for it is only he who endureth to the end that fhall be faved: "To him that over"cometh," faid our bleffed Lord, "will I

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grant to fit with me in my throne, even "as I alfo overcame, and am fet down with my Father in his throne." The charge, as I formerly obferved to you, runs in theft words; .66 Occupy till I come:" And the promise exactly correfponds to it "Be thou "faithful unto the death, and 1 will give "thee a crown of life."

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Thus, in all these particulars, the Chriftian life may, with great propriety, be compared to a race. But then it is neceffary to obferve, that though the refemblance is fufficiently ftrong to juftify the use of this figurative representation; yet there are feveral important refpects in which the Chriftian race doth widely differ from all others: -Such as,

it, In other races, though many may start, and hold out to the end; yet none but the foremost receiveth the prize: Know ye not, faith the Apostle, in the first part of the verfe, that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize; whereas it is quite

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quite otherwise in the Christian race. There may be a great disparity among the candidates, but every one who endureth to the end fhall be faved.-He who is faithful over à little, fhall be as certainly rewarded, as he who is faithful over much; each fhall receive a crown as large as he can wear: Whofoever doth faithfully, is accounted by the Judge to have done well: for we find the fame falutation that was addreffed to the fervant who had improved the many talents, addreffed likewife to him who had improved the few: "Well done," (though not fo much done,) yet still it is faid, "Well done, "thou good and faithful fervant; enter thou ❝into the joy of thy Lord.' -Hence,

2dly, They who run in the Christian race have no envy, no jealoufy, among themfelves; far lefs do they moleft and hinder one another on the contrary, the stronger help forward the weaker, and give them all the affiftance and encouragement in their power. Now, in other races it is not fo; the fall of one candidate gives joy to the reft; but they who run for the heavenly prize, would carry all the world along with them

if they could. As the Pfalmist " was glad "when they said unto him, Let us go into "the houfe of the Lord;" fo every fincere candidate for immortal glory, rejoiceth when he hears of many travellers by the way; and is ready to fay to every one he meets, O come and let us go together to the Zion above, that city of the great King, where true riches and honours are only to be found.

3dly, They who run in other races have nothing but toil and labour till they obtain the prize; but in the Christian race, the exercise itself carries part of the reward in its bofom: "Wifdom's ways are ways of "pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." Chrift's yoke is eafy, his burden is light, and his commandments are not grievous. Hear what holy David fays, Thy ftatutes "have been my fongs in the house of my "pilgrimage.". -Sometimes, indeed, they have dark nights and ftormy weather ; "without are fightings, and within are "fears." But this is not the conftant fare of them all, nor perhaps of any of them at all times they have their seasons of joy as

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well as of grief; and they have this to comfort them amidst all their troubles, even the affurance that they fhall work together for their everlasting benefit. Which leads me to mention a

4th diftinguishing property of the ChriOftian race; namely, the certainty of gaining the prize at lait. Did the Chriftian run in his own ftrength, he might not only doubt, but defpair of fuccefs: but his whole dependence is on that almighty Saviour, upon whom the Father hath laid his help: He goes up through the wilderness,

leaning upon the beloved;" and therefore, under his felt weakness, and when every thing around him wears the most difcouraging afpect, he is fometimes enabled to triumph in the language of Paul, and to fay, as he did, "I can do all things thro'

Chrift that strengtheneth me."- -Perfeverance is not only the duty, but the privilege of all who fet themselves in good earneft to run for heaven: and though the law of God obligeth them, and the new nature habitually inclines them, "to keep

under the body, and to bring it into

"fubjection;"

"fubjection;" yet they have far better fecurity than any efforts of their own. Omnipotence is their guardian; and they are "kept by the power of God, through faith unto falvation." Thefe, my brethren, are fome of the endearing peculiarities of the Chriftian race: Let me now exhort you, in the

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Third place, So to run that you may at length obtain. And, for this end, let us

ft, That many eyes are upon us:-We are furrounded with fpectators, who narrowly observe every part of our behaviour.

The holy angels, thofe miniftering fpirits, fent forth to minister to the heirs of falvation, look on us with a friendly concern; and as they rejoice at the first converfion of a finner, fo we may reafonably suppose, that all our strayings from the path of life, are forrowfully remarked and lamented by them. On the other hand, thofe malignant powers of darkness, which constantly go about "feeking whom

they may devour," are no lefs attentive

to