Lectures Upon Philippians, Lectures · Chapter 3 · Lecture 63
LECTƲRE LXIII.
PHILIP. 3. Verſe 14.
And endeuour my ſelfe vntounto that which is before … follow hard toward the marke, for the priſe of th… high calling, &c.
foreign.THere are alſo two other notable qualities o… runners, whereby the Apoſtles makes proofe of his inceſſant running in his Chriſtian ra…. The former is, that good runners keepe their eyes ſtill vponupon the marke before them, and runne hard towards it. In this qualitie alſo the Apoſtle profeſſeth that he marched … the beſt runners, in the words following, when he ſaith th… he endeuoured himſelfe vntounto that &c. And I endeuour my ſelfe &c. foreign.] The word which the Apoſtle heere vſeth when he ſaith that he endeuoured himſelfe, ſignifieth that as good ren… when they come neere vntounto the marke ſtretch out their head, and hands, and whole body to take hold of them that runne with them, or of the marke that is before them, ſo he in his whole race ſo laboured vntounto that which was before, as if he were ſtill ſtretching out his armes to take hold of it. The word * likewiſe which he vſeth in the next phraſe of ſpeach where he ſaith that he followed hard toward the marke, ſignifieth that he followed as one that would not leaue till he had that which he followed, but if he fell he would vp againe and to it, and not giuegive ouer, no more than the perſecuter doth till he hauehave him whom he perſecuteth. That which is before whereunto he endeuoureth himſelfe, that which is the marke toward which he followes, is Chriſt Ieſus, the excellent and perfect knowledge of whom is ſuch that he cals him his marke, that is, that whereon his eies were wholly and only ſet in the whole courſe of his Chriſtian race. As therefore the Apoſtle before profeſſed that in his Chriſtian race he neuer looked backe, but forgat that which was behinde, ſo now he profeſ…h that ſtill he ranne forward, ſo labouring in his whole race …o that which was before, as if he were ſtill ſtretching out … bodie to take hold of it, and ſo following as one that …uld neuer giuegive ouer, but if hee fell, would vp and to it …ine, ſtill preſſing towards the marke, Chriſt Ieſus, on …om, as on his marke, his eyes were wholly and onelyonly ſet in … whole courſe of his Chriſtian race.
Whence I obſerue that in the Chriſtian race which we are … runne, we are not to ſtand ſtill, or to giuegive ouer, but with all …erneſſe, and all perſeuerance ſtill to preſſe towards the …rke that is ſet before vsus at our races end. For who is he that …taineth the crowne, but he that ſtriueth lawfully, bearing …brunts, and running through all difficulties without ſhrink…? As it is written,1 Tim. 2.5. No man is crowned except he ſtriue as he …ght to doe, fighting a good fight, and finiſhing his courſe. And …o is he that ſhall be ſaued, but he that holdeth out a con…t courſe vntounto the end? as it is written,Mat. 10 22 Ap…c. 2.26.27. He that endureth …o the end he ſhall be ſaued. And againe, He that ouer commeth …d keepeth my workes vntounto the end, to him will I giuegive power ouer …ions, and he ſhall rule them with a rod of yron, and as the veſ… of a potter ſhall they be broken. And in whom doth God …ell as in his holy houſe, but in them that keepe faſt the pro…ion of their hope vntounto the end? as it is written, We are Gods …ſe, if we hold faſt the confidence, Heb. 3.6.and the reioycing of our hope …to the end. And hereupon are thoſe often exhortations in …ly ſcripture:2 Tim. 3.14 Continue thou in the things that thou haſt lear…d, and art perſwaded thereof &c. And againe, Paſſe the time … your dwelling here in feare. 1 Pet. 1.17.He doth not meaſure the ac…unt of our obedience vntounto God by daies, or moneths, or …ares, but paſſe (ſaith he) the time of your dwelling here, euen …e whole race of your life with feare, making an end of your …uation with feare and trembling.Heb. 3.12.14. And againe the Apoſtle … the Hebrewes, Take heede, brethren, leſt at any time there be …any of you an euill heart, and vnfaithfull, to depart away from the …ing God. For (ſaith he) we are made partakers of Chriſt, if we …epe ſure vntounto the end the beginning wherewith we are vpholden. …ea the Apoſtles neuer ceaſed to exhort all to continue in the …ace of God, and with purpoſe of heart to cleaue vntounto the Lord. Act. 13.43.11.23.If then we will hearken vntounto the exhortation of the Holy Ghoſt, if we will obtaine the crowne and be ſaued, we may not faint or giuegive ouer in our Chriſtian race, but we muſt hol… out vntounto the end. To enter the liſts of this race, and to begi… well is ſomewhat, but to ſmall purpoſe vnleſſe by continuance in well-doing we doe approue our running. Iudas may ſer… for example, whom it litle profited that he had runne … becauſe afterwards he went aſtray from that miniſtration an… Apoſtleſhip which he had obtained with the reſt of the Apoſtles, and purchaſed vntounto himſelfe a field with the reward o… iniquitie.Ezek. 18.24 For as the Prophet ſaith, ſo is it moſt true, If the righteous man ſhall forſake his righteouſneſſe, the Lord will alſo forget the righteouſneſſe that he hath done: and the cauſe is moſt … why our ſinnes ſhould be imputed vntounto vsus, if at any time we ſhould faint and fall in the way. Hauing then begun well, an… in the ſpirit, our care muſt be to continue our courſe, n… ſtanding ſtill like vntounto thoſe idle ones reproued in the goſpell,Mat. 20.6. or giuing ouer to runne, but ſtill following hard towards th… marke. It may be that running we may ſtumble, and fall: … Peter did,Matt 26. 2 Cor. 12.7. Mat. 26.56 when he denied his maſter; as Paul did, when a pricke was giuen him in the fleſh, the meſſenger of Satan to before him; and as all the Diſciples did, when they forſooke Chriſt & fled: but what muſt we doe? we muſt vp againe, and too…; we muſt breake of our ſinnes by righteouſneſſe, and our iniquities by mercifulneſſe: yea if with the Church of Epheſ… we hauehave left our firſt louelove, Apoc. 2.5.we muſt remember from whence we ar… fallen, and repent, and doe the first workes. We hauehave a ſaying, that it is no ſhame to take a fall, but it is a ſhame to lie ſtill. I cannot ſay that in this Chriſtian race it is no ſhame to take a fall: for our falls by ſinning againſt our God ſhould make vsus for ſhame to couer our faces: but when we are fallen into any ſinne to lye ſtill and ſleepe in ſinne, and to giuegive ouer running in our Chriſtian race, this will turne to our vtter ſhame and confuſion. If therefore in running we fall, yet muſt we v… againe, and runne as if our ſtrength were renued by our fa… We may not be weary of well-doing, but by continuance… well-doing we muſt runne on the race that is ſet before vsus, knowing that in due ſeaſon we ſhall reape if we faint not. Gal. 6.9.Adde vntounto that reaſon which hath beene mentioned, that onelyonly perſeue…ance vntounto the end hath the promiſe of the crowne of righteouſneſſe and ſaluation; this alſo, that God meaſureth not his gifts vntounto vsus by moneths or yeares, but his mercy and his …oue towards vsus endure for euer. If he then be a louing Lord …nto vsus, who will not change his fauour towards vsus for euer, …e may not ſerue him by count of daies, but to the laſt houre …e muſt be faithfull. A perfect God muſt hauehave a perfect ſer…ant, an euerlaſting God a perpetuall ſeruant; and if we fall …t the laſt, we are fallen from him, and not he from vsus, and our …ondemnation is of our ſelues.
This then ſhould teach vsus, to ſhake of all ſuch impedi…ents as either clog vsus that we cannot runne, or cauſe vsus to …reake of when we ſhould continue running. Thoſe that …eepe through aduerſitie ſhould be as though they wept not; …hoſe that reioyce through proſperitie ſhould be as though …hey reioyced not; thoſe that hauehave wiues as though they had …one, thoſe that buy as though they poſſeſſed not, and they …hat vſe this world as though they vſed it not. Pouertie, nor …iches, honor, nor diſhonor, euill report, nor good report …hould take ſuch hold of vsus as that they ſhould ſtay vsus from …unning that race that is ſet before vsus, but through all theſe …e ſhould run as if there were no ſuch burthen vponupon vsus. He …hat is to runne in a race will not gird on him his armour, but …ather he will ſtrip himſelfe, and turne himſelfe almoſt naked. …uen ſowe in our Chriſtian race ſhould either ſtrip our ſelues …s it were, and vtterly ſhake of all ſuch things as ordinarily are …upediments in this race, or they ſhould be as if they were …haken of, no troublers of vsus in our race.
But how farre otherwiſe is it with vsus? EueryEvery thing almoſt makes vsus ſit downe and quite giuegive ouer running. If riches …ncreaſe we ſit vsus downe, and ſet our hearts vponupon them, and …here is an end of our race. If pouertie doe befall vsus wee ſit …, downe, and either murmure and repine againſt the Lord, or elſe fall to robbing and ſtealing, and ſuch other vnlawfull meanes to relieue our ſtate, and there is an end of our race. If honour, and authoritie, and credit amongſt men grow vponupon vsus, wee ſit vsus downe, and deuiſe with our ſelues how wee may beſt maintaine our ſtate, our place, our calling, and our credit and there is an end of our race. If we be diſgraced, or ſuffer any kind of wrong wee ſit vsus downe, and bethinke our ſelues how wee may be reuenged of him that hath done vsus this wrong, or this diſhonour, and there is an end of our race. If by the mercy of God through painefull ſtudie we hauehave atteined to ſome knowledge we ſit vsus downe, and conſider what reward wee may iuſtly looke for our learning, and we ſeeke, and labour, and poſte after that, and there is an end of our race. Thus eueryevery thing almoſt makes vsus ſit downe, and quite giuegive ouer running. But (men and brethren) let there be in vsus the ſame minde that was in our Apoſtle. Let vsus endeuour vntounto that which is before, and let vsus follow hard toward the marke. If we continue in the word of the Lord, and walke in his waies we are Chriſt his diſciples.… 31. Let vsus therefore continue in the grace of God, and with purpoſe of heart cleaue ſtedfaſtly vntounto the Lord. The ambitious man he doth not ſo much thinke of his preſent honour, as his minde runnes vponupon a plus vltra, he looks ſtill forward, and gladly he would be higher. The couetous man likewiſe he doth not ſo much thinke what riches he hath, as his minde runnes vponupon more, more, and ſtill he looks forward after more and more. Shall they ſtill looke forward towards theſe vaine and tranſitorie things, and ſo thirſt after them that the more of them they hauehave the more they runne after them; and ſhall not we much more looke forward towards the marke that is ſet before vsus in our Chriſtian race, and the ne…rer that we come to it runne the faſter vntounto it? Let the children of light learne this wiſdome of the children of this generation, to follow hard towards the marke that is ſet before them. Let vsus ſo runne that we may obtaine: and let vsus neuer be weary of well-doing: for in due ſeaſon we ſhall reape if we faint not. Bleſſed is he that continueth vntounto the end, for he ſhall be ſaued.
The ſecond thing which hence I obſerue is, what marke we muſt propoſe vntounto our ſelues in running our Chriſtian race vntounto which we muſt endeuour, towards which we muſt follow, and which we muſt alwaies hauehave in our eyes, and that i… Chriſt Ieſus, that we may perfectly know him, whom to know is life euerlaſting. On Chriſt Ieſus muſt our eyes alwaies be ſet, and on the perfect knowledge of him muſt our deſire be ſetled. For he is the way, the truth, and the life: the way,Joh. 14.6. therefore we muſt begin in him, continue in him, and end in him, walking by him vntounto him: He is the truth, wee muſt ſtill …herefore looke towards him if we will not be deceiued: He …s the life, we muſt therefore runne vntounto him if we will not …leepe in death. He is Alpha, and Omega, the beginning, and …he ending, in regard both of the being, and of the power, and …f the actions, and of the diſpoſitions of all creatures, ſo that …s of him, and through him, and for him are all things, ſo vn…o him and his glory are all things to be referred. And ſee …hat great reaſon there is to moue vsus to looke ſtill towards …im as the marke toward which we are to follow as hard as we …an. For doth not he ſtill looke towards vsus, and call vponupon vsus, …rying and ſaying,Mat. 11.28. Come vntounto me all yee that are weary and la…en, and I will eaſe you? Doth he not ſtand ſtill ſtretching out …is armes, as alwaies moſt ready to receiue vsus if we will come …nto him? Nay doth he not oftentimes when we are turning …ut of the right way wherein we ſhould walke, hooke vsus in …gaine with his rod and his ſtaffe, and lead vsus as it were by the …nd vntounto himſelfe? Yea ſuch is the louing kindneſſe of our …weet Sauiour, that he will hauehave vsus to runne after him, and he …ill draw vsus that we may runne after him; that he will hauehave vsus …o follow hard towards him as our marke, and he will guide v… … our way which leadeth vntounto him; that he will hauehave vsus to …ake ſpeede to come vntounto him, and he will inlarge our hearts …hat we may runne the way of his commandements, and ſo …ome vntounto him. Such is the marke ſet at the end of our Chri…tian race, not a dead marke which helpeth the runner no…hing in his race, but drawing vsus vntounto himſelfe, that where he … there we may be alſo. This was the marke that the Apoſtle …anne at, and this is the marke that we ſhould runne at, to …now him perfitly, and the vertue of his reſurrection &c, …hereby we might attaine to the reſurrection &c.
Here then we learne why it is that ſo few runne as they ought in the Chriſtian race. The moſt part of men hauehave an other marke that they runne at. Some runne at riches, ſome at honors, ſome at pleaſures, ſome at eaſe, ſome at skill and knowledge in the things that are done vnderunder the Sunne, and on theſe things are their eyes ſet, and their mindes wholly bent. But the leaſt ſumme make Chriſt Ieſus the marke whereat they runne; to know him is the thing whereon the feweſt mindes are bent: He is fartheſt out of light, and fartheſt out of minde with the moſt men. Not running then a… the right marke, how can we but runne amiſſe? Beloued, yee ſee what the marke is whereat we ſhould ayme in the whole courſe of our life. Let the children of this world pricke at their ſeuerall markes as they liſt; but let vsus follow hard towards the marke Chriſt Ieſus. He is that marke whereat if we be Chriſtians we ſhould ayme in our whole race. Let our eyes be ſtill ſet, and our mindes alwaies bent vponupon him. If wee walke towards him he will direct our goings in his paths … for his owne names ſake. A better marke we cannot hauehave, and another marke we ought not to hauehave. There is no running, if we runne as we ought, but to him; neither any running to him, but by him. Let vsus therefore by him runne vntounto him, and in all things let vsus ſtill looke vntounto him. The race is well runne when at the races end we come to ſuch a marke; and well may we runne through cold and nakednes, through ſtripes and impriſonments, and all kinde of difficulties to come to ſuch a marke: whereunto we can no ſooner come, but ſtraight we hauehave the prize for which we runne, euen glory and immortalitie in the higheſt heauens. Let vsus therefore ſo runne that we may obtaine, let vsus runne till we come vntounto the marke, that we may obtaine the price of the high calling of God in Chriſt Ieſus. And let this ſuffice to be ſpoken touching the ſecond qualitie of runners.
The third qualitie of runners whereby the Apoſtle makes proofe of his inceſſant running in his Chriſtian race, is this, that runners keeping in minde the price for which they runne, make haſte vntounto the marke for the price that they may obtaine. In this alſo the Apoſtle profeſſeth that hee matched euen the beſt runners, in the laſt words when he ſaith, that … followed hard toward the marke for the price of &c. In which words by the price is ſignified that inheritance immortall and vndefiled which is reſerued in heauen for vsus; and it is called …e price of the high calling of God in Chriſt Ieſus, becauſe it … the glory of Gods children whereunto God from on high …th called vsus in Chriſt Ieſus. As therefore the Apoſtle before …rofeſſed that he ranne and lookt not backe to that which was …ehinde, and that he ranne and gaue not ouer to follow that …hereon his eyes were alwaies ſet; ſo now he profeſſeth that …e ranne and haſtned his running for to obtaine the price of …ory and immortalitie in the heauens, whereunto hee was …lled by God in Chriſt Ieſus. All ſufficient proofes that the …poſtle came apace as he that deſired to obtaine.
Hence then I obſerue, that life euerlaſting and glory in the …eauens is the price and reward of our holy and conſtant run…ing in our Chriſtian race. Which our Sauiour ſignifieth …hen vntounto them that endure hatred, perſecution, and contu…elies for his ſake he ſaith, Reioyce and be glad, Mat. 5.12.for great is your …ward in heauen. Our Apoſtle likewiſe ſheweth the ſame, …here he ſaith,Rom. 2.6, 7. that God will reward eueryevery man according to his …orkes; to them which by continuance in well-doing ſeeke glory, …d honor, and immortalitie, eternall life. Col. 3.23.24.And to the Coloſſians …ſo, where ſpeaking vntounto ſeruants he ſaith, whatſoeuer yee doe, …e it heartily as to the Lord, knowing that of the Lord yee ſhall re…iue the reward of the inheritance. All which places, and many …ther which might be produced to the like purpoſe, doe …lainely ſhew, that eternall life is the reward of our holy …alking with God in ſuch good workes as he hath ordeined …at we ſhould walke in them. A notable price to runne for, …nd a notable incouragement vntounto the runner. For can we …unne for a better price then for eternall life in the heauens? Or can a better reward for our incouragement in our Chri…ian race be giuen vsus than eternall life in the heauens? How …hould not this make vsus to prouoke one another vntounto louelove, …nd good workes? How ſhould not this make vsus runne the …ace of a holy life, breaking through all impediments, and …ot intermitting our courſe vntounto the end?
But here we muſt know that though we run for this prize, …et this prize is not giuen vsus for the merit of our running, and …hough this prize be the reward of our running, yet doe wee not merit this reward for our running.Rom. 9.16. For it is not in him th… willeth, nor in him that runneth, but in God that ſheweth merciemercy. The Lord in mercy hath ſet downe this prize of our running, and in the like merciemercy giues it vntounto him that runnes out vntounto the marke, but not for the merit of his running. This one place at this time may ſerue for a full proofe of this point. The Apoſtle ranne for the prize, but it was for the prize of the high calling of God in Chriſt Ieſus. He doth not ſay for the prize that was due vntounto him; albeit it was due vntounto him, though not for his merits ſake, yet for the promiſe ſake made in merciemercy: but he ranne for the prize of the high calling of God in Chriſt Ieſus. Which in that it was the prize of the high calling of God, it is plaine that it is giuen in merciemercy by him that hath called vsus in merciemercy, and likewiſe in that it is the prize &c. in Chriſt Ieſus, it is plaine that it is giuen in merc… through Chriſt Ieſus, in whom onelyonly we are called vntounto glorie and life euerlaſting. It is ordained then that wee ſhould runne for this prize: for no man obtaineth it but he that runneth for it, and therefore the Apoſtle ranne for it: but it is the prize of our high calling to be the ſonnes of God, giuen vsus in mercy by God that hath called vsus in merciemercy, and giuen … in Chriſt Ieſus by God that hath called vsus in Chriſt Ieſus to be partakers of his glory.
Here then behold and wonder at the louing kindneſſe of our God. We muſt runne and we ſhalbe very well rewarded. For if we runne, albeit we can merit nothing by our running, becauſe when we hauehave done what we can we are but vnprofitable ſeruants, yet in merciemercy will he giuegive vsus an euerlaſting crowne of glory. A good reward for a meane ſeruice performed but meanely by him that runnes the beſt. And therefore the greater the goodnes of our God who giueth ſuch reward in merciemercy where there wanteth all merit. The merciemercy of our God ſhould ſtirre vp our thankfulnes vntounto our God, and the great reward which in mercy he doth giuegive ſhould make … runne the waie of his commandementes.Rom. 8.18. All that euer wee can doe or ſuffer is not worthy of that glory which ſhalbe ſhewed vntounto vsus. Yet if we ſuffer willingly for Chriſt his ſake and doe the workes of our calling, he will in mercy giuegive vntounto vsus an incorruptible crowne of glory. Let our mouthes there…re be filled with his praiſe and honour all the day long who …ere there wanteth merit ſheweth ſuch merciemercy. And if du…, or louelove cannot preuaile with vsus, yet let this ineſtimable …ward perſwade vsus to runne the way of his commande…entes. In a word we know that our labour ſhall not be in …ine in the Lord. Let vsus therefore abound in euerie good …orke, and let vsus runne with patience the race that is ſet be…re vsus.
The next and laſt thing which hence I obſerue, is that as …od hath choſen vsus in Chriſt Ieſus, ſo hath he called vsus in …hriſt Ieſus.Epheſ. 1.4. The former appeareth by the Epiſtle to the E…eſians; the later by this place of our Apoſtle, and many o…ers. Yea Chriſt Ieſus alone it is in whom and for whom …d hath bleſſed vsus with all ſpirituall bleſſing in heauenly thinges, 3.… the Apoſtle both ſpeaketh there, and manifeſtly ſheweth …oth there, and elſewhere. For in him are we predeſtinate, … him are we choſen, in him are we called, in him are we a…pted, in him are we iuſtified, in him are we ſanctified, and … him through hope are we glorified, and in him are all …e promiſes made vntounto vsus both of the life preſent, and of …at that is to come. If we had beene called in Peter, or in …aule, or in Moſes, then might we hauehave belieued in them, …nd lookt vntounto them as vntounto the marke that is ſet before vsus. …ut now that we are called in Chriſt Ieſus, we are to belieue in …m, and alwaies to looke towardes him in the whole courſe …f our life. In him we hauehave all thinges, and in him ſhall our …y bee made perfit.
Let this then teach vsus to reioyce onelyonly in Chriſt Ieſus, in …hom onelyonly wee are called, and in whom onelyonly wee are …leſſed. In our ſelues we are nothing elſe but bondſlaues of …atan, Children of wrath, a naughty and crooked nation, vn…ble altogether to thinke, or ſpeake, or doe any thing that is …ood, abominable, diſobedient, vntounto eueryevery good worke re…robate, and not onelyonly neare vntounto curſing, but curſed. But in …ur Chriſt Ieſus we are freede from ſinne and condemnation, …nd made the ſeruants of righteouſnes and heires of ſaluation, …d in him we are called vntounto that high calling to be the ſons of God, and hauehave all the priueledges that belong vntounto the ſonnes of God. Let vsus therefore reioyce in him alwaie, let our ſongs be made euer of him and dayly let vsus praiſe him. Let vsus iudge whatſoeuer is beſt to be but dung for the excellent knowledge ſake of him, and let vsus in all thinges grow vp in him &c.