that men could use the hardest exertions, could deny themselves any indulgence. With a reward so glorious, so incorruptible, before us, shall it not shame us to be slothful, regardless, inconstant, in "running the race that is set before us?" One other advantage attends the crown offered to the diligent Christian, it is within the reach of all, without exception; by the noble, to whom wealth, honours, and luxuries are a patrimony and an heritage; by the dweller in the meanest shed, who toils from morn till eve for daily sustenance; by the soldier, to whom blood and battles are familiar; by the priest, who lives unknown in the peaceful exercise of his sacred duties; by the beggar, who lies at the great man's gate covered with sores, the same race must be run, the same crown may be possessed.

But lastly-we must "so run that we may obtain." I have explained to you the nature and the conditions of the course before you; it is to lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset you ; it is to have "a new heart and a new spirit," to be by your conduct as you are by

adoption, a child of God; to hate and flee from every appearance of evil; to become in affections, in habits, and as far as may be in employments, like the saints in their rest, like the angels in their glory-have any of you really tried to pass one day thus; to live throughout one day as becomes the redeemed of the Lamb, the elect people of God? and have you looked back upon that day without partiality and without self-deception at the close? if so, I need not tell you that it has required no common pains, no ordinary watchfulness, no slight struggle against the flesh, the world, and the devil. What then must be necessary to maintain this vigilance, this struggle, through life, till the released spirit ascends to receive its crown? And if, having run well for fifty years, we pause, slacken or suspend our endeavours at the end, all our former labour, all our earlier success is lost: read Ezekiel xxxiii. 13—“When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness and commit iniquity; all his righteousness shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity

that he hath committed he shall die for it."

I have exhibited too, some faint idea of the happiness and glory of the crown reserved for the earnest Christian in heaven. Think you, dare you presume to think that such a reward, such an inheritance, into which the patriarchs have entered for their faithfulness, apostles for their zeal, and martyrs for their blood; will be open to him who has taken little or no pains to make his calling and election sure, who has dreamed out the term of his mortal life in worldly cares or worldly pleasures, without a notion of living by faith in Christ Jesus?

Finally, dear brethren, be of this assured, if you are humbly, and in earnest, using the appointed means to run well the race that is set before you, not the wickedness of man, nor the powers of darkness, not even your own many falls and infirmities shall turn you out of your blessed course, nor deprive you of the great reward which is waiting for you through the merits of Jesus Christ. Lay" aside then every weight," press forward over every obstacle; if the

adoption, a child of God; to hate and flee from every appearance of evil; to become in affections, in habits, and as far as ma be in employments, like the saints in the rest, like the angels in their glory-ha any of you really tried to pass one thus; to live throughout one day as comes the redeemed of the Lamb, the people of God? and have you lookedmend upon that day without partiality and out self-deception at the close? if so, not tell you that it has required no co pains, no ordinary watchfulness, no struggle against the flesh, the worl the devil. What then must be ne to maintain this vigilance, this s through life, till the released spirit to receive its crown? And if, ha well for fifty years, we pause, sl suspend our endeavours at the en former labour, all our earlier succe read Ezekiel xxxiii. 13-"When I to the righteous, that he shall su if he trust to his own righteous commit iniquity; all his righteous not be remembered; but for his