Q. Of whom is the kingdom of heaven composed?

A. Of children, and of those who are like them.

Q. Why will many fall short of it? A. Because they are too proud to make children of themselves, even in the sight of God?:

Which is the best time of life to

learn the word of God?:

A. In our childhood, before we have been ill taught, or have taken up any vain conceits of our own.

N.B. It is easier to learn twenty good things, than to unlearn one bad one.

THE TEXTS.

Matt. xviii. 3. Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matt. x. 14. Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.

1 Pet. ii. 2. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil-speaking, us new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

II. THE

II. THE CHAPTER OF THE RACE

IF

a man, when he has undertaken to run a race, eats and drinks as he used to do, and carries the same weight of clothes upon his back, or wears a long garment down to his heels instead of being girded up and lightly clothed, he must be a fool. His fellow-champions despise him; the spectators laugh at him; and he returns home with shame and dis grace, while the children of the street follow him and make a jest of him.

Unless I take heed to myself, I shall be one of those who thus expose and disappoint themselves. For my life is not a journey of curiosity; it is a course, a race; in which I must either win the heavenly prize, or lose it. If this is the case, no duty of life must be performed with sloth or carelessness, but with exercise and attention, and with an active mind, as if I was intent upon victory at every step, I can never hope to succeed or excel, unless I do whatever I undertake with all my might, as one who is striving to win the prize in a race.

I may

I may learn how to prepare myself for my Christian course, if I consider what was done by those who anciently strove for the mastery in any manly exercise. I am to make them my pattern, as the Apostle hath instructed me.

1. They prepared themselves for the day of trial by diligent and laborious exercise beforehand. I have more encouragement to do this than they had. Therefore, said the Apostle to his "son Timothy, exercise thyself unto godli wess; for bodily exercise profiteth little; the prize to be obtained by it is inconsiderable; but godliness is profitable to all things, having the promise of this life, and of that which is to come.

2. That they might use their limbs to greater advantage, they threw off their clothes; and the term which denotes exercise, implies that they were naked. I must also take care not to put on too much of this world, but to lay aside every weight, that I may be light and active in my spirit; according to that precept, gird up the loins of your minds; that, being unincumbered with the world, they may be prepared for the Christian

race.

3. They

3. They observed strict temperance: because the body, the more it is fed and indulged, the less fit it becomes for action. He that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. I am striving for the mastery; therefore I must be careful not to weaken my mind by intemperance and fulness of body.

4. They were anxious for the prize, and the honour of the victory. They considered that, though all run in a race, the prize is given but to one. It was not sufficient with them to do well; it was their object to do best; and it must be ours, so to run that we may obtain.

5. It was a great obligation upon them to do their best, and had a great effect upon their minds, when they found themselves before a multitude of spectators, whose eyes were upon them; and particularly those of their near friends, who were earnest for their success; or of their enemies, who had an interest against it. We are also striving before a cloud of witnesses; we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. Good men are praying for the success of our endeavours; the angels stand ready to receive and applaud us

when

when the race is over; and God will give us the promised reward: for, 956

6. As the conquerors of old, when they had won the race, received an ho nourable garland of flowers, and were celebrated in songs; so do we also expect to be crowned. Their garlands, how gay soever they might be at first, soon faded away; but the crown for which we strive is incorruptible and eternal. When the blessed St. Paul had finished his course, there was then nothing before his mind but the reward of his victory-henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.

If there is joy among the angels of heaven, when one sinner repenteth upon earth; what will be the congratulations, the songs of triumph, when the righteous shall be met, at the end of their race, by the inhabitants of heaven!"

THE QUESTIONS.

Q. Why is the Christian life compared to a race?

A. Because it is a course of righte ousness with a crown of glory for the prize.

Q. Are