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SERMON XIII.

THE CHRISTIAN EXCITED TO RUN THE '-
HEAVENLY RACE.

1 CORINTHIANS, ix, 24.

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

IF we examine the opinions, which are commonly received among men, with regard to religious subjects; we shall find that however widely they differ from each other upon various points, the great bulk of mankind are agreed in believing, that it is easy to go beyond due bounds, in attending to matters of a spiritual nature. Wherever a man is found, who decidedly regards the care of his soul, as the great object which ought to engage his attention--who evidently prefers the favour of his Maker to all other sources of pleasure

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who decidedly separates himself from every thing which he knows to be displeasing to God, or which tends to distract his mind, and to weaken his ardour in the pursuit of his immortal safety: wherever, I say, such a man is found, numbers are disposed to censure him, to say that he is "righteous overmuch, and that he carries his strictness too far; or even to accuse him of spiritual pride: while the faults of those who are neglecters of God, and of eternal things, are palliated; and their indifference to religion is considered as fully compensated, by an outwardly amiable deportment, and decent regard to the common rules of morality.

Now it is exceedingly true, that there is one respect, in which what is commonly called religious zeal, may easily be carried to excess; namely, when it is merely zeal for the interests of some peculiar sect or party, or for some of those points of " doubtful disputation," respecting which wise and pious men in every age have differed, and upon which they probably will continue to differ. In matters of this kind, pride and self-will are ever apt to usurp that place, which ought to be held by humility, and christian charity for those who, while they agree with us in the great essentials of our holy religion, differ from us upon points of inferior

importance. Upon subjects like these, we may easily be too earnest; and probably, the more nearly a man approaches to the high and scriptural standard of the christian character, the more will his mind be drawn from them, and the more will his attention be fixed upon the plain, and simple, yet at the same time important and consolatory truths of God's word. But, in regard to personal religion, we need not be apprehensive of excess of zeal. It is true, that our zeal ought to be directed by prudence; our " love should abound in know"ledge, and in all judgment;" yet still the world, the flesh, and the devil-the allurements of the present scene, and the operations of our own hearts, all combine to exert a deadening influence upon us to destroy our activity, and to reduce us to that state of lukewarmness, which in the case of the Laodiceans, was declared, by the Lord himself, to be most offensive in his sight.1

For this reason it is, that in the sacred scriptures, we find so many exhortations to diligence and activity in our spiritual course; while not a word can be found, which can even seem to intimate, that we need to fear too great a solicitude, in the pursuit of our ever

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lasting welfare. We are told to "labour for "the meat which endureth unto everlasting "life" to "labour that we may enter into "rest"-not to be "slothful, but followers of "them, who through faith and patience inherit "the promises" to "give diligence to make our calling and election sure" to "work " out our salvation with fear and trembling". to "be sober, and vigilant, because our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh "about seeking whom he may devour." Such expressions as these, combine to impress our minds with a solemn conviction, that the life of the man, who would secure the prize of "his high calling of God in Christ Jesus," must be a life of diligence, of exertion, of per→ severing attention to his great object.

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It is upon this subject that the apostle Paul is speaking to the Corinthians, in the words of our text. He had, in the preceding part of the chapter, been stating some particulars with regard to his own zeal and prudence, in the performance of his great work of preaching the gospel to mankind. He had shewn how he kept his object always in view, how he avoided every thing which

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I John vi, 27.

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* 2 Pet. i, 10.

5.Phil. ii, 12.

6.

1 Pet. v, 8.

might unnecessarily prejudice men against his instructions,--how he used every means to gain their attention, and to win upon their minds: and from these considerations, he takes occasion to exhort the Corinthians to manifest a similar earnestness, in the pursuit of their own everlasting welfare. "Know ye not," he says, "that they which run in a race run all, "but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye "may obtain. And every man that striveth "for mastery is temperate in all things. Now " they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; "but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, "not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one "that beateth the air: but I keep under my "body, and bring it into subjection; lest that

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by any means, after I have preached to "others, I myself should be a cast-away."

In the words of our text, St. Paul compares the state of the Christian in this world, to that of a man who is engaged in running a race:-the prize is that "crown of glory, which the Lord "hath laid up for them that love him." He uses similar language in other places. Thus, in writing to the Philippians, he says, with regard to himself," Brethren, I count not myself to "have apprehended: but this one thing I do, 'forgetting those things which are behind, "and reaching forth unto those things which

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