Such is the way in which we are to run. But O, how many professors of religion have been retarded (yea, and have cast stumbling-blocks also in the way of others) by a rigorous exaction of their dues, or by an unwillingness to sacrifice their worldly interests ! How many also have been kept from making a progress themselves, and from helping forward their fellow-sinners, by an unyielding zeal for Christian liberty on the one hand, or a bigoted attachment to human forms on the other ! Happy would it be for every individual in the Church of Christ, if a desire of advancement in the Divine life disposed them to " look, not on their own things only, but also on the things of others' ;" and " to seek the welfare of others not only in conjunction with, but (to a certain degree) in prefer- ence to, their own™."]
3. Determined, if possible, to win the prize —
[They who proposed to contend in the race, maintained, for a long time before, the strictest temperance", and habi- tuated themselves to the most laborious exertions. In reference to them, St. Paul tells us how careful he was to keep under his body, and to bring it into subjection, in order that he might be the fitter to run the Christian race". Thus must we be trained both in body and mind, in order that we may run well and " endure unto the end." We must accustom ourselves to labour and self-denial, mortifying every corrupt affection, and " giving all diligence to make our calling and election sureP" ]
Let us next turn our attention to, II. The argument with which it is enforced — The Apostle's expression is concise : but there is much IMPLIED in it :
1. We cannot win the race without running in this manner —
[However persons strove for the mastery in the games, they were not crowned, unless they strove according to the laws prescribed them^. Thus, however earnest we may be in running for heaven, we never can gain the prize, unless we conform to the rules that have been laid down. This is the course that we are to run over. It abounds indeed with rough places, and steep ascents : but we must not deviate from it. We may easily find a smoother path ; but we must run in that which is marked out for us, and abide in it to the end
' Phil. ii. 4. ra 1 Cor. x. 24. " ver. 25.
" ver. 27. P 2 Pet. i. 10, q 2 Tim. ii. 6.
vox,. XVI. p
2ia 1 CORINTHIANS, IX. 24. [1967.
Let us then inquire, whether we be treading in the Apostle's steps And let the fear of coming short at last, stimu- late us to unremitting exertions'' ]
2. If we run in this manner, we are sure of winning the race —
[Of those who contended in the race, one only could win the prize* : but it is not so in the race that we run : every one that enters the lists, and exerts himself according to the direc- tions given him, must succeed. None have any reason to despond on account of their own weakness ; on the contrary, those who are the weakest in their own apprehension, are most
certain of success Only let us not be satisfied with
" running well for a season ;" but let us " hold on our way," till we reach the goal*. Then we need not fear but that we shall " finish our course with joy, and obtain a crown of righte- ousness, from the hands of our righteous Judge" " ]
3. The prize, when obtained, will amply compen- sate for all our labour —
[Poor and worthless as the prize was to him that won the race, the hope of obtaining it stimulated many to contend for it. How much more then should the prize held forth to us, together with the certainty of obtaining it, call forth our exer- tions ! Compare our prize with theirs in respect of honour, value and duration ; how infinitely superior is it in every view ! Theirs was but the breath of man's applause ; ours is honour coming from God himself. Theirs was a green chaplet, that withered in an hour ; ours is an incorruptible, undefiled,