desires. In these things none but God can keep us from error; none but God can "perfect that which concerneth us." Pray then, that the Holy Spirit may guide you into all truth. Pray, that He, who upheld the Saviour in all his arduous work, may " form in you the mind that was in Christ Jesus." Thus you may hope to be preserved blameless amidst all the difficulties with which you are encompassed, and to win by your conversation many, who would never have been won by the word alone.]
1 Cor. ix. 24. So rim, that ye may obtain.
THERE is not any thing around us from which we may not draw some hints for our spiritual instruction. The habits and customs of the world, if duly im- proved, will afford us many valuable lessons. A reference to these is peculiarly useful when we wish to convey instruction to others ; because it strikes the imagination more forcibly, and carries stronger conviction to the judgment. St. Paul, in writing to the Corinthians, availed himself of the Isthmian games which were celebrated there, to illustrate their duty with respect to their souls. Amongst other sports, that of the foot-race was held in high estimation ; and great preparations were made by those who en- gaged in them, in order to qualify them for their extraordinary exertions. In reference to these the Apostle speaks of himself as running in this race ; and proposes himself to the Corinthians as a pattern for their imitation, if they were desirous to win the prize.
We shall consider, I. The direction here given —
The words of the text are not a mere exhortation to run our race, but a special direction respecting the manner in which we are to run it^. We should be, like the Apostle,
* otirw refers to the manner in which the Apostle ran ; and "iva to the end for Avhich such exertion was necessary. To enter into the full