Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal…

2. Be directed to forget the Things that are behind; that is, not to keep thinking and making much of what you have done, but let your Mind be wholly intent on what you have to do. In some Sense you ought to look back; you should look back on your Sins. Jer. 2. 23. See thy Way in the Valley, know what thou hast done. You should look back on the Wretchedness of your religious Performances, and consider how you have fallen short in them, and how exceedingly polluted all your Duties have been, and how justly God might reject and loath them, and you for them: But you ought not to spend your Time in looking back, as many Persons do, thinking how much they have done for their Salvation, what great Pains they have taken and how that they have done what they can, and don't see how they can do more, how long a Time they have been seeking, and how much more they have done than others, and even than such and such who have obtained Mercy; and so think with themselves how hardly God deals with them, that he don't extend Mercy to them▪ but turns a deaf Ear to their Cries; and hence discourage themselves, and complain of God. Don't thus spend your Time in looking on what is […] forward, and consider what is before you, […] is that you can do, and what 'tis necessary that you •hould do, and what God calls you still to do, in order to your own Salvation. The Apostle in the third Chapter to the Philippians, tells us what Things he did while a Jew, ⟨p. 150⟩how much he had to boast of, if any could have any Thing of their own to boast of; but he tells us that he forgot those Things, and all others that were behind, and reached forth towards the Things that were before, pressing forwards, towards the Mark, for the Prize of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus.

2. Be directed to forget the Things that are behind; that is, not to keep thinking and making much of what you have done, but let your Mind be wholly intent on what you have to do. In some Sense you ought to look back; you should look back on your Sins. Jer. 2. 23. See thy Way in the Valley, know what thou hast done. You should look back on the Wretchedness of your religious Performances, and consider how you have fallen short in them, and how exceedingly polluted all your Duties have been, and how justly God might reject and loath them, and you for them: But you ought not to spend your Time in looking back, as many Persons do, thinking how much they have done for their Salvation, what great Pains they have taken and how that they have done what they can, and don't see how they can do more, how long a Time they have been seeking, and how much more they have done than others, and even than such and such who have obtained Mercy; and so think with themselves how hardly God deals with them, that he don't extend Mercy to them but turns a deaf Ear to their Cries; and hence discourage themselves, and complain of God. Don't thus spend your Time in looking on what is forward, and consider what is before you, is that you can do, and what 'tis necessary that you hould do, and what God calls you still to do, in order to your own Salvation. The Apostle in the third Chapter to the Philippians, tells us what Things he did while a Jew,