September 17

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 3:13, 14.

NOTHING renders our excellences vain and puffs them away, so much as the memory of the good deeds we have done; for this produces two evils, it both renders us remiss, and raises us to haughtiness. Wherefore see how Paul, since he knew our nature to be easily inclined to remissness, though he had given great praise to the Philippians, now subdues their mind by many other things above, but chiefly by his present words. And what are they? Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended. But if Paul had not as yet apprehended, and is not confident about the resurrection and things to come, hardly should they be so, who have not even succeeded in the smallest proportion with him. And what he says is this, I consider that I have not as yet apprehended all virtue, speaking as if one should say of a runner, he hath not yet apprehended. Not as yet, saith he, have I completed all. And if in another place he saith, I have fought the good fight, but here, I count myself not as yet to have apprehended; any one who reads both these places, will well know the reason of those, and of the present words. For it is not necessary to dwell continually on the same point, and to be ourselves teaching you every thing, and that he spoke these words at an earlier date, but the others near his death.

I count not myself to have apprehended, saith he, but I am solely engaged on this one thing, in reaching forth unto the things which are before. For that is the meaning of this one thing—forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus; behold how in speaking thus, he shows what it was which made him reach forward unto the things which are before. He, then, who thinks that all is accomplished, and that nothing is wanting to him for the perfecting of virtue, may cease from running, as having apprehended all. But he who thinks that he is still distant from the goal, will never cease to run. This then we should always consider, even though we have wrought ten thousand good deeds; for if Paul, after ten thousand deaths, after so many dangers, considers this, how much more should we? For I fainted not, saith he, although I availed not, after running so much; nor did I despair, but I still run, I still strive. This thing only I consider, that I may in truth advance; thus too we should act, we should forget our successes, and throw them behind us, for the runner reckons not up how many circuits he hath finished, but how many are left. We too should reckon up, not how far we are advanced in virtue, but how much remains for us. For what doth that which is finished profit us, when that which is deficient is not added? Moreover he did not say so, do not reckon, nor remember, but forgetting, to make us more zealous, for we then become eager, when we apply all diligence to what is left, when we give to oblivion every thing else. Reaching forth, saith he;

before we arrive, we strive to obtain. For he reacheth forth, who endeavors to outstrip his feet, though running with the rest of his body, stretching himself forward, and reaching out his hands, that he may accomplish somewhat more of the course. But this comes from great eagerness, from much warmth; thus the runner should run with great earnestness, with so great eagerness, without relaxation. As far as one who runs differs from him who lies supine, so far doth Paul differ from us. He died daily, he was reproved daily, there was no season, there was no time in which his course advanced not. He wished not to take, but to snatch the prize; for in this way we may take it. He who giveth the prize standeth on high, the prize is laid up on high.

See how great a distance this to run over! See how great is the ascent! Thither we must fly up with the wings of the Spirit, otherwise it is impossible to surmount this height. Thither must we go with the body, for it is allowed. For our conversation is in heaven, there is the prize; seest thou the runners, how they live by rule, how they touch nothing that relaxes their strength, how they exercise themselves every day in the palæstra, under a master, and by rule? Do thou too imitate them, or rather exhibit greater eagerness, for the prizes are not equal: many are those who would hinder you; live by rule: many are the things which relax your strength; make it agile for thy feet: for it is possible so to do, it comes not naturally, but by our will. Let us bring it to lightness, lest our swiftness of foot be hindered by the weight of other things. Teach thy feet to be sure, for there are many slippery places, and if thou fallest, straightway thou losest much. But yet if you fall, rise up again. Even thus mayest thou obtain the victory. Never attempt slippery things, and thou wilt not fall; walk upon firm ground, up with thy head, up with thine eyes; these commands the trainers give to those who run. Thus thy strength is supported; but if thou stoopest downward, thou fallest, thou art relaxed. Look upward where the prize is; the sight of the prize increases the determination of the will; this hope suffereth not to perceive toil or distress, it makes the distance appear short; and what is the prize? No palm branch; but what? The kingdom of heaven, everlasting rest, glory together with Christ, the inheritance, brotherhood, ten thousand good things, which it is

24 impossible to name. It is impossible to describe the beauty of that prize; he who hath it alone knoweth it, and he who is about to receive it. It is not of gold, it is not of jewels, it is far more precious. Gold is mire, in comparison with that prize, precious stones are mere bricks in comparison with its beauty. If thou hast this, and takest thy departure to heaven, thou wilt be able to walk there with great honor; the angels will reverence thee, when thou bearest this prize, with much confidence wilt thou approach them all.

In Christ Jesus, see the humility of his mind; this I do, saith he, in Christ Jesus, for it is impossible without his assistance to pass so vast an interval: we have need of much aid, of a mighty alliance; he hath willed that thou shouldst struggle below, on high he crowns thee. Not as in this world; the crown is not there, where the contest is; but this crown is in that bright place. See ye not, even here, that the most honored of the wrestlers and charioteers are not crowned in the course below, but the king calls them up, and crowns them there? Thus too is it here, look to heaven, where thou receivest the prize.

"And when through grace, our course is run, The battle fought, the vict'ry won, Then crowns unfading we shall wear, The glory of thy kingdom share, With thee, our glorious leader, there, In endless day."