X. opulent fovereigns of those times were DISC. "competitors for the Olympic crown. We "fee the kings of Macedon, the tyrants of "Sicily, the princes of Afia Minor, and at "last the lords of imperial Rome and em66 perors of the world entering their names "among the candidates, and contending "for the envied palm; judging their feli"city completed, and the career of all "human glory and greatnefs happily ter"minated, if they could but interweave "the Olympic garland with the laurels they had purchased in the fields of No fubject could be more familiar than this was to the minds of the Corinthians, who were befides so often spectators of fimilar games, celebrated upon the Ifthmus on which their city was fituated, and from thence denominated Ifthmian. With the greatest propriety therefore the verse, of which my text is a part, is introduced by a Dr. HARWOOD's Introduction to the Study and Knowlege of the New Teftament, vol. ii. the DISC. the words, Know ye not-" Know ye not X. "that they which run in a race run all, "but one receiveth the prize? So run, "that ye may obtain." For every citizen in Corinth was perfectly acquainted with each minute circumftance of this folemnity; a folemnity every way so splendid and pompous, that there was no danger lest the allufions made to it in this and other parts of the apoftolical writings, should appear low and degrading. To unfold and difplay to you the truths and duties inveloped in fuch allufions, fhall be the business of the following discourse, in the profecution of which I fhall be often obliged, and therefore here make my acknowlegements, once for all, to the afore-cited ingenious writer. Let us therefore observe, in the first place, that the comparison evidently intimates the Chriftian life to be a state of action, of ftrenuous, unremitted, unwearied action. The candidates, who were to engage in the X. the ftadium, were brought to the barrier. DISC. There, duly arranged, they waited, in all the exceffes of ardour and impatience, for the fignal. When it was made, at once they sprung forward, and it is natural to imagine, with what rapidity they would urge their courfe, and ftretch every nerve to reach the goal. How finely does this circumftance illuftrate that sublime paffage in the Epistle to the Philippians - Not as though I had already attained, either were already per"fect; but I follow after, if I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Chrift Jefus. Brethren, I "count not myself to have apprehended: "but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching "forth unto thofe things which are before, I prefs towards the mark.” Τα μεν οπίσω επιλανθανόμενος, τοις δε εμπροσθεν επεκτεινομενος, επι σκοπον διωκω, επι το βρα CELOV. Every term here employed by the βειον. Ch. iii. 12-14. apostle DISC. apostle is agonistical; and the whole pafX. fage beautifully reprefents that ardour which fired the combatants, when engaged in the race. Thus again, in the Epiftle to the Hebrews" Let us run with patience the « race that is fet before us, τον προκειμένον "-Like thofe who ran in the Grecian stadium, let us urge our course, with unremitting ardour, towards the deftined happy goal. ημιν αγωνα. Once more, in the second Epistle to Timothy, ch. iv. v. 7; "I have fought a 66 good fight, I have finished my course; 66 τον αγώνα τον καλον ηγωνισμαι, τον δρομου σε τετέλεκα.” Life then is a conteft, a conflict, a race, a progress from one degree of wisdom and goodness to another; from the virtues of childhood to those of youth; from the virtues of youth to those of manhood; from the virtues of manhood to those of old X. old age; even till, at the near profpect of D.IS C. our diffolution, we can fay, each of us, with the apostle, “I have fought a good "fight, I have finished my courfe." We must seek for reft and repofe only in the arms of victory. While the race lasts, it is not a time to flumber and fleep, to loiter and be idle. Our competitors will pass us, and we shall lofe all. Forgetting what is behind, we muft ftill, ftill prefs forward, applying to ourselves in one cafe, what was faid of a great commander in another, Nil actum reputans, fi quid fupereffet agendum. Day by day we should improve; day by day we should examine ourselves, whether we have improved; what additional knowlege we have acquired, what additional good we have done: how we have performed our duty to our neighbour, to ourfelves, to God that created and redeemed us, in public and in private. Upon these reviews, if carefully and faithfully made, how often should we find occafion to exclaim with that emperor, who, as a poet of our |