The Scope of these words is plain. The Apostle Paul hath to do with the Christian Philippians, who were much tempted, and no doubt, in some hazard to be led aside both from the faith, and from the Practise of Religion: And the way that he takes to keep them right as to both, is by proposing His own example to them; as if he had said, ye will readily think, that I should be well acquainted with the way to Heaven: Now the way that I take ⟨p. 106⟩for my Justification Before God, is not to seek after Righteousness by the works of the Law, but to be found in Christ covered with his righteousness taken hold of by Faith: And if ye would know what I do in reference to Sanctification, this is it, I forget those things that are behind, and reach forth unto those things that are before, pressing towards the Mark for the Prize; being constantly as it were on the spur, that I may attain that which I have not as yet come at, even that perfection of Holiness, that accompanies the resurrection from the dead: And having laid this before them, as a fair copy and pattern; He improves it, by exhorting them thus, Brethren be ye followers together of me; take the way, that I take, both in the matter of Faith and of Practise; And he gives two reasons why he would have them to do so; The First whereof is taken from the danger that was in following those false teachers, Vers. 18.19. Many of whom walk so, as they are Enemies to the Cross of Christ; That is, enemies to the doctrine of faith in Christ, and to the exercise of it on him, and to the Doctrine of his Cross, and also to a truly spiritual walk, Whose end is destruction, and whose God is their Belly. The Second Reason is subjoined in the Text, drawn from the great advantage, which they should have by following him, For (saith He) Our conversation is in Heaven: This is the spiritual, Heavenly and divine walk, wherein he holds forth himself, and his fellow-Apostles as a pattern to be imitated by them, and so teacheth them their duty; We are not (as if he had said) ⟨p. 107⟩like those false teachers; But our Conversation is in Heaven, Therefore follow us; and he gives an instance of this in the latter part of the Verse, From whence (saith he) We look for the Saviour: He is like a person on the Watch tower, that is looking and longing for the coming of a friend;
The Scope of these words is plain. The Apostle Paul hath to do with the Christian Philippians, who were much tempted, and no doubt, in some hazard to be led aside both from the faith, and from the Practise of Religion: And the way that he takes to keep them right as to both, is by proposing His own example to them; as if he had said, ye will readily think, that I should be well acquainted with the way to Heaven: Now the way that I take ⟨p. 106⟩for my Justification Before God, is not to seek after Righteousness by the works of the Law, but to be found in Christ covered with his righteousness taken hold of by Faith: And if ye would know what I do in reference to Sanctification, this is it, I forget those things that are behind, and reach forth unto those things that are before, pressing towards the Mark for the Prize; being constantly as it were on the spur, that I may attain that which I have not as yet come at, even that perfection of Holiness, that accompanies the resurrection from the dead: And having laid this before them, as a fair copy and pattern; He improves it, by exhorting them thus, Brethren be ye followers together of me; take the way, that I take, both in the matter of Faith and of Practise; And he gives two reasons why he would have them to do so; The First whereof is taken from the danger that was in following those false teachers, Vers. 18.19. Many of whom walk so, as they are Enemies to the Cross of Christ; That is, enemies to the doctrine of faith in Christ, and to the exercise of it on him, and to the Doctrine of his Cross, and also to a truly spiritual walk, Whose end is distruction, and whose God is their Belly. The Second Reason is subjoyned in the Text, drawn from the great advantage, which they should have by following him, For (saith He) Our conversation is in Heaven: This is the spiritual, Heavenly and divine walk, wherein he holds forth himself, and his fellow-Apostles as a pattern to be imitated by them, and so teacheth them their duty; We are not (as if he had said) ⟨p. 107⟩like those false •eachers; But our Conve•sation is in Heaven, Therefore follow us; and he gives an instance of this in the latter part of the Verse, From whence (saith he) We look for the Saviour: He is like a person on the Watch tower, that is looking and longing for the coming of a friend;
