m By an elegant Anticipation and Corre&ion, left any ſhould conclude from what he had written, as if he were now arrived at the height he aim'd at in the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt and a full and perfet&t ſtature in that Body, or almoſt at the very pitch, he doth here make a modeſt confeſſion of his not attain- ment, (whatever falſe Apoſtles might pretend to) 2 Cor. 10. 12. and 12.6, 7. but of his earneſt defire and utmoſt endeavour to be raisd to the compleat holineſs he was detign'd to in heavenly pla- ces in Chriſt Jeſus, Eph. 2.6. » He did purſue with all vigour as thoſe labouring in the Apgnoſticks with all his might and main , not deſponding of obtaining the Goal, 1 Cor. 9. 26. with 2 Cor. 4. 8. with groanings and longings afrer utmoft perfettion, 2 Cor. 5. 4, 6, 7+ 2 Pet. }. 12. as thoſe perfetted in glory, Heb. 12.23. 0 If bat or whether that (not as intimating any uncertainty, but his more earneſt contending for holineſs in the Chriſtian race) I may lay hold on that attainment to be as holy as Men ſhall be at the ReſurreQion. þ Even as, or for which (as we render it well ſo, ch, 4+ 10,) 7. e. For which end, or for this purpoſe to be perfettly ſfanified and glorified at the Reſurre&ion. q He was at his et- feftual calling laid hold on by Chriſt, being found in whom he was a triving after pertedtion. This apprehended is a metaphor bor- rowed from thoſe that run in a race, one taking hold of another to draw him after to win the prize as well as himſelf. He eyed Chriſt, having taken him into his hand, as one that would not ſuffer him to be pluck'd out by any oppoſers, Fohn 10. 23, He knew that Chrift having brought him nigh unto God 3 and under- took to work ſuch a meaſure of holineſs in him, one day would compleatly glorifie him, ſv that whatever he paſs'd through, no- thing ſhould he loſt, Foky 6. 39. :
13 Brethren, I count not my felf to have appre- .t5. hended 7 : but thrs one thing I do , * forgetting thoſe things which are behind r, and reaching unto thoſe '” things which are before x. ,
7 He repeats in ſomewhat a different © manner of expreſſion what he had written in the former verſe, with a friendly compella- tion, gently and kindly to infinuate a caution againft the falſe Teachers ſuggeſtion about perfection in this ſtate, from the inſtance of himſelf {5 eminently call'd to be an Apoſtle of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 10. 12, who after all his labours and ſufferings for his fake, did reckon, he had not yet arriv'd to the hight of what he was callFd , to. /But he would have them to underſtand that he was ſo in- : tent upon this one thing, for which he was brought by the Spirit into communion with Chrift, as if there were not any thing elle worthy of his thoughts (as Pſal. 27. 4. Lnke 1c. 42.) 7 Like a true ſpiritual racer, not minding what he had received by grace : from him, who had took hold ot him, or how much he had run of > his Chriſtian race, reckoning it was much ſhort of the whole, or . the main intended by Chrift in taking hold of him. = But ſtrain-
ing forward, as it were with all his force and skill, cafting himſelf
} like a dart towards the mark, ſo running that he might obtain, 1 Cor. n 9. 24, all and the whole, that was his particular portion for ever, <q to be received from God, as the purchaſe of Chriſt, even the to- 2 tal that God had in and and. by Jeſus Chrift, deſign'd him, and ry in Chrift beftow'd upon him, out of his rich grace as his ſpecia! e allotment.
Sy 14 I preſs toward the mark w, for the prize of the k ® 3, * high calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus ».
tk w He did not look back, Luke 9. 62. nor was lazy, but did _ follow hard with an eager purſuit (Mar. 11. 12.) after the per- _ feftion that was in his Eye, not erring from his main ſcope. Con- 2 fidering What he had received was but in part, he did fill preſs "A or more, upon that Ground that Chriſt had apprehended him for
ho. more, as if he were ſtretching out his hands to lay hold of it. of * Trufting he ſhould through grace, be kept all along, maugre all
ifficulties in the hand of Chrift, till upon his account, he ſhould be fully poſſeſſed of all that was aim'd at; even that which is
led the Prize, or victorions Palm of our high calling, and the Chriftians may well be termed an high calling, confidering their - heavenly birth when called, and laid hold of by Chriſt, Fob 1. 13. and the purchaſed inheritance eternally icitled upon ſuch Tpi- ritual high-born- Princes, Eph. 1. 14. Rev. 1. 6. who are by one — perfected for ever, #6. 10. 14, Which will appear moſt
0, Il,
glorious, when they are raiſed up in Chriſt, who will then give out all the Sal;ation he hath called us unto.
15 Let us therefore as many as be * perfe& y, be * : Cor. thus minded z: and if in any thing ye be otherwiſe 14 25+ minded 4, God ſhall reveal even this unto you b.