October 6

We also see how, in a bad course, men proceed from evil to evil, and wax worse and worse. One sin renders another necessary, or prepares the way for it, and renders it easier. Let us guard against beginnings. Let us crush the egg before it becomes a fiery flying serpent. "When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death"—"He proceeded to take Peter also."

OCTOBER 6.—"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus."—Hebrews 12:1, 2.

THE language is allusive, and in the style of the Apostle, the comparison is familiar. As one of the games, celebrated with so much pomp among the Grecians, was running in a race, he often borrows an idea from it, to express in a measure the nature of the Christian life. It is a "race." It is needless to multiply articles of resemblance. It is easy to see the impression Paul would make: no prize without running: no heaven without diligence and zeal. Religion demands the full exertion of all our spiritual powers, and allows of no indolence, no repose. Whatever view we take of it, whether as it regards our principles or our conduct, what we have to abolish or establish, to avoid or to pursue; or whether as it includes the duties we owe to God, our fellow-creatures, and ourselves;—it must appear a very active, laborious, and trying scene. It is a disgrace to the character of a Christian, and a contradiction to his profession, not only to turn aside or draw back, but to stand still, or look back, or even seem to come short. Advancement is not more obviously implied in the accomplishment of a race than progression is necessary in a course of godliness. We are therefore required to grow in grace. And Paul, exemplifying in his experience what he recommends in doctrine, says, "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 are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

This race is "set before us"—It is prescribed, marked out, made evident in the Scripture. It is not a concern into which we drop by chance; neither is it a course of our own devising. Religion is not will-worship, human inventions, the traditions and commandments of men. No authority is binding here but Divine. We have always one question only to ask, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" And he has in his word made things plain, in proportion as they are important, so that the wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err therein, and he may run that readeth. He has also set before us the difficulties attached to this course, so that if we suffer we have no reason to complain. If, when we meet with them, we are tempted to despond or decline, we may say, O my soul ought I to be surprised? Am I deceived? when I gave in my unworthy name to become his follower, did he hide any thing from me? Did he not assure me that in the world I should have tribulation? Did he not say, If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me?

This race set before us is to be "run with patience." We shall constantly need this grace. We shall meet with provocations and injuries; and we are not to revenge ourselves, or even render railing

for railing, but contrariwise, blessing. We shall suffer afflictions of various kinds and degrees; and we are not to murmur and repine, but in patience to possess ourselves, and to pray for all longsuffering with joyfulness. We may be exercised with delays; and these will often be peculiarly trying, for hope deferred maketh the heart sick. God hides his face. Prayer seems unnoticed. The promise appears gone for evermore. We have little success in our spiritual warfare. Iniquities prevail against us in the sense of their guilt and the feeling of their power. The way is long. Heaven looks at an awful distance, and seems to advance from us as we advance. Without are fightings, and within are fears—But we must persevere, and "by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, honour, and, immortality." It is not the first, but the last step in the race, that brings the candidate to the goal. He only that endureth to the end shall be saved.

This race set before us we are thus to run with patience, "looking unto Jesus." The Apostle had mentioned a great cloud of witnesses before as exciting and encouraging us by their example: but he now passes from the saints to the Saviour; from the servants to the Master; from the witnesses of faith to "the author and finisher of faith." He himself had an appointed course; he had difficulties to overcome, and much to endure: but he was not impeded or dismayed—"For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." That the Apostle immediately refers to him as our example is obvious not only from the foregoing words, and the words I have just recited, but from the application following: "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds"—So Watts—

"Our glorious Leader claims our praise.

For his own pattern given;

While the long cloud of witnesses

Show the same path to heaven."

But does this exclude any other reference? Are we to regard him as an example only? We cannot indeed be Christians without resembling him. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his." "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk even as he walked." And every Christian loves his example, and prays to be likeminded with him. Yet what is the true exigency of our case? We are guilty—Where is the sacrifice that puts away sin? "We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." We want righteousness and strength—Where are we to find them? "Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength." How are we to be able to trace his dear steps as he goes before us in duty and suffering? "Without me," says he, "ye can do nothing;" but "my grace is sufficient for thee." We must therefore run, looking unto Jesus as delivered for our offences, as raised again for our justification, as one who ever lives to make intercession for us, as one in whom all fulness dwells, and from whose fulness we are to receive grace for grace. To him we are to look in every period, in every relation, in every engagement, in every trouble, in every danger, while we live—To him we are to look as we pass