The third thing in the text is his earnest pursuit, showed in his dili- gence and perseverance.
1. His diligence. It was earnestly sought after, as well as intended;
VER. 14.] SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. 107
implied in the words e7re/cT€iv6/jLevo<; and Suokq), reaching forth and pressing towards ; which imply vehement desire and earnest endeavour, using all means, bending all the powers of body and soul ; I press as hard as I can.
2. His perseverance is expressed —
[1.] With respect to what was past, 'Forgetting the things behind.'
[2.] With respect to things before, which are to come, ' Reaching unto the things before.'
[1.] What are the ra orriaui ?
(1.) It may be understood of the things forsaken and renounced, such as pharisaical righteousness, the world, and credit, and honour ; that and whatsoever was contrary to Christ's kingdom. The world and the flesh are things behind. We turned our backs upon them in conversion when we turned to God. It is these things that would now call back our thoughts and corrupt our affections when we should run on and reach forward in the heavenly prize.
(2.) Some understand it of the degrees of grace already attained, or services already performed. The apostle did forget, or not consider (which is called ' forgetting' in scripture) how much of the race he had overcome or got through. He overlooked all that was past, how much of the way already spent ; he did forget it, so as not to rest in what was already done, or to be puffed up with a vain conceit, as if there were enough done, so as to slacken his pace, or retard himself in his heavenly progress.
[2.] What are the ra e/jLTrpoaOev, the things before us ? They are God, and heaven, and the remaining duties of the holy life ; what sins are yet unmortified, what duties are yet almost untouched, what trials you may yet be called to undergo. We must still take pains to advance forward, and do that which is yet unfinished ; there is much of the way yet before us. From the whole we see the expressions are agon- istical, both the forgetting or reaching forth, and pressing forward, and do give us this third note —
Doct. 3. Those that would make a business of Christianity must look upon it or deal in it as a race or passage from earth to heaven.
All things agree.
1. In a race there was a beginning and ending, a place whence we set out, and the goal to which we run. The race should begin at baptism, but it doth at conversion or effectual calling, and endeth not till death ; that is the goal, and then we receive the prize : 2 Tim. iv. 18, ' The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom.' We should start forth or engage in this race betimes. Some defer it till they die ; but a stride cannot be called a race : we have already lost the morniug of our lives, and a great deal of precious time, of our freshest and flowery time. Surely 'the time past should suffice us,' 1 Peter iv. 3. We have been long enough dishonour- ing God and destroying our own souls. Now let us be obedient to the heavenly call, and begin to set forward, though it be late. But then we must double our diligence ; life is uncertain, and our work is long. We were long since called, now let us rouse up ourselves. Death is a time of ending the race, not to begin it. It is not called a jump or a leap, but a race.
108 SERMONS UPON PHILIPPIANS III. [SeR. XI.
2. Between the two terms, that is, from the starting-place to the goal, there was a way marked out, but called /cavcov, the rule, which was a white line, marked out the path within which they were to run ; if they transgressed, or went over it or beside it, they did not vo/il^ay? a6\eiv : 2 Tim. ii. 5, ' And if a man strive also for masteries, yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully.' ' Strive lawfully/ or run regu- larly, or else he lost the prize ; so that there was a place where he set out, the goal whither he went, and the way by which he passed to his mark. There are frequent allusions to this: 'As many as be perfect, walk by the same rule,' Phil. iii. 16. And we have a rule, a straight line to direct our course: Gal. vi. 16, 'As many as walk according to this rule.' We all aspire to the crown, but few take the way. We must make straight steps to our feet, run in the way prescribed, within certain bounds and limits : Ps. cxix. 32, ' I will run the way of thy command- ments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.'
3. In this race there is a prize, a crown of endless glory which we are running and striving for : 1 Peter v. 4, ' Ye shall receive a crown that fadeth not away.' Their crowns were made of flowers and oaken leaves. We have somewhat in hand that is worth all our pains, but much more when we come home .and meet our Lord.