X. "that ftriveth for the maftery is temperate DISC. " in all things." Otherwife, he will never ftrive long, or to any purpose, in the conflicts to which he is expofed. At all times and in all circumstances," the cor"ruptible body in fome degree preffeth "down the foul;" how much more, when itself is oppreffed with a load of meats and drinks! The time loft by fitting too long at the table is matter of fome confideration; but this is not all: the mind becomes indisposed towards any rational, manly, noble employment, for many hours afterward; perhaps, till the fumes of an intemperate meal shall have been carried off by a night's reft. When we are told that " the people "fate down to eat and to drink," the next information we receive concerning them is, that they "rofe up to play;" to fomething trifling and frivolous, at beft; but, probably, to fomething much worfe; to fomething base and vicious, intemperance having awakened every other corrupt appetite and evil paffion dormant in the heart of man. Daily experience evinces the truth of what is here P 3 DISC. here advanced. There is no perfon who X. has not often perceived and lamented the difference he has found in himself, when cool and sprightly at one part of the day, and when heated and ftupified at another. Believe it, and let it fink deep in your minds" He that striveth for the mastery," either as an Academic, or a Chriftian, either in the prosecution of learning, or his advancement in religion, if he wishes to fucceed, "must be temperate in all things." It was not more neceffary for a candidate in the Grecian games to be fo, than it is for him. And if an Apostle of our Lord, one not a whit behind the chief of them, with all his gifts and graces, thought that, without a ftrict and conftant adherence to this discipline, he was not fafe, but after converting the nations, might himself be loft; what are we, that we expect by any other means to fecure our falvation? You have heard the words of the difciple; let me fubjoin those of the Mafter-"Beware " left at any time your hearts be overcharged," Baguvdwow, made heavy, weigh ed ed down, "with furfeiting and drunken- DISC. ness,” ngaiñaλn xai μen, too much eating, and too much drinking; "and fo, that day," the day of death, and of judgment, "come upon you unawares." Nor is it lefs expedient that we should be duly and regularly exercised in every fpecies of good works, and inured to bear with equanimity, and without inconvenience, the change of fortune and fituation; that fo, when called forth at the hour of trial, we may be found ready and expert at the fittest and beft methods of doing the one, and undergoing the other. "Herein (fays St. Paul) do I exercise myself," ασκώ, "to have always a confcience void of "offence." And he gives this advice to young Timothy; "Exercise thyself," yuuvale σεαυτον, "unto godlinefs'." And refpecting the patient endurance of change-" I have "learned, in whatsoever state I am, there"with to be content. I know both how d Luke xxi. 34. P4 e Acts xxiv. 16. « to X. X. DISC.to be abased, and I know how to abound; "every where and in all things I am "inftructed, both to be full and to be "hungry, both to abound and to fuffer "need. I can do all things through Chrift "that strengtheneth me." Great and illustrious champion! Well waft thou prepared to enter the lifts, and to run thy race! Trained by thy holy instructions and example, and aided by the fame Saviour, may we be enabled, at an humble diftance, to follow thee, and to do likewife! In order to this, we must remember to caft away every impediment, as the competitors in the games did." Let us lay afide every weight (fays the Apostle) and the "fin which doth so easily befet us"," EUTECI ευπερι Sarov, that intangles by wrapping round, as the long and troublesome garments of the Greeks, unless thrown off, would intangle and impede their steps, and prove the fatal cause of lofing the victory. What it is that incumbers and intangles him in his Christian Philip. iv. 11. h Heb. xii. 1. course, X. X course, there is no man but may foon learn, DISC. if he will but make an honest and diligent enquiry. And whatever it may be that does fo incumber and intangle him, however near, and however dear, it must be parted with, and it is well worth his while to part with it. He will find himself abundantly recomperfed by the freedom and alacrity, the cheerfulness and joy, with which he will afterward proceed; by the delightful and per manent frame of mind, in which he may apply to himself that paffage of the Pfalmift; "I will run the way of thy com"mandments, for thou haft set my heart at "liberty." Nothing now remains, but, in running the race, duly to obferve the laws and rules prescribed for the conduct of it, “If an "man strive for masteries (they are the "words of St. Paul to Timothy) he is not) crowned, except he strive lawfully,” op ws, according to the laws and rules He muft aim at the right mark, he must run i 2 Tim. ü. 5. |