those he leaves for others: his ambition soars to higher things: the things worthy of an immortal soul ; even to the everlasting possession of all the glory and felicity of heaven. This is the prize which he sees held out to him in the Scriptures : and for the attainment of it he strains every nerve. He well knows how richly it will recompense all his labours and toils ; and every thing in comparison of it is regarded by him as the small dust upon the balance.
He is further known by the means he uses to attain it : he seeks it " by a patient continuance in well-doing." Whatever he believes to be the will of God, he does. Has God com- manded him to humble himself as a sinner, and to flee to Christ as to the refuge that is set before him ? he does it ; he does it heartily ; he does it humbly ; he does it continually. Has God further ordered him " no longer to live unto him- self, but unto Him that died for him and rose again?" he endeavours to consecrate all his faculties and all his powers to the service of his adorable Redeemer. He is not satisfied with doing such good works as the men of this world are wont to perform ; his efforts extend to all the most difficult and self-denying duties, as well those which are loaded with oppro- brium, as those which elevate us in the good opinion of man- kind And this he does with " a patient continuance,"
prosecuting, like the sun in the firmament, his destined course, and causing all who behold his light, to glorify God in his behalf. There are times indeed when the difficulties and discouragements which he meets with oppress his mind : his hands sometimes hang down, and his feeble knees seem as if they would no longer sustain the weight they have to bear. But he looks up to God for help : he obtains fresh supplies of grace and strength from above ; and, with vigour renewed like the eagle's, he resumes his course, determined never to stop, till he has obtained the prize.
In accomplishing the work assigned him, he finds also oppo- sition from without. Much as the ungodly world profess to honour good works, they do not like such works as Christ performed, or such as all his faithful followers perform : they do all they can to obstruct the Christian's path ; and if he will proceed in it, they will revile and persecute him, even as they did the Lord of Glory himself. But he " endures hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," and " counts not his life dear to him, if only he may be enabled to finish his course with joy," and to complete the work which God has given him to do.]
2. Their end —
[God never suffers his faithful servants to be disappointed of their hope. Do they seek " eternal life " as their one object? " eternal life" shall be theirs : " the glory and honour"