Pmi.IPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VER. 14. 107
corruption of our place, time, and calling, which in time will jn'ow unsnp- portiablc to us. Let us desire no more than God gives ; and what aftlictionB God sends us, let us take, assuring ourselves they arc for our good.
2(Z Direct. A second law is, to consider the ways that ive are io run in, what dangers we are like to meet with. Forecast and resolve against the worst, and withal promise we ourselves God's assured protection in our worst estate. The want of this is the seminary and ground of all apostasy ; when men promise to themselves in Christianity such things as God never promised. Christ therefore promiseth and sheweth the worst first. But the devil, to deceive us, keeps the worst out of our eyes, and shews a sort of vain delights and pleasures. But the sting of them, through his subtilty and craft, he suffers us to feel before we sec it.
3d Direct. A third law is, that we enter the race betimes. It is the devil's trick to put off the care of this, telling us we need not jei enter ; wo are but j^oung, and have many years to live, as they did that hindered the building of the temple. But consider we the uncertainty of life, that we may die suddenly, and that it is just with God to take us away after that manner, if we neglect ourselves and him. And we must know also we shall lose no pleasure nor delight, but we shall find such sweet delights in those ways as we shall with St Augustine be grieved that we enjoyed them no sooner.* And besides, those that begin betimes get a great advantage of others, and through continual custom come at length to a habit of religion. In the next place, we are to take heed of hindrances of us in our pre- paration ; as,
1st Hindrance. First of all, hope of long life, whereby we are besotted, thinking life and death is in our command, that we shall have time enough, and need not so soon enter upon good duties.
Id Hindranc?. Secondly, A conceit that ivhen we have once given up our names to Christ, that presently vje bid adieu to all delight, mirth, and plea- sure ; when, alas! we are far deceived. God denies not pleasure to us, but will give us whatsoever is good for us. We shall delight and rejoice, but with a joy spiritual ; and we shall see nothing in this world that may any way deserve our delight therein.
od Hindrance. A third hindrance is a despair of ever going through this race. This settles upon some, strangel}' making them cast away all care, and desperately trust to Christ's mercy. This made Cyprian to complain of his corruptions, saying they were bred and brought up with him ; and therefore feared they would hardly give place to grace, being but a stranger (s). While men consider hoAV great and powerful their corruption is, they with the Israelites despair of ever entering into the land of Canaan — these sons of Anak do so terrify them.
But consider we withal that God is above all our corruptions ; that he can make of a lion a lamb ; and that if wo will trust upon him, in his time he will help us, and we shall overcome these giant-like corruptions. Christ he hath conquered them already ; and though while we live we cannot wholly overcome them, yet David's house shall grow stronger and stronger, and Saul's house weaker, 2 Sam. iii. 1. We shall have grace sufficient for us. God will sweeten rehgion to us, that we shall delight therein ; and Christ will not lead us into temptation till he hath fitted us to it by his grace, and then we shall rejoice, as the apostles did. Acts v. 41, that we are accounted worthy to suffer.
* The reference is to Augustine's rtvtlietic plaint, elsewhere quoted by Sibbes, ' Too long, Lord, have I wanted thy goodness.' — G.
108 EXPOSITION OF
Contrary to tills humour, some tliink it so easy a matter to run this race, as they tliink they cannot ho out of it or tired therein, whcnas indeed they never yet set foot therein. Let such look to themselves if they he in this race, they shall find it no easy matter.
But thus much concerning rules or laws for preparation to this race. Now there are laws to he observed of those that are in the race ; as,
Direct. 1. First, They must resolve to hold on, tuiihout discontinuance of their course of good duties ; for some, by omitting good duties now and then upon slight occasions, do come, through God's just sufferance, to leave them off and never take them up again ; and thereby, while they are not getting ground by continuing their course, they do lose thereby. Even aa watermen rowing against the stream, if they do not row, but rest never so little, the stream carries them back again, and they cannot recover themselves but with great difficulty ; so it is in this Christian race. A little interruption of duty causes thrice so much pains to recover our former estate. There- fore we are to take up a holy resolution not to be interrupted in good duties.