In regard of the object, for that Christ is so full, that we are not able to receive all his fulness, so as there is imperfection in us, and superabundant perfection iu him. Paul had a large atfection, yet came far short. This possibility of the soul to receive more will be in us, till we be in heaven, where we shall be full ; and therefore while we are here, we pray still, ' Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,' and ' Thy kingdom come,' more and more. It is a strange conceit, therefore, for any to think he may be too good ; yet do these daily, or should do, pray for more and more perfection here on earth, although they say they know not what. And another reason why we apprehend Christ not so fully here as we shall do hereafter, is, because the manner of making Christ known to us is by reve- lation, 1 Cor. xiii. 12, seq. We behold him here but as it were in a glass ; in the glass of his word and sacraments, which cannot represent him to our understanding so clearly, as hereafter we shall behold him in the beati- fical vision.
Take heed ther(fore of a self-conceit of j^erfection. When we begin to be unwilling to grow better, we begin to wax worse. There is no stay in Christianity. It is the sight of our imperfection that makes us strive to perfection, and the more we see into our misery, the more earnestly we strive on to be freed from it.
But this one thing I do, forgetting those things ivhich are behind, and reaching forth to those tilings that are before.
See what is the apostle's unum nccessariwn, to grow more and more to the fulness of the knowledge of Christ. All other things he counts as ' dung and loss.' So as we may hence observe, that the Spirit of God in a Chris- tian heart, subjects all things to one Christ.
' One thing have I desired of the Lord,' said David, Ps. xxvii. 4 ; make this therefore a rule to diflerence our estates by. What is the thing we intend chiefly '? Is it riches, or pleasures, or honom's ? This one thing
106 EXPOSITION OP
will be the ullcr overthrow of all religion in us. Christ will be supreme, or ho will not be. * lie that loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me,' saith Christ of himself. Mat. x. 87. There is none so wicked but would be religious, till religion comes to cross that one thing, their darling sin. And thus have they base limitations, which must needs pre- judice their growth in religion ; for where religion is, it will cross their base alfections and lusts.
Therefore, whosoever vfG are that intend to be true Christians indeed, resolve first to prefer the peace of conscience and the fruit of religion above all ; and resolve to abhor all things that will cross this one thing of St Paul.
VERSE 14. I press towards the mark.
Behold an excellent description of a Christian course, borrowed from the exercise of running a race, being a manlike and commendable exercise, fitting men and enabling them for war. The very heathen herein condemns us, whose ordinary chief exercises, what are they but good company, as we call them, continual lying at taverns, to the impoverishing of our estates and weakening our bodies ? The kind I condemn not, but the excess is such, as the heathen would be ashamed of; for which they shall even rise up in judgment against us, and condemn us.
But from the simile, we may gather thus much, that Christianity is a race. The beginning of this race is at the beginning of our conversion. It should begin at our baptism. The first thing we should know ought to be God. The race is the performance of good duties, concerning our general calling, and concerning our particular. For the length of our races, some are longer, some shorter, but the end of every man's race is the end of his life. Some men's ways are plainer, some rougher. The prize is fulness of joy. The lookers on are heaven, earth, and hell. God is the instituter of this race, and the rewarder. The helpers are Christ, good angels, and the church, which helps by prayer. The hinderers are the devil and his instruments, who hinder us by slanders, persecutions, and the like. For ground of this race in us, we are to know that man is created with under- standing, directing him to do things to a good end and scope. Other creatures are carried to their end, as the shaft out of a bow, only man foreseeing his end, apprehends means thereto. His end is to receive reconciliation and union with God, to which he aims by doing some things, sufiering others, and resisting others.
And this race is also ordered by laws ; for every runner is not crowned. There is a running ill that shall never procure the prize. The laws hereof concern either preparation, or the action itself. For preparation,
\st Direct. First we are to know, that there is a dieting requisite. As those that ran in a race had a care hereof, to use such diet as did strengthen, not cloy, and such apparel as might cover them, not clog them ; so ought it to be in our spiritual race, we must cast aside all heavy loads, every weight and sin which doth so easily beset us, as it is Heb. xii. 1. If God cast on us any place or riches, let us use them for a good end, but not make them our end ; and therefore with them take up daily examina- tion of ourselves, how we behave ourselves towards these worldly things. It were a madness in a runner, in his race, to take up a burden, and not to think it will be a sore trouble to him ; and why do we not think thus in our spiritual race ? Cast we off therefore original corruption, and the