example of our Lord, and will he not find in himself deficiencies without number ? Let him even compare himself with Paul, a man of like passions with ourselves, and will he not appear a dwai'f, a very child in comparison of him? Let him examine himself with respect to every Christian grace, and see whether he do not fall very far short of that bright pattern ? Well then may all of us confess, that " we have not yet appre- hended that for which we have been apprehended of Christ Jesus."]
This however is not to discourage us, but to stimu- late us to,
II. A diligent pursuit of higher attainments —
Glorious was the ardour with which the Apostle
was animated in his high calling —
[He considered himself as " called by a reconciled God " to enter the lists in the Christian race, and as now actually contending for the prize. Much of his ground had he already passed over ; but like the racers in the Olympic games, he " for- got what was behind," and was mindful only of that which yet remained for him to do. He saw the prize in full view, and strained every nerve1 in order to obtain it: and the nearer he approached the goal, the more earnestly did he " press forward," desiring nothing but to " finish his course with joy." This was " the one thing which he did." Nothing else occu- pied his mind, nothing else was deemed worthy of one mo- ment's attention. Nothing could, in his apprehension, be lost, if that prize were gained ; nor any thing gained, if that prize were lost.]
In this way he exhorts us also to prosecute the great concerns of our souls —
[The same prize which was set before him is held up to us also : and we are called by God to run for it. It may be that we have both done and suffered much for God already : but we must not think of any thing that is passed (except for the purpose of humbling ourselves, or of glorifying God) we must be intent only on present duty, and engage in it with all our might. To get forward must be our constant uniform endeavour. It is " the one thing needful." As persons run- ning in a race find no time for loitering or diversion, but dis- tinguish themselves from mere spectators by the exertions they make ; so must we manifest to all around us that we have but one pursuit, with which we are determined that nothing shall interfere, and which we will never relax, till we have reached the goal.]
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