[He is not contented to " walk" in the ways of God : no; he would " run „•" he would " run, and not be weary; he would march onward, and not faint." He considers himself as engaged in a race : and he sees his course clearly marked in the com- mandments of his God. Hence he determines, that " when God shall enlarge his heart, he will run with all his might, and never stop till the prize shall be accorded to him. Whatever advance he may have made, " he forgets what is behind, and reaches forward to that which is before, and presses on for the prize of his high calling" with increased zeal. He determines that nothing shall abate his ardour, or for a moment divert him from his path. Thus he runs the race that is set before him ; and determines, through grace, " so to run it, that he may obtain the prize."]
Let me now add a few words,
1. Of congratulation, to those who can adopt this language —
[I do hope that some amongst you are like-minded with David in these particulars ; and that, if you have not attained his eminence in the divine life, you are yet truly and habitually following his steps. Shall I not, then, say to you, as Moses did to Israel of old, " Happy art thou, O Israel ! who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lorda?" Truly, in compa- rison of you, the greatest, wisest, noblest of mankind are in a poor and low condition. In you the end of your creation has been answered ; yea, and the end of your redemption too. In you God delights ; yea, he regards you as his peculiar treasure. On you the very angels before the throne account it an honour to wait, as your ministering servants : and for you are prepared crowns and kingdoms that shall never fade away. Was Mary commended by our Lord for having chosen the good part ? and was she assured that it should never be taken away from her? The same commendation is yours, and the same assurance is yours also. I do, then, from my soul congratulate you, however pitiable in other respects your condition may be ; and, in the name of my Divine Master, I say for your en- couragement, " Be not weary in well-doing ; for in due season you shall reap, if you faint not."]
2. Of reproof, to those who are yet strangers to this heavenly experience —
[What have you been doing all your days, that you have never yet made this choice ? Are the ways of the world equal in any respect to the way of truth ? Are they as reasonable in themselves ? Are they as conducive to the best interests of man ? or will they prove so happy in their issue ? Compare
a Deut. xxxiii. 29.