፡፡ apostle spiritualize upon this circumstance!" I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course; I "have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for which the Lord, the righteous judge" (who does not decide by appearances, nor can be influenced by partiality, as is too frequent amongst men), "shall give me at that day; and not to me only, me a crown of life, but to all who love his appearing*." Be of good cheer, believer; your case may be misrepresented, or misunderstood by men; but the Lord, the righteous and unerring judge, will vindicate, approve, and reward in the great day, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe. Thus much concerning the resemblance of the Christian life to a race, to which the apostle alludes. I shall briefly take notice of some particulars in which the resemblance fails; and a very interesting and important difference may be observed. 1. In the reward. The bodily exercise † (employed in the games, for to these the apostle' refers) profited little a crown of oak or laurel, or some such bauble, was their highest aim, and this the most of the competitors came short of; for though all ran, but one received the prize. Of little more value, and equal uncertainty, is the prize that has engaged the time and thoughts of many. But godliness (the whole course and conflict in which the believer is engaged) is profitable for all things, or in every view, having promises to support the life that now is, and to crown that which is to come. "He that overcometh, saith the Lord, shall "inherit all things. I will be his Father, and he shall "be my son. I will give him to eat of the tree of life, * 2 Tim. iv. 7, S. + 1 Tim. iv. 8. I will and he "which is in the midst of the paradise of God. “make him a pillar in the temple of my God, "shall go no more out; yea, I will grant him to sit "down with me in my throne*. The Lord will give grace here, and will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly; and hereafter he will crown grace with glory, and place his servants out of the reach of every trouble and enemy, in the kingdom which his love has prepared for them from before the foundation of the world. "Having therefore these promises, dearly be"loved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of "the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of "the Lordt." 2. In races, though many run, one only can receive the prize. But thanks be to God, it is not so in the Christian race. All who run as the Lord has appointed, shall be sure to win. No opposition can prevail against them, nor will the number of the candidates be any diminution to the happiness of each individual. The inheritance of the saints in light, like the light of the sun, is not diminished by being shared amongst many; each one possesses the whole, in the same perfection as he could do, if there was none to enjoy it but himself. 3. In the races the apostle alludes to, none were compelled to run. The proclamation was general; but those who did not choose to engage, suffered no disadvantage. But it is not so in the race to which you are invited by the Gospel. The Lord is greatly offended with those who slight the message, and refuse to enter the lists. If you only give his ministers a hearing, and return to your farms and merchandise, *Rev. ii. 7.; iii. 12-21.; xxii. 7.; Psal. lxxxiv. 11. + 2 Cor. vii. 1. forget the worth of your precious souls, and suffer your thoughts to be engrossed with the cares and pleasures of this life, to the neglect of this one thing needful, the Lord will account it a contempt offered to himself, and will ere long call you before his tribunal to answer for it. 4. Those who run and did not win the prize, only lost their labour, or at the worst were exposed to shame; but they were liable to no positive punishment. But you who are professors of the Gospel, if you come short at last, will be lost for ever. "So run that you may "obtain." Be not content with having set out; the promise is made to perseverance. "He that endureth ،، to the end shall be saved *;" but if any draw back, or stop short, the Lord will have no pleasure in them. They will not only lose the prize, but will receive a heavy and aggravated doom. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. If. you were forced to run for your lives, you would be very thoughtful about the event. But if you are not found those who come in for the prize of eternal life, you be cast into outer darkness, and sink under the curse of God for ever. amongst will Fain therefore would I persuade you to address yourselves with earnestness to run the race set before you. Flee from approaching wrath. The wrath of God is already revealed against all unrighteousness, and soon it will be poured forth upon the head of every transgressor. Though God is patient and forbearing, he is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, ho * Matth. x. 22.; Heb. x. 38. will whet his glittering sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he hath ordained his arrows against those who shall finally disobey his great command, to receive the Gospel of his grace. It is impossible to elude his eye, or to withstand his power. You are upon the brink of danger, if you are not already entered in this race; you stand upon a precipice, and hell from beneath has opened its mouth to receive you. But a respite is still afforded; the Lord waits to be gracious; and as yet there is room. The gate of mercy is not yet shut; "turn therefore to the strong hold, as "prisoners of hope;" no longer refuse his gracious invitation, or trifle with your precious souls; seek to Jesus that you may live; apply to him for faith and repentance; and, in his strength and name, prepare to run this important race. Meditate upon the glorious prize which is provided for all who endure to the end; it is freely proposed to all who run. Pardon, grace, and eternal life, are promised and bestowed, without money, and without price. If after so many repeated calls, you still harden your hearts, and stop your ears, and determine that you will not come unto Jesus that you may have life, you must assuredly perish, without mercy, and without excuse. But if you are desirous to run, remember the admonition in my text, "So run that you may obtain." Your steps must be regulated by the word of God, or you will wander wide from the good old way; you must derive your sufficiency and strength from Christ by faith and prayer, or you will faint, and be unable to endure to the end. We read of some* that run well * Gal. v. 7. for a season, but were afterwards hindered, and turned aside. Be upon your guard; for there are many that will strive to divert you from your course. Satan, the world, and your own evil hearts, will combine and form various attempts to slacken your pace, and to withdraw your attention from the one thing needful. Dread the thoughts of stopping short, or turning back; and the more you meet with opposition, be so much the more earnest to redouble your diligence, and especially to cry mightily to him who is able to keep you from falling, to preserve you unblameable in love while here, and at last to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Believers, why are not we as wise in our generation as the children of the world? We see how those who are fond of a common horse-race are thinking and talking of it, and preparing for it every day. Does not their diligence shame us, who are so cold, faint, and dilatory, in the most important and honourable concerns? Let us gird up the loins of our mind; some of you have not far to run now; you have taken many a weary step since you were first called; but the end is at hand; the period of your complete salvation is now much nearer than when you first believed. Think of Jesus the forerunner and the judge; he has already entered within the vail for us, his eye is upon us, he is near to assist, and waiting to receive us. May his Spirit and his example animate us to press forward to the prize of our high calling, to tread down every difficulty, and to be faithful unto death, that we may receive the crown of life t. * Rom, xiii. 11. + Rev. ii. 10. |