1 Tim. vi. \2. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life.
THE Apostle Paul, being particularly conversant with the cities of Greece, and writing many of his epistles to Churches which he had established in that country, frequently alluded to the games which were there celebrated, taking from them metaphors whereby to illustrate the blessed truths of the Gospel. The public exhibitions of running, wrestling, fighting, formed the chief scenes of amusement to that peo- ple : those actions therefore being familiar to their minds, the terms by which they were commonly de- signated were well calculated to convey to them a full and comprehensive view of the different duties which they were called to perform. Indeed this is the great use of metaphors : they bring to the mind a vast accumulation of ideas under one single term ; and serve at once, in a very peculiar manner, to in- struct and edify the soul. The exhortation here given to Timothy is of this character. At the games, the prize for which the people contended was held forth to view : in allusion to which, the Apostle says, " Fight the good fight of faith ; lay hold on eternal life." The words indeed which are here used by St. Paul are not quite so definite as those which are used in our translation. If the English language admitted of it, they would be better translated, " Contend the good contest of faith." The substance of them, however, may be considered by us under these two heads : Maintain the Christian's contest : Secure the Christian's prize.
I. Maintain the Christian's contest —
The life of a Christian is a life of faith — [The God whom he serves is invisible to mortal eyes ; " being one whom no man hath seen, or can see." Nor has
■&