which is set forth by the worth of it ; it is /3pa{3eLovt ' a prize,' such as will countervail our endeavours in the race.
2. The hopes of obtaining it, 'The high calling of God in Jesus- Christ/ We are invited to these hopes by the effectual call of God : 1 Thes. ii. 12, ' Walk worthy of God, who hath called us to his king- dom and glory.' And this call is given us upon the account of Christ, who hath purchased this favour for us, and opened this hope to us in the promises of the gospel ; therefore also called ' his calling,' Eph. i. 18, ' That you may know what is the hope of his calling, and the riches of the glory of the inheritance of the saints.' By ' his calling ' he openeth a large door of hope to us, and inviteth us to partake of this rich and glorious reward, Yea, by this calling, as it ends in con- version, hequalifieth and fltteth us for the participation of it. Calling, as it respects the offer of the word, so it inviteth us ; as it respects the powerful and sanctifying operation of the Spirit, so it prepareth and fitteth us for it.