6. Consider the examples of such as have continued their progress unweariably in a Christian course. The apostle sets before our eyes a cloud of witnesses; Ileb. xii. 1;,
" Being compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us run the race that is set before us :" let us run it with swift- ness and constancy. How many noblo martyrs and confessors of old, have walked in the ways of God, though they have been strewed with thorns? They scorned prefer- ments, laughed at imprisonments, and their love to Christ burned hotter than the fire. Polycarp, when he came before the proron- feul, and he bade him deny Christ, replied, " I have served Christ these eicrhtv-six years, and he hath not once hurt me, and shall I deny him now?" Tertullian saith, such was the constancy of the primitive saints, that the persecutors cried out, " What a misery is this, that we are more weary in tormenting, than they are in en- during torment !" Let us tread in their steps, who through faith and patience in- herit the promises.
7. It will be our comfort on our death- bed, to review a well-spent life. It was Augustin's wish, that he might have a quiet easy death. If any thing make our pillow easy at death, it will be this, that we have been unwearial)le in God's work ; this will be a death-bed cordial. Did you ever know any repent at death that they had been too holy? Many have repented that they have ftdlowed the world too much, not that they have prayed too much, that they have re- pented too much. What hath made death sweet, but that they have " finished their course, and kept the faith."
8. Think of the great reward we shall have, if we do not give over, or grow weary, and that is, glory and immortality.
1. This glory is ponderous; it is called a " weiglit of glory," 2 Cor. iv. 17. The weight adds to tlie worth ; the weightier a crown of gold is, the more it is worth.
2. It is satisfying, Ps. xvii. 15., " I shall be satisfied when I awake, with thy likeness." This glory will abundantly recoinjiense all our labours and sufferings. The jny of harvest will make amends for all the labour in sowin"-. O what harvest shall the saints reap ! It will he always reaping time in heaven; and this reaping will be in due season ; so the .ipostle saith in the text, " We shall reap in due season." The hus- bandman doth not desire to reap till the
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season ; lio will not reap liis corn while it is green, but wlien it is ripe ; so we shall reap tlie reward of p,lory in due season ; when our work is done, — when our sins are purged out, — when our graces are come to their full growth, — then is the season of reaping ; therefore let us not be weary of well-doing, but hold on in prayer, reading, and all the exercises of religion ; we shall " reap in due season, if we faint not." To keep us from fainting, know, that the re- ward promised is very near, Rom. xiii. 11., *' Our salvation is nearer than when we believed." We are but within a few days march of the heavenly Canaan ; it is but a few more prayers and tears shed, and we shall be perfect in glory : as that martyr, Dr. Taylor sai<J, " I have but one stile more to go over, and I shall be at my Fa- ther's house." Stay but a while, Christi- ans, and your trouble sball be over, and your coronation -day shall come. Christ who is the oracle of truth hath said, " sure- ly I come quickly," Rev. xxii. 20. And yet death's coming is sooner than Christ's personal coming, and then begins tlie saint's blessed jubilee.
Quest. JVhaf means shall we use, that tee may not wax weary in a Christian course.
AnsA. Let us shake off spiritual sloth; sloth saith, " there is a lion in the way." He who is slothful, will soon grow weary ; he is fitter to lie on his couch, than to run a race. It is a strange sight, to see a busy devil, aTid an idle Christian.
Ans. 2. If we would not grow weary, let