2. The next law is, that ice vuist look to gain ground still, to grow from grace to grace. It is the apostle's aim still to grow better than himself. Contrary to this many forsake their first love. They think themselves wise, but are fools, such as the Lord will spew out of his mouth, as he threatens the Church of Laodicea, Eev. iii. 16. And indeed the most men at the best are but civil ; and do but provide for their own ease, and can endure any mixture of religion or company ; and the ground of this coldness is a self-conceit, whereby men think well of themselves and their estate. Paul, he was of another spirit, ever pressing forward.
3. A third law is, that we do things icith all our might ; that we run this race ^Yith all our earnest endeavour. There is no bodily exercise that pro- fiteth, but it must be with putting forth of our strength. So our Christian actions should shew even outwardly, that we do things as if we intended thereby to honour God indeed ; and to this end we are to depend on God by prayer, that he would give us strength and minds to put forth our strength for gaining most honour to his Majest}^, and this will bring great assurance and comfort to us in time of need.
4. A fourth rule is, that we are to nui this race with' a cheerful and speedy course. A dead performance of duties is no part of our race. Yea, as many go to hell by ill performance of good duties, as by committing sins that are scandalously evil ; for this resting in the work done is the cause of hardness of heart, and thereby of despair ; and at the best never brings any sound comfort at all to us. And therefore we are enjoined to do good duties, and to do them in a good manner. ' Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of this bread, and drink of this cup,' 1 Cor. xi. 28; and ' so run that you may obtain,' 1 Cor. ix. 24. It is no lingering. We know not how long we shall live, how soon we shall die : and therefore let us make haste to do our work before God takes away time from us, by taking us out of the world. And those especially are to look to this, that have lived long in their own courses, and are but lately reclaimed. They are much behind, and had need make haste. The journey is long, their time but short. And to this end look we not what we have done, and how far we have gone, but look what remains to be done, and know we have done nothing till we have done all.
Quest. But it will be asked, What ! may we not think of duties that are past?
Ans. I answer, We may think of them by way of defence, and to give
PHILIPPIANS CHAP. Ill, VKU. 14. 109
God the glovy, and also to encourage us on, but not to rest or solace our- selves on them till we have done all.
Quest. But men may say, What, is there no pause? is there no Sabbath?
Ans. I answer, Yes, when we are dead. 'Blessed are the dead in the Lord,' Rev.xiv. 13. It is they that rest from their labours. Heaven ia a sufficient reward for all the pains we can any way take here. Besides, tho comforts that we have here are many, which none knows but them that enjoy them. And God hath promised the continual assistance of his blessed Spirit, that shall encourage us and lead us into all truth. Alas ! what comfort have we of all that we have done, if we continue not, but sit down and take up our rests here ? What good got they that came out of Egypt and died in the wilderness, it may be even in the border of the land of promise, yet never saw it ? It will assuredly fall out with us as it did with them, if we harbour any infidelity in our hearts. We shall be cast out, that we shall never see this good land, the spiritual Canaan.
In the next place, take we heed of such hindrances as may make us either slack or intermit this race of ours.
1. As first. We must take heed of idle scruples and temjitations. These are no other than as dust cast in the eyes of the runners, and as stones that gall their feet. Interpret them to be the subtleties of the devil, and therefore shake them oft", and intend-^'- thy duty thou art about, and pray for wisdom to discern aright of things. Regard not the golden apples of the pi'ofits and pleasures of this life, that lie in thy way to divert thy steps, f and sweep otf evermore the dirt of these worldly cai'es, which we gather in our race, and by little and little grow to clog us.
2. In the second place, Beware of sins against conscience. They take away joy, and make our hearts dead. There are many that seeing divers of their sins before them, concerning which they find no peace in them- selves, are soon out of breath, and quite out of heart, and so by little and little run into despair, and without hope ever to attain the prize.