feet in the path of life. "Brethren," he adds, "I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do; forgetting the things which are behind," both the sins which I renounced at the outset of my career, and my past attainments in the way of grace," 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."

Once more; there was a prize, placed in full view of the competitors in the lists, in order to stimulate their energies, and to animate their hopes. The prize was gratuitously bestowed, but it was bestowed only on the conqueror. How suitably does this part of the apostle's imagery accord with the circumstances of the christian race. Here, also, there is given a reward, without money and without price; but it is given to him only that overcomes. Hence it was that the apostle Paul, the great champion of the freeness of the grace of Christ, yet affirmed of himself, "I press toward the mark for the prize." 3 Hence, in after times, he could assert, "I have fought the good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up

2 Rev. ii. 7, 11, 17, 26; iii. 5, 12, 21.

3 Phil. iii. 14.

up for me the crown of righteousness." 4 And hence the exhortation of Christ to the angel of the church of Smyrna, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." 5 It is true, your utmost endeavours cannot merit for you the crown of glory; nevertheless, it will not be placed on your brow, unless you be found meet for its reception, victorious in the contest.

We have considered, then, some of the particulars connected with the games to which the apostle here makes allusion, and have seen their counterparts in the christian career. We proceed now to the exhortation in the text, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain."

The competitor in those games rested not in his present attainments. While there was to be seen yet a rival in the distance beyond him, he still pressed forward. While there remained yet an inch of the ground to be traversed, he stretched forth to the race. Our apostle did likewise. He beheld Hymenæus and Philetus make shipwreck of the faith; still he did not relax his own efforts. He beheld his Jewish countrymen stumble at

42 Tim. iv. 7, 8. This is the correct translation. 5 Rev. ii. 10.

It

that stumbling-stone, a crucified Messiah; he remitted not his own assiduity. He found himself not a whit behind the chief of the apostles; still would he ply busily whatever means lay in his power. He would not institute such comparisons between himself and others as should minister to self-complacency, and invite to indolence. was to him a matter of no self-congratulation that others were sinners as well as he. It was enough to arouse him from a lethargic apathy to know that he was himself a sinner, and, without a Saviour, must perish everlastingly. It was no motive for remitting his own zeal, that he perceived in others so reckless a negligence in making their calling and election sure. He would work out his own salvation with fear and trembling, lest himself should be a castaway. He knew that Jesus had warned his disciples to strive to enter in at the strait gate; for that many should seek to enter in, and should not be able. He saw that the multitude were thronging the broad way of perdition. The few were in the narrow path. He had read that of the old world eight only were saved in the ark. At the devastation of the cities of the plain he read of only three obtaining a deliverance from the overthrow. Of his own countrymen, who had come out of Egypt, he well

6 Verse 27 of this chapter.

knew that two only obtained an entrance into the promised land. And can you marvel that, pressed by the urgency of these considerations, he should endeavour to awaken in the breasts of others the ardour which animated his own efforts, and exclaim in the text, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain."

Now, to the diligent inquirer after divine truth, there can be no difficulty in ascertaining the art of so running as to obtain. The apostle himself affords us a partial commentary on his words in the twenty-sixth verse of this chapter. His statement is this, "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly."

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Now, that you so run, not as uncertainly," implies, in the first place, decision of character; that you are not halting between two opinions. It implies that you have counted the cost of discipleship, and, upon a deliberate computation,7 reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in you. If the competitor in the ancient games had not resolved fully that he would ply his utmost energies in running the race that was set before him, he would, in all probability, fail of success. If undecided, at the outset,

7 Rom. viii. 18. λογίζομαι.

8

whether or not he should prosecute his career, he would soon be tempted to slacken his pace, and then to remit all further efforts. And if, my dear brethren, you are not resolved upon this point; if, with a double heart, you are dividing your affections between Christ and the world; if wavering in mind; now stepping to this side, now to that; at one time making a forward effort, at another standing still, or rather, for in Christianity you cannot stand still,-falling back, in this case you are not so running as to obtain. When the angel of the Lord brought Lot out of Sodom, his counsel was this: "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed." You, too, must bid an eternal farewell to the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh; and, forgetting the things which are behind, must, at the utmost stretch of all your energies, scud over the plain.

But, again, that you may so run not as uncertainly," it is necessary that you have a definite object in view. No man sets out upon the race without having first proposed to himself the goal towards which he is to direct his steps. We have already seen that the end to which the Christian

Ps. xii. 2; James iv. 8.