ther and Himself. Job. 17. 21. and enabled to do all things, by his Strength. Phil. 4. 13.

And, Yet another Way there is of this Conjunction with Christ our Lord, that will wonderfully help us, in Running the Race fet before us: And that is, The Union of the inward Eye with Him who Himself is the Prize to be won. For tho' Chrift, (as a Man,) did himself Run to the Prize; Yet as he is the True God, and Eternal Life, He Guides, and Leads, and brings us to Himfelf. And there's Nothing fo Animates and Heartens us on, as Locking unto Fefus; When our eyes are ever towards the Lord, Being fo United, Fasten'd to, and Fix'd upon the moft Inviting Glorious Prize, We neither Hear nor See what any Say or Do, that stand about us : Let 'em Laugh or Cry, Mock or Applaud, We are as perfons Unconcern'd, and Regard not their Judgment. It's a fmall thing to us; who are as Deaf and Blind, little or nothing minding the matter. And the Nearer ftill we come to the End, the Clearer do we difcern the Prize. And that gives us new Strength and Mettle ; to make us lift up the feeble Knees, and tretch forth the Tired Limbs; and Forget the Weariness upon us, for the Foy that is before us.

CHAP.

t

Every

Of the Crown.

Very one that trives for the Mastery is Temperate in all things: They do it to obtain a Corruptible Crown; but we an Incorruptible. 1 Cor. 9. 25. Now, this Strife is not in a Race, but a Fight. And fo, 'tis of a nature fomewhat different from the former; As is alfo the Reward, which before was a Prize, now a Crown. I Fight, (faith the Apoftle,) Not as one that beateth the Air. Ver. 26. And again, 2 Tim. 4. 6. I Barve Fought a good Fight. Now, what is this Crown, but Eternal Life and Blifs? Call'd a Crown of Righteousness : Because God gives it to his Servants, as the Effect, (Tho' not the Defert,) of their Righteoufnefs: And because he is Righteous, and true to his own Word, in Giving what he Promifed; Tho' it could never be Merited. Therefore he does not Pay it to 'em, but Bestows it upon 'em. 'Tis alfo called the Crown of Life: Not as it Rewards a Short Virtuous Life, But as it comprizes all the Blef fed Enjoyments of that Glorious Life, which is Everlafting. And 'tis a Crown of Glory, As importing the highest of M 3

all

all Honour, to which they are Exalted, · who are fo Crowned. And O how Glorious muft it needs be, When God himself is faid to be this Crown of Glory, and for a Diadem of Beauty to bis People? Ifa. 28. 5. The moft Glorious God himself, who (from a Low eftate) has Rais'd 'em fo exceeding High, will be their everlafting Glory. Ifa. 60. 19. Thy God, Thy Glory. The Conquerors Crowns will be, the Brighter, as their Number is the smaller.

But what is the Fight, in which we muft ftrive for Victory, To Win the Crown of Glory? 'Tis a fierce Fight, a perilous Struggle; Compar'd with thofe bloody Combats in the Roman Theatre: Where they Fought with Fifts, or Clubs, or Thongs, in a Violent and furious manner. Yet there the Agonists grappled only with Men, like themselves; with equal Arms; and but for a Corruptible Crown, or Garland made of Leaves; and under the hazard fometimes of their Lives; but moftly, of Derifion only, and the publick Infamy. Whereas Chriftians are to Fight with Enemies, which they cannot See; (tho' they Feel 'em too much ;) And fuch as are very Many, and very Mighty, and full of all Subtilty. They are to Grapple with very Unequal Forces; Before God and his Angels; for a Crown

of

of Eternal Life; and under the hazard of a moft dreadful Endlefs Death. All this, not in a Mock-Fight, but the most Real and Terrible. For the Antagonists are Devils; call'd in Scripture, Lyons, Dragons, Serpents: Enemies alfo, that have their Accomplices of our own Houfe, The Lufts that war against our Souls. 1 Pet. 2. 11. And all this Fighting, is even at the fame time, that we are Running; To Let and binder us in the Race fet before us: Where we must Fight with our Hands; as well as Run with our Legs.

O did Chriftians better Bethink themfelves of this, Sure they would not, they could not fo eafily pafs away their Time, in Playing and Trifling, in Prating and Drinking, in Heaping up Wealth, and Hawking after Honour: as if all were Safe, and no Danger. But hear the Apostle Sounding an Alarm, to another fort of Encounter. Eph. 6. 11, 12. Put on the whole Armor of God, that ye may be able to ftand against the Wiles of the Devil. For we wrestle not against Flesh and Blood; but against Principalities, against Powers, against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World, against Spiritual wickedness, (or wicked Spirits ) in High places. Good God! What a Summons is here! How Vehement the Contest! How full of Terror! Where need fo many forts of Arms, as are here enumerated;

M 4

Such

Such mighty Efforts, and itout Refiftance: Yea, (to fetch in Aids from Above,) all manner of Prayer, and Supplication in the Spirit; and Praying always, and with all Perfeverance. Yet O how many of us carry, as if we were neither concern'd to Run in the Course, nor to Contend in the Fight.

But what fhall we do in this terrible Agony, that we may carry the Victory? The Apoftle intimates to us, I Car. 9. 25. (where he fays,) Every one that Strives for the Maftery is Temperate in all things. The Champions that were Ambitious but of a Leafy Withering Crown, deny'd 'emfelves every thing, that might Enervate and weaken the Body, to render it more unfit for that, but Ludicrous, Combat: As Fulness of Meat and Drink, and Liberties of Dalliance; and Cumber of Domeftic Business ; and all fuch things whatever, Delightful or Gainful, that might be any Impediments in the way to their Victory. And when 'tis for the Crown of Glory which fades not away, that we are to Exert our Prowess and Activity, O how much more fhould we Abftain from all things that pull down the Soul, and Disable it, both for the Race and the Fight! And what are those but the fame, that make the Body too Lufty? Such as Luxurious Fare, Excefs of Sleep, Idle Vagaries,pleasurable Diversions, Jefting,

Trifling,

་