But how shall Ave come to this grace ?
I answer, Get first faith ; for by it the weak are made strong, Heb. xi. 35, seq. Get assurance that heaven is thine ; and God hath promised thee grace sufficient, and this is Paul's argument : ' Be ye constant and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing your labour shall not be in vain.' Where hope of reward is in the use of the means, it will stir us up to a constant use of the means, 1 Cor. xv. 58, Secondly, Get a fer- vent love: for it is a strong affection. If lust so prevail with us, as we will omit no means to accomplish it, then a love in itself is much more power-
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VEE. 12. 103
ful, nothing being too hard for it. It hath an enlarging, knitting, and com- municating power. It makes a man bestow all, and rejoice more in doing good by much than in receiving. It is a grace comprehends a number under it ; and therefore Christ comprehended all the law under the love of G-od and our neighbour. Thirdly, Cat off all superji.iiilies. Men think they are happy when they have much to do, when indeed they were happy if they had less to do than they have. Satan he does as Cyrus did with the waters of Babylon ; he diverts and separates our affections that he might pass over (r). As nurses, they hurt themselves and the children too when they keep over many ; so do men hurt themselves with over much business. The Lord hath not made us all for the world, but hath reserved one day in seven for his service. For shame let us shew we have some respect of religion and goodness ; seeing God requires but one in seven, let us not be so unjust as to deny him his service on that day.
Use. Well, let those that profess themselves of another world, by all means pursue it. In nature every thing tends to his centre and place ; heavy things go downward, light things ascend upward. In handicrafts and arts every one looks after excellency. Shall it be thus with them ? Shall mediocrity in other arts merit dispraise, and is it only praiseworthy in religion ? The wicked they labour for hell, venturing loss of credit, strength, and estate ; and is there not better gain in goodness ? Have we such rich promises, and do we esteem of them no more ? Are not the afflictions we shall meet with many and great, and do we think to undergo them with ordinary grace, gotten without laboui* and watchfulness ? But let us go on to the next words :
* That I may apprehend.' Whence we may observe, that the main scope of a Christian is to apprehend Christ : here by revelation, that we may appre- hend him hereafter by vision. Many there are that may follow good things and use good means, yet wanting these apprehending graces of faith and love (which makes us have communion with Christ), they perish notwith- standing. Human knowledge is commendable, yet is it no other than as a scaffold in this building. It helps, but the building once done, it is for little use. Apprehend we, therefore, him by knowledge of his truth, rely on him by faith, and embrace him by love ; and then if we be chased by him, we may, as Joab, lay hold on the horns of the altar Christ Jesus, and there live and die, 1 Kings i. 50. And as we have daily breaches, even so get more and more hold on him, and this will make us desire with Simeon, ' Lord, let me now depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,' Luke ii. 29. Let us, therefore, daily learn to see our own foulness, and go to him the rock of oiw refuge.
Obj. Oh, but some will say, Christ is in heaven, and we on earth, we can- not go to him when we please.
Ans. I answer. Yes ; for the arms of faith are large. It takes hold of things past and to come. No height is out of the reach thereof. And, besides, Christ he is present with us. He is in his word, in the sacra- ments, in the communion of saints. ' Where two or three are^ gathered together in my name, I will be in the midst of them,' Mat. xviii. 20. It is his own promise.
' For which I am apprehended of Christ.' Christ he apprehends us, and that in several degrees.
First, As he is God. In his eternal love we had a being before we had any being here. God conceived us in his eternal affection, and embraced us. Secondly, Christ apprehends us in his effectual calling of us. Paul he
104 EXPOSITION OP
was posting another way when Christ called him, ' Saul, Raul.' Others he calls from their mother's womh ; some hy alUictions and powerful crosses, as ho did the jailor ; others hy moro gentle means, as Lydia. Thirdly, There is an apprehending in all our actions, courses, and estates, directing us continually in them, never leaving us. None can pluck us out of his hands. He is stronger than our corruptions. Ho will not let us go till he hath drawn us up to heaven, and placed us with himself. For the use of this doctrine more shall he said in the next doctrine, which is taken from the order.