A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

Thirdly, With respect hereunto we are said to fly [Greek or Hebrew]; that is, [Greek or Hebrew], to lay hold on, fortiter apprehendere, constanter retinere. The signification ¹of this word, frequently used by our Apostle, I have on sundry occasions before declared. It is, injecta manu, totis viribus retinere; to hold fast what we lay hold on, with all our might and power. There will be many endeavours to strike off the hand of Faith from laying hold on the Promise; and many more to loosen its hold when it hath taken it. But it is in its Nature, and it is a part of our Duty strongly to lay hold upon, and firmly to retain the Promise when we have reached unto it. And there seems in the whole Metaphor to be an Allusion unto those who run in a Race. For whereas they have a Prize or [Greek or Hebrew] set before them, they first stir up themselves with all their strength to speed towards the mark, which when they have attained they both lay fast hold on, and bear it away with them as their own. So is it with Believers as to the Promise proposed unto them or set before them. They reach out after it, lay hold upon it, reserve it as to their Interest in it, as the only means of their Deliverance and Salvation, and of that Consolation which in every condition they stand in need of. And from the words so opened we may observe that,

Thirdly, With respect hereunto we are said to fly 〈non-Latin alphabet〉; that is, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, to lay hold on, fortiter apprehendere, constanter retinere. The signification ¹of this word, frequently used by our Apostle, I have on sundry occasions before declared. It is, injecta manu, totis viribus retinere; to hold fast what we lay hold on, with all our might and power. There will be many endeavours to strike off the hand of Faith from laying hold on the Promise; and many more to loosen its hold when it hath taken it. But it is in its Nature, and it is a part of our Duty strongly to lay hold upon, and firmly to retain the Promise when we have reached unto it. And there seems in the whole Metaphor to be an Allusion unto those who run in a Race. For whereas they have a Prize or 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 set before them, they first stir up themselves with all their strength to speed towards the mark, which when they have attained they both lay fast hold on, and bear it away with them as their own. So is it with Believers as to the Promise proposed unto them or set before them. They reach out after it, lay hold upon it, reserve it as to their Interest in it, as the only means of their Deliverance and Salvation, and of that Consolation which in every condition they stand in need of. And from the words so opened we may observe that,