3. Thirdly, Take ive heed of ill and dull company, that are cold in religion, that cannot away with good religious duties. For as it is in our ordinary travels, good company makes time and way pass away speedily and with comfort ; so it is in this race, good and gracious company by exhortation and example do wonderfully encourage us ; and ill company aontrarily do dishearten us, dissuade us and clog us, and draw us back from every good duty we take in hand. But many men's conceits are, they need not all this ado ; they are well enough, though they be not thus holy ; all cannot come to the high pitch of mortification. Surely there is hardly any beginning of grace in such who allow themselves in a dead course ; for where the love of God is, it will constrain men to shew their thankful and loving hearts to him, in walking before the Lord with all their might.
4. In the fourth place, T'ake heed hoio we suffer our minds to tcander in this race. Let us not look at the lookers on. The world and the devil and wicked men, i: pass not for their censures. We may assure our- selves before we enter this race we shall have no applause from them. Let a slow dull] jade come by, like dogs, they let him pass, none regards ; but if another comes by apace, every man runs barking and slandering and backbiting after him ; and if they can they will bite
* That is, = attend, be earnest in. — G.
t The allusion is to tlio legend of Atalanta, who being set to run in a race with her suitors, threw golden apples on the course, which they stopping to'pick up, were conquered. — G.
110 EXPOSITION OF
too. Shall a man caro for such as these ? No. Wc must rcsolvo beforehand to have the world, the devil, and all the enemies he can make to be against us. Let us, therefore, set our eyes only on him that has our reward in his hand, that observes us and is ready to crown us ; and let us beg courage and strength from him, and spiritual wisdom how we should perform every action ; with what intention or remission of heart and affec- tion ; how to sanctify his name in the performance of the duties of our callings ; how to make every action, yea, our recreations, a furtherance in this our Christian race.
Secondl}^ Let its daily search and try our Jiearis and ivays. See how we profit or go back, how we grow like or unlike Christ ; particularly, examine we how the pomp of the world seems to us, whether base or contemptible ? If so, then the further we are run in this Christian race. For as in objects of sight, the further we are from them the less they seem to us, and the nearer we are to them they appear the greater, so it is in the object of our minds. Doth heaven appear full and beautiful to us ? It is a sign we are near to it, and we are come a good way in our race. But contrarily, if it be mean and of no esteem or account, it is far from us ; we are at the most but coming towards it.
Secondly, Examine luliat doth take up daily the powers of our souls and affections. Do we delight in the best things, and with Mary choose ' the better part,' which shall not be taken away from us ? Luke x. 42. Or contrarily, are our delights here below, and our rest set up here ? Then we have our reward here, and the prize is not prepared for us, but God will spew us out for our coldness. And, therefore, if we find coldness creeping on us, let us take heed of it. It is a dangerous estate. God cannot endure it. For while we allow of good things, but shew not intension of spirit in the performance of them, we do even judge them, and tell the world they be things not worthy of our pains and endeavours. Let us, therefore, not allow of this coldness, though it be in us, but strive against it. Meditate of such things as may inflame us, and pray against it.
For the inize of tlie high callincj of God in Christ Jesus.
' I press forth.' It is a word of vehemency, signifying to set forth his utmost bent and endeavour, both of the inward man and of the outward (t) ; and all is to heaven. So as a Christian's aim is always to Jerusalem, his looks is that way ; his tongue speaks the language thereof ; his carriage will tell he seeks another city, Heb. xi. 14. But for these words, observe there is first a ' prize.' Secondly, ' it is a prize of a calling.' Thirdly, this calling is ' high.' Fourthly, this calling we have here in part.
Concerning this word ' prize,' it is a metaphor taken from the reward of victory gotten in some exercise. God hereby brings heaven down to us. Because we cannot go to it, he insinuates into our afiections by pleasing things, and teaches faith by sense.