3. How to secure the prize that is set before you —
[Not only is this plainly told us in our text; but St. Paul elsewhere says expressly, " Be not weary in well-doing ; for in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not1." St. John also inculcates the same salutary lesson, as our Lord also does in the parable of the Sower m, both, in effect, saying, look to yourselves, that ye " lose not those things which ye have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward"." That we must live altogether by faith in the Son of God, is certain ; for it is from his fulness alone that we can receive any spiritual bless- ing: but still we must exert ourselves as much, as if salvation were the fruit and recompence of our own efforts alone. This matter is put in a just light by St. Paul, when he says, " Let us cast away every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author ?.nd finisher of our faith0." In humble dependence on him to assist our efforts, and in an entire reliance on his meritorious sacrifice as the only ground of our acceptance, wre must press forward in our heavenly course : then may we with confidence expect " a recomponce of reward," not indeed for any merit in our services, but in exact proportion to them. The men of this world may seek for glory and honour, and be disappointed : but no disappoint- ment shall occur to us: " The wicked worketh a deceitful work ; but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward1*."]
1 Gal. vi. 9.
m Luke viii. 15. " Bring forth fruit with patience ." n 2 John, ver. 8. ° Heb. xii. 1, 2. P Prov. xi. 18.