subject of new feelings and enjoyments; new desires, new hopes, now animate his breast. St. Paul at Philippi and the Christians at Corinth were assailed continually by reports of the public games. The magnificence of these exhibitions was noised abroad throughout the then known world. The apostle and his converts were each dwelling in the neighbourhood of the gay scene. Difficult, indeed, is it to live in a country, and be excluded from the pleasures of its inhabitants. St. Paul strengthens the Corinthians and himself against these temptations; he rises from sensual to spiritual pleasures; he reminds them, we also have an arena, a race, a crown, a triumph; 66 so run that ye may obtain." Now, in every race there is a commencing point, whence the competitors break forth upon the course; there is, also, a goal which terminates their career; and there is a prize for which they contend. There is, first, a barrier which marks the commencement of the course. This, to the Christian, is the cross of Christ. Faith in a crucified Saviour is not the end of a Christian's attainments. It is not to be made the ultimate aim of his strenuous aspirations. That is a momentous error which regards the death of Christ as the terminating object, in which the believer has only to rest and do nothing. It is, on the contrary, the starting-post 2 of a busy career, whence the Christian breaks forth with hope and alacrity on all the services of a new obedience. Christ" gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."3 The competitor for the prize in the public games found it necessary to divest himself previously of every encumbrance which might incommode him in his career. The apostle makes reference, elsewhere, to this practice: "Let us," he says, " lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."4 Observe the terms of this exhortation. "Let us," says he, "lay aside every weight." The candidate for the garland of victory would lay aside the upper vests of his ordinary apparel. He would not set foot upon the prescribed course until he had put off this and every other weight which was calculated to impede his swiftness. And, in like manner, the candidate for the heavenly prize must "lay aside every weight." The burden of his sins must be previously cast off; and the cares which weigh 2 As it is well characterized by Dr. Chalmers, vol. ix. p. 138. 3 Tit. ii. 14. 4 Heb. xii, 1. down his spirit must be removed. But where shall be divest himself of these hindrances, but at the feet of a crucified Saviour? "Come unto me," saith Jesus, "all ye that labour and are heavy, laden, and I will give you rest: take my yoke upon you."5 He alone, who shed his blood for the remission of our sins, is able to remove the burden which would otherwise fasten an invincible drag upon our every exertion. But in the above quotation it is further added, let us lay aside "the sin which doth so easily beset us." In these words there appears to be involved a reference to the loose flowing vests of the ancients. These garments reached down to their ankles, and were liable to entangle their feet and cast them to the ground. On any occasion, therefore, which required activity and zeal, they were accustomed either to gird up these vests around their loins, or lay them aside altogether. And, in allusion to this well-known practice, the apostle enjoins that the Christian should lay aside the easily besetting sin of unbelief, which else will mar his every endeavour, and frustrate his most strenuous efforts. But where 5 Matt. xi. 28, 29. • 1 Kings xviii. 46; 2 Kings iv. 29; Luke xii. 35; 1 Pet. i. 13. 7 Acts vii. 58. 8 shall we put off the old man and put on the new, but at the cross of Christ? How divest ourselves of the ever-recurring embarrassments of unbelief, but in the strength of the Lord Jesus? And thus is it evident, beyond all contradiction, that a true and lively faith in Christ as our Saviour lies at the very outset of our christian career. It is to be feared that there are many among us who are totally in error on this head; many who imagine that the terminating point of your christian course is a belief in Christ as having died for you; an assurance that you are safe. You imagine that it is after this assurance that the Christian is ever to strive; and that the few who have attained it have finished their course, and are now at rest. You hope that you too will reach this goal before the period of your dissolution shall have arrived ; but, in the mean time, you conceive that your present condition of wavering and doubtfulness is the condition of one who is running his race. You have just been shown the utter fallacy of this delusion; you have seen,-and O that you would lay it to heart,-that you have not set foot on the christian race until you have received9 Christ; until you have renounced heartily your sins; and, having obtained remission through faith in his blood, have given yourself up in body and in 8 Eph. iv. 22-24. 9 John i. 12. Ꭰ spirit to run the race which is set before you. Then, saith the psalmist, will I "run the way of thy commandments, when thou hast set my heart at liberty." 1 But, in the next place, there is a goal, a terminating point, towards which the candidate must press forward. This goal, the end of Christianity, is perfection in holiness. The design of the Gospel is to transform man; to renew him after the image of him that created him. And since the perfection of holiness ever lies in the distance beyond you, here is need of unremitting energy and undaunted perseverance. It is a vain excuse to allege in extenuation of your tardiness that you are not perfect, you cannot rid yourself of human nature. It is because you are not perfect, because you are beset with the entanglements of the flesh, that you are exhorted to the utmost diligence in working out your own salvation, while there is promised you the indwelling presence of the Spirit, to uphold you in the conflict. It was St. Paul's testimony, as regarded himself, that he had not already attained, neither was already perfect: but, saith he, "I follow after, if that I may apprehend that," may attain that goal, "for which also I have been apprehended of Christ Jesus," who has laid his hand upon me, and placed my 1 |