The Beatitudes, Appendix · Sermon 6
The heavenly race.
1 COR. 9.24
Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
REligion is a buſineſs of the greateſt importance; the Soul, which is the more Noble and Divine part, is concern'd in it; and as we act our part here, ſo we ſhall be for ever happy or miſerable; the advice of Solomon in this caſe is moſt ſeaſonable; Whatſoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor wiſdom in the grave whither thou goest, Eccleſ. 9.10. The buſineſs of Religion requires our utmoſt zeal and intenſion, Mat. 11.12.
1. Sometimes the work we are to do for heaven, is ſet out by ſtriving, Luke 13.24. Strive to enter in at the ſtrait gate; foreign, ſtrive as in an agony, ſtrive as for a matter of life and death; ſo Cornelius à lapide; though we muſt be men of peace, yet in matters of Religion we muſt be men of ſtrife; 'tis an holy ſtrife, a bleſſed contention; indeed the Apoſtle ſaith, Let nothing be done foreign ▪ through ſtrife; but though ſtrife doth not do well among Chriſtians, yet it doth well in a Chriſtian, he muſt ſtrive with his own heart, or he will never get to heaven.
2. Sometimes our work for heaven is compared to wreſtling. Epheſ. 6.12. We wreſtle not againſt fleſh and blood, but againſt principalities and powers, &c. Our life is a continual wreſtling; as Jacob wreſtled with the Angel, ſo we muſt wreſtle with our corruptions; we muſt not lay our ſins in our boſome, but ſet our feet upon their necks; if we foyle our ſins, and get them down, 'tis not baſeneſs or cowardiſe to ſtrike them when they are down; and we muſt wreſtle with Satan; wreſtlers get one within another; Satan labours to get within us, and give us a fall, as he did our firſt Parents. What the Divel would have done to Chriſt, thrown him from the pinacle of the Temple, Mat. 4. that he did to our firſt parents, he threw them down from the Pinacle of happineſs; therefore we muſt wreſtle with him; reſiſt the Divel, and he will flie from you, Jam. 4.7.
3. Sometimes the life of a Chriſtian is compared to fighting. 1 Tim. 6.12. Fight the g…od fight of faith; Chriſt is the Captain of the Saints Forces; he is called foreign, the Captain of their ſalvation, Hebr. 2.10. We muſt all be Military perſons; faith is our ſhield, hope is our helmet, the Word of God our ſword; we come into the world, as into a field-battel, luſts war againſt us, 1 Pet. 2.11. Good reaſon therefore that we ſhould war againſt them; 'tis a day of battel, and it is dangerous going abroad without our Armour.
4. Sometimes a Chriſtians work for heaven, is compared to the running of a race; ſo 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. In which words the Apoſtle ſeems to allude (as learned Writers obſerve) either to the Olympian games, which were kept every fifth year in honour of Jupiter, or to the Iſthmian games celebrated near Corinth in the honour of Neptune, in which games they did put forth all their ſtrength to win the prize. So ſaith the Apoſtle, Run the race of Chriſtianity which is ſet before you with a winged ſwiftneſs, that ye may obtain the prize of ſalvation.
The words fall into two general parts.
1. The race to be run, foreign, ſo run.
2. The end of running, foreign, that ye may obtain.
The Obſervations out of the Text are theſe two.
1. That Chriſtianity is a race.
2. That wiſe Chriſtians ſhould labour ſo to run, as to win the prize: foreign, ſo run, that ye may obtain.
Doctr. The firſt Doctrine is, That Chriſtianity is a race; or the life of a Chriſtian is a race. Hebr. 12.1. Let us run with patience the race that is ſet before us: We muſt be Viatores▪ before we are Comprehenſores; heaven is a place of reſt. Hebr. 4.9. There remains a reſt for the people of God: No more wreſtling there, for then we have overcome the enemy; the Saints in glory are ſet forth with Palms in their hands, Rev. 7.9. in token of victory. No more running there; for the prize being obtain'd, the Saints have Thrones to ſit and reſt themſelves upon, Revel. 3.21. But this life is a race, and it muſt be run, and ſo run.
For the illuſtration of the Doctrine there are three things to be opened.
1. Wherein a Chriſtians life is compared to a race.
2. Wherein the Chriſtian race differs from other races.
3. Why this race muſt be run.
1. Wherein a Chriſtians life is compared to a race; that appears in four particulars.
1. In a race there is the way or path to run in*Stadium, locut erat in quo curſu c…rtabatur pedibus aut equis. Eſtius.; ſo in Chriſtianity there is the path-way in which we muſt run. Pſal. 119.32. I will run the way of thy Commandments, this is a good old way, Jer. 6.16. 'Tis as good as it is old. The way of ſanctification and obedience, is the way the Saints have gone in, and the way which God hath been found in; this way we are to run in, is,
1. A pleaſant way, 'tis ſweetned with comfort. Prov. 3.17. All her wayes are pleaſantneſs. Rom. 15.13. Joy in believing. The way of Religion is ſtrowed with Roſes; oh the bunches of grapes that God cuts down, the flagons of wine that he gives to thoſe that turn their feet into this way!
2. The way of Gods Commandments is a clean way, 'tis a way paved with holineſs, Iſa. 35.6. Chriſtians may run in this way, and never wet the ſole of their feet; the way of ſin is defiling; ſuch as uſe themſelves to this way, the filth of hell ſticks upon them; in the wayes of ſin there are ſuch deep ſloughs, that men ſink into perdition; but the way of the Chriſtian race is clean; ſuch as run this race, cleanſe themſelves from all pollution of fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſs, 2 Cor. 7.1.
2. A race is laborious; the running of a race is a violent exerciſe; men do vires exerere, put forth all the ſtrength of their bodies in running. Thus Chriſtianity is a race for labour, we muſt put forth all our ſtrength in this race. My ſoul followeth hard after God, Pſal. 63.8. I reach forward, Phil. 2.13, 14. foreign, the word ſignifies, I stretch my neck forward; and ſaith the Apoſtle, I preſs foreign, toward the mark; as runners in a race gather up their feet with all ſwiftneſs, and ſtretch themſelves forward to lay hold on the prize; 'tis not an idle wiſh, a dead prayer will win the garland; but a Chriſtian muſt put forward with all ſpeed and vigour of affection, that he may obtain what he runs for.
3. A race is ſhort; breve curriculum, as Horace calls it; the Greek word for a race, foreign, ſignifies a ſhort ſtage of ground; the Olympian race contained ſix hundred feet, 'twas one hundred twenty paces long as Authors report. A race is but a ſhort ſpace of ground, it is ſoon run: Thus our time being ſhort, our race cannot be long; and this may encourage us in the race of Religion, and keep us from being out of breath; remember it is but a ſhort race. 1 Pet. 5.10. After ye have ſuffered awhile. So I may ſay, after ye have run awhile, you will be at the end of the ſtage; it is but awhile (Chriſtians) and you ſhall have done wreſtling, weeping, praying, and you ſhall reap the fruit of all your prayers; it is but awhile, and you ſhall have done ſuffering, and be among the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect; it is but awhile, and you ſhall be at the end of your race. 1 Pet. 1.9. Receiving the end of your faith, &c. How ſhould a childe of God rejoyce to think he hath got over a good part of his race, and is almoſt at the end; as Doctor Taylor Martyr once ſaid, I have but two ſtiles to go over, and then I ſhall be at my Fathers houſe. You that have ſet out betimes for heaven, & now are in your old age, comfort your ſelves with this, you have but a few ſteps more to take, and then you are at the end of your race.
4. In a race there is a Crown or Garland given to him that gets the better*Bravium ſignificat praemium quod datur ijs qui ex certamine victores ſunt; foreign legunt palmam. Ambr. Cypr. de Exhort. Martyr. cap. 8.; ſo in Religion, thoſe that win the race, ſhall wear the Crown, 2 Tim. 4.8. Such as do not run through ſloth, or will not run through pride, miſs of the reward; but ſuch as run the heavenly race faithfully, ſhall have a Crown, 2 Tim. 4.8. And this reward is fitly reſembled to a Crown for the ſplendor of it; a Crown hung full of jewels, is bright and ſplendid, it gives an orient luſtre; neither can pen deſcribe, or penſil delineate, or tongue of Angel expreſs the glory and magnificence of this Crown; nor can it be ſhadowed out by all the beauties of heaven, though every ſtar were a Sun.
2. The ſecond thing to be illuſtrated, is, to ſhew wherein the Chriſtian race differs from other races.
2. In other races one only is crowned; ſo in the Text, but one receiveth the prize; but in the ſpiritual race many win the prize; the Saints ſhall come to heaven from all the quarters of the world, Eaſt and Weſt, &c. Matth. 8.11. Many ſhall come from the Eaſt and Weſt, and ſhall ſit down with Abraham and Iſaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven. Rev. 7.4. There were ſealed an hundred and forty and four thouſand of all the Tribes of the children of Iſrael; after this I beheld, and l… a great multitude, which no man could number, of all Nations, of kindreds and people and tongues ſtood before the Throne, and before the Lamb, cloathed with white Robes and Palms in their hands, Ver. 9. By this multitude not numerable, are to be underſtood thoſe that belong to the election, and are ſalvable; theſe as Victors are crowned, and ſtand with Palms in their hands; ſhould but one receive the prize, there might be room left for deſpair.
2. In other races ſome ſtand ſtill and look on, and uſually there are but two run; but here in the heavenly race all muſt run; thoſe that are unfit to run other races, muſt run this, as the lame and blinde, none are excuſed from this race; all have run from God by ſin▪ and all muſt run to him by repentance, either run or damn; either flie to heaven, or fall to hell.
3. In other races the feet run, but in the Chriſtian race the heart runs. Pſal. 119.32. I will run when thou ſhalt enlarge my heart. In Religion the heart is all; that which the heart doth not, is not done*Quicquid cor non facit, non fit.; 'tis not the lifting up of the eye or hand towards heaven that forwards the race, it is the out-going of the heart; many a mans tongue runs in Religion, but not his heart; Doſt thou believe with thy heart? Rom. 10.9. Doſt thou love God with thy heart? Matth. 22.37. This is to run the race of Religion; this rids away ground, and brings a Chriſtian apace to the Gole; when Davids heart was enlarged, then he would run.
4. In other races, he only gets the prize, that runs faſteſt; but it is not ſo in this heavenly race; though others may out-run us, yet if we hold on to the end of the race, we ſhall receive the reward. Some Saints are like Aſael, light of foot as a Roe, 2 Sam. 2.18. They run ſwifter in the race of obedience, as Ahimaaz out-ran Cuſhi, 2 Sam. 18.23. But this is the comfort of weak believers, though they cannot run ſo faſt as others, yet if they hold on to the end of the race without tyring, they are crowned; he that came in at the eleventh houre, had his pay as well as he that came in at the firſt houre, Matth. 20.9. To ſhew that thoſe who ſet out later, and may be out-run by other Chriſtians, yet perſevering, they are ſaved.
5. In other races men run for a temporal reward; in the Chriſtian race we run for an eternal; others run for a corruptible Crown, 1 Cor. 9.25. Sometimes the Crown beſtowed upon the Victor, was made of Olive, ſometimes of Myrtle; the Aegyptians had a Crown of Cinnamon encloſed in gold, but ſtill it was corruptible; but the Crown the Saints run for is incorruptible, it is a never-fading Crown, 1 Pet. 5.4. Other Crowns are like a Garland of flowers, that ſoon withers, Prov. 27.4. But this Crown given to the conquering Chriſtian, is immarceſſible*Corona haec no…fi …ſit aut gemmis, flores iſti ex quibu… …tur ſemper vi…ideſcunt repullulant ſemper.; the jewels of this Crown are never loſt, the flowers of it never fade.
6. In other races the Garland is beſtowed in a way of merit; but in the Chriſtian-race it is beſtowed as a Legacy of free-grace; though we ſhall not obtain the prize unleſs we run, yet not becauſe we run; how can we merit the recompence of reward? Before we merit we muſt ſatisfie, but we have nothing to ſatisfie: Beſides, what proportion is there between the race and the recompence? therefore the Crown beſtowed is called foreign, a gratuitous gift. Rom. 6.23. The gift of God is eternal life *Munera ſua Coronat Deus, non merita tu… Aug. epiſt. 105.. God will ſo beſtow his rewards, that he himſelf may be no loſer; though the Saints have the comfort of their Crown, God will have the glory.
7. In other races many times one hinders another; but in the race to heaven one Chriſtian helps another. 1 Theſ. 5.11. Edifie one another even as alſo you do: One Chriſtian helps by his prayer, advice, example, to confirm another: What is the communion of Saints, but one Chriſtian putting forward another in the heavenly race?
8. One may loſe other races and not be miſerable; but he cannot loſe this race in Religion but he muſt needs be ſo. In other races a man does but loſe his wager; but if he falls ſhort of this ſpiritual race, he loſeth his ſoul; how ſeaſonable therefore is that Apoſtolical caution, Heb. 4.1. foreign, Let us fear, leſt we ſhould come ſhort.
The third thing to be inſiſted on, is, Why we muſt run this race of Chriſtianity.
There are three Reaſons; 1. Becauſe God hath ſet us this race. Heb. 12.1. Let us run the race that is ſet before us. It is not Arbitrary, it is not left to our choice whether we will run or no, God hath ſet us the race; Gods commands carry power and Soveraignty in them: If a General bids his Army march, they muſt march. There's no diſputing duty at the Word of God; the heavens drop down their dew, the ſtars ſet themſelves in Battalio, the earth thruſts forth a crop, the Sea is bridled in, and dare not go a ſtep farther: If inanimate creatures obey the word of command, much more thoſe who are endued with reaſon; when God ſaith Run the race, we muſt run.
2. There's no other way to get to heaven but by running the race; by nature we are far diſtant from the gole, and if we would have heaven we muſt run for it; a man can no more get to heaven that doth not run this race, than one can get to his journeys end, that never ſets a ſtep in the way. 2 Pet. 1.10. Give diligence to make your calling and election ſure, for ſo an entrance ſhall be miniſtred to you abundantly into the everlaſting kingdom.
3. Our time alotted to us is ſhort; Job compares our life to a ſwift Poſt: Job 9.25. My dayes are ſwifter than a Poſt. The Poets painted Time with wings; if Time flies, we had need run; the night of death haſtens, and there is no running a race in the night.
Uſe 1 1. It ſhows us that the buſineſſe of Religion is no idle thing,Informat. we muſt put forth all our ſtrength and Branch. 1 vigour.
— Herculem duri celebrant labores;
Ille Centauros domuit ſuperbos,
Cerberum traxit triplici catena;
Ultimus coelum labor in reflexo
Suſtulit collo, &c.
Claud.
Religion is a race; we muſt run, and ſo run; 'tis an hard thing to be a Chriſtian; alas then what ſhall we ſay to them that ſtand all the day idle? Come to many, and one would think they had no race to run; they put their hand in their boſome, Pro. 19.24. Is that a fit poſture for him that is to run a race? They ſtretch themſelves upon their couches, Amos 6.4. they had rather lie ſoft, than run hard; many would have heaven come to them, but they are loth to run to it; if ſalvation would drop as a ripe fig into the mouth of the eater, Nahum 3.12. men could like it well, but they are loath to ſet upon running a race; but never think to be ſav'd upon ſuch eaſie terms:*foreign. M…nand. the life of a Chriſtian is not like a Noblemans life; the Nobleman hath his rents brought in by his Steward whether he wake or ſleep; think not that ſalvation will be brought to you when you are ſtretching your ſelves on your beds of ivory; if you would have the prize, run the race. The paſſenger in the ſhip, whether he ſit in the Cabinet, or lie on the Couch, is brought ſafe to ſhore; but there is no getting to the heavenly port without rowing hard. Zacheus ran before to ſee Jeſus, Luke 19.4. If we would have a ſight of God in glory, we muſt run this race: we cannot have the world without labour, and would we have heaven?
2. If the life of Chriſtianity be a race, this is that Branch. 2 may juſtifie the godly in the haſte which they make to heaven. Pſal. 119.60. I made haſte and delayed not to keeep thy Commandements. Carnal ſpirits ſay, What need you make ſuch haſte? why are you ſo ſtrict and preciſe? why do you runne ſo faſt? fair and ſoftly, a more eaſie pace will ſerve; oh but may a Chriſtian reply, Religion is a race, I cannot run too faſt, nor hardly faſt enough: If any had ask'd St. Paul why he ran ſo faſt, and preſſed forward to the mark, he would have anſwered, he was in a race. Here is that may juſtifie the Saints of God in their zeal and activity for heaven; they are Racers, and a race cannot be run too faſt: The blind world is ready to judge all zeal madneſs; but have we not cauſe the to put on with all ſpeed, when it is a matter of life and death; if we do not run, and ſo run, we ſhall never obtain the prize; if a man were to run for a wager of three or four millions, would he not run with all celerity and ſwiftneſs? 1 Sam. 21.8. The Kings buſineſs requires haſte: If any ſhould ſay to us, Whether ſo faſt? why ſo much praying and weeping? we may ſay as David, The Kings buſineſs requires haſte. God hath ſet me a race to run, and I muſt not linger or loyter. The haſte Abigail made to the King, 1 Sam. 25.34. prevented her death, and the maſſacre of Nabals family; our haſte in the heavenly race will prevent damnation. This may plead for a Chriſtian in his eager purſuit after holineſſe, againſt all the calumnies and cenſures of the wicked.
Uſe 2 1. It reproves them that run a contrary race, not the race God hath ſet them, Reproof. but the race the Divel hath Branch. 1 ſet them, the race of iniquity. —qui virilius peccant; *Sen.who ſacrifice their lives to Bacchus; they make haſte, but not to heaven▪ they make haſte to fulfill their luſt…, Prov. 6.18. they make haſte to ſwear, to be drunk, they are ſwift to ſhed blood; Iſa. 59.7. their feet run to evil. The ſinner in regard of the haſte he makes in ſin, is compared to a ſwift Dromedary, Jer. 2.23. a wicked mans ſwiftneſs in ſin is like Abſaloms riding on his Mule: 2 Sam. 18.9. The Mule went under the thick boughs of an Oake, and his head caught hold of the Oake, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth. Sinners make haſte to ſin as a bird haſtens to the ſnare; they run as the ſwine poſſeſsed with the Divels, ran into the Sea and were drowned, Mark 5.13. Oh what haſte do men make to hell, as if they feared the gates would be ſhut e…e they could get thither! what needs this ſpeed? why do they run ſo faſt to priſon? the ſins men commit in haſte, they will repent at leaſure; Achan make haſte to the wedge of gold; but now he hath time enough to repent of it: Sin is an unhappy race, a damnable race; will it not be bitterneſs in the end? 2 Sam. 2.26. when men come to the end of that race, inſtead of a Crown, behold chains of darkneſs, Jude 6.
2. It reproves them who inſtead of running the race Branch. 2 of Gods Commandements, ſpend all their time in joviality and mirth, as if their life were rather a daunce than a race. Job 21.12, 13. They take the Timbrel and Harp, and rejoyce at the ſound of the Organ, they ſpend their dayes in mirth; they are at their muſick when they ſhould be at their race: Amos 6.4. That chaunt to the ſound of the Viol, that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themſelves with the chief oyntments. 'Tis hard to have two heavens; ſome are all for pleaſure; foreign: they are like thoſe hunting-dogs Diodorus Siculus ſpeaks of, while they run among the ſweet flowers, they ſmell to the flowers, and loſe ſent of the Hare, and leave off their game. So while many are among the ſweet flowers, the delights and pleaſures of the world, they fall a ſmelling to theſe flowers, and leave off their race. … ſub dulci melle latent venena. — Theſe go merrily to hell; I may ſay as Solomon, Prov. 14.13. The end of that mirth is heavineſs.
Branch. 3 3. If Religion be a race, it reproves them that are ſlow-paced in Religion, who creep, but do not run; their motion is like the motion of the eighth Sphere, ſlow and dull; they ſhould be like the Sun in the firmament which is ſwift, when they are like Sun on the Dial which moves very ſlow; many Chriſtians move ſo heavily in the wayes of God, that it is hard for ſtanders by to judge whether they make any progreſs or no; they are haſty in their paſſion, but ſlow of heart to believe, Luke 24.25. what haſte did Iſrael make in their march when Pharaoh was purſuing them? what need have Chriſtians to expedite their race, when the Divel is behind purſuing, and ready to overtake them, and make them loſe the prize! we read in the Law that God would not have the Aſſe offered in ſacrifice, he hates a dull temper of ſoul; the Snaile was accounted unclean, Levit. 11.30. the ſlow-paced Chriſtian will be taken tardy at laſt, and miſſe of the prize.
Branch. 4 4. It reproves thoſe who begin the race of Chriſtianity, but do not perſevere to the end of the race, they faint by the way: Ye did run well, who did hinder you that ye ſhould not obey the truth? Gal. 5.7. the Crown is ſet upon the head of perſeverance, he that runs half the way, and then faints, loſeth the Garland. 'Tis ſad for a man to come near to heaven, and then tyre in the race; as it is to ſee a ſhip caſt away in ſight of the ſhore.
Nay, what ſhall we ſay to them who do worſe than tire in the race, they run backward into the way of profaneſſe, as Julian, Gardner and others; there is no going to heaven backward; ſuch do caſt reproaches upon the wayes of God; better never begin the race, than run back: 2 Pet. 2.21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteouſneſs, then after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandement. A Souldier that runs from his Colours, and liſts himſelf in the enemies Regiment, if he be taken, muſt expect Martial Law. Heb. 10.38. If any man draw back, my ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in him; God will bear with infirmity, but he will puniſh treachery; wrath ſhall ſmoak againſt the Apoſtate; fury will diſplay itſelf in its bloody colours; indeed in War there is a retreating ſometimes, which if it be done politickly, and to the enemies diſadvantange, it is called an honourable retreat; but in a race to heaven there muſt be no retreats, theſe are not honourable retreats, but damnable retreats; whoſoever draws back, it is foreign to perdition, Heb. 10. ult.
3. Let all Chriſtians be exhorted to run this heavenly Uſe 3 and bleſſed race of Religion;Exhortat. what Arguments ſhall I uſe to perſwade? look upon other creatures wing'd with activity, and then Chriſtian ſhame thy ſelf: Look into the firmament and ſee the Sun as a Gyant running his race, Pſal. 19.5. and doſt thou ſtand ſtill? look into the Aire, ſee the birds ſoaring aloft, and mounting towards heaven; look into the earth, ſee the Bees working in the Hive; look upon the Angels, they are ſwift in obedience; look upon other Chriſtians near thee, thou ſhalt find them their race, reading at praying, weeping; and haſt thou nothing to do? look upon thy precious time, time runs, and doſt thou ſtand ſtill? look upon the wicked how quick are they in ſin? and ſhall they run faſter to hell than thou doſt to heaven? nay, look upon thy ſelf, how induſtrious art thou for the world, riſing early, compaſſing Sea and Land, and yet how ſtupid, and heartleſs in the matters of ſalvation? wilt thou run for a feather, a bubble, and not run for a Kingdom?
To quicken your pace in godlineſs; conſider what the prize is we run for, it is a Crown of glory. *foreign.This incircles all bleſſedneſs within it; there will ſoon be an end of our race, but there will be no end of our Crown; this bleſſed reward ſhould quicken u… in the race; but how ſhall we run the race, ſo as to obtain?▪ 'tis ſad to run in vain, Phil. 2.16. this brings to the next.
Uſe 4 Direction.4. I ſhall preſcribe ſome Directions about this heavenly race.
1. Take heed of thoſe things which will hinder you in your race. As 1. Shake off ſloth▪ idleneſs is pulvinar Diaboli; the ſluggiſh Chriſtian will never win the race, he is aſleeping when he ſhould be running; ſloth is the ruſt of the ſoul, 'tis the diſeaſe of the ſoul; a ſick man cannot run a race. Prov. 12.27. The ſlothful man roaſteth not that which he took in hunting; he will rather faſt than hunt for Veniſon; oh ſhake off ſloth, abandon this idle Div…l if ye intend a race.
2. Throw off all weights. There are two ſorts of weights we muſt throw off.
1. The weight of ſin; Heb. 12.1. Let us lay aſide every weight, and the ſin that doth ſo eaſily beſet us, and let us run the race. The Prophet David felt this weight; Pſal. 38.4. Mine iniquities are gone over mine head as an heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. If we do not throw off this weight by repentance, it will ſink us into hell: A man cannot run a race with a burden upon his back; an unclean perſon cannot run the race of holineſs; a proud man cannot run the race of humility; a ſelf-willed man cannot run the race of obedience. O Chriſtian, unburden thy ſoul of ſin, through off this weight if thou intendeſt to lay hold on the Crown.
2. The ſecond weight the Spiritual Racer muſt throw off, is the world. This is a golden weight which hath hindred many, and made them loſe their race. So far as the world is a weight, throw it off; I ſay not lay aſide the uſe of the world, but the love of it.*1 Joh. 2.15 When the golden duſt of the world is blown in mens eyes, it blinds them that they cannot ſee their race.
3. Diſcard falſe Opinions about this race; as
1. That the race is eaſie; many a man thinks he can run the race from earth to heaven on his death-bed. O ſinner, thou that ſay'ſt the race is eaſie, art a ſtranger to the Chriſtian race. Thou art dead in ſin, till a ſupernatural Principle of grace be infuſed, Epheſ. 2.1. is it eaſie for a dead man to run a race? to run the way of Gods Commandements is againſt nature; and is it eaſie for a man to act contrary to himſelf? is it eaſie for the water to run backward in its own channel? is it eaſie for a man to deny himſelf, to crucifie the fleſh, to behead his beloved ſin? oh take heed of this miſtake, that the Chriſtian race is eaſie. Do you know what Religion muſt coſt you, and what Religion may coſt you?
2. The ſecond falſe Opinion we muſt beware off, is, that the race to heaven is impoſſible; there is ſo much work to do that ſure we ſhall never win the race. Cyprian confeſſeth of himſelf that before his converſion he had many thoughts tending to deſpair; he imagined that he ſhould never get the maſtery of ſome of his corruptions; the thoughts of impoſſibility cut the ſinews of all endeavour; *Deſperaree … in infernum deſcendere. Iſidor.God hath encouraged us to run not only by promiſing rewards when we win, but by promiſing ſtrength to enable us to run; hath not he ſaid he will put his Spirit within us, Ezek. 36. and then afflante ſpiritu, we can run and not be weary *Iſa. 40 u…t.; how many hath Satan diſheartned through deſpair? ſure ſaith the diffident ſoul, I may run, but I ſhall never ſo run as to obtain; Jer. 2.25. Thou ſaid…ſt There's no hope. So ſaith the deſpairer, I had as good go on in my ſins, as good keep the old road, there's no hope, all ſuccours of mercy are cut off; this is a dangerous Praecepice; deſpaire takes a man off his leggs, and then how can he run. Deſpair is heluo animarum, the great devourer of ſouls; he that is under the power of this ſinne, diſputes himſelf into hell.
4. Take heed that company doth not ſtay you by the way; if a man ſhould be running a race, and he ſhould have a friend as he is running, come and take him by the hand and deſire to ſpeak with him, this might make him loſe the race. So ſtands the caſe here, many will be ready to meet with us, and ſtop us in our race to heaven; what need you (will they ſay) ſet out ſo ſoon? what need you run ſo faſt? ſtay and bathe your ſelves a while in the luſcious delights of the world; thus have many been ſtop'd in the middle of their race, and loſt the prize; to him that would hinder us in our race, we muſt ſay with an holy indignation, as Chriſt, Get thee behind me Satan, Matth. 4.10.
2. You muſt uſe all means to help you in the heavenly Race; as
1. Run the right race, the Apoſtle calls it foreign, the race ſet before us, Hebr. 12.1. that is the race chal'kd out in the Word of God; the race of ſelfdenial and ſanctity. 'Tis not any race, but the race ſet before us, that we muſt run; which confutes that opinion, that a man muſt be ſaved in any Religion.
2. Fit your ſelves for the heavenly race; as
1. Diet your ſelves; the Racers in Ancient times, ſaith Ireneus, did diet themſelves, they would not eat of any groſs meat, nor yet a full meale, that they might be the more prepared for the race; thus muſt Chriſtians diet themſelves by ſobriety and mortification, that they may by a well ordering of themſelves be the fitter to run the race which is ſet before them. St. Paul did foreign, beat down his body, 1 Cor. 9.27. that he might be the fitter for his race.
2. Strip your ſelves for the race; the runner in a race uſeth to ſtrip himſelf of all about him, and wear only a white garment that he might be light and nimble; So ſhould Chriſtians do, ſtrip themſelves of all conceits of merit, and only wear the white garment of Chriſts Righteouſneſs.
3. Begin the race betimes: Eccleſ. 12.1.Direction. Remember thy Creatour in the dayes of thy youth. Young ones think they may ſet upon the race too ſoon; can a man be good too ſoon? can he run the race of repentance too ſoon? but ſuppoſe he might; yet it is better to repent a year too ſoon, that an houre too late. Eſaus tears as well as his Veniſon came too late, Gen. 27.33, 34. David would ſeek after God early, Pſal. 36.1. Auſtin in his confeſſions complains of himſelf that he knew God no ſooner*Sero nimis te am…vi Domi…. ▪ they will hardly be able to run the heavenly race who have old age, and old ſins upon them.
4. Run the path-way, not the road-way; hell-road is full of travellers; moſt go wrong; Exod. 23.2. Thou ſhalt not follow a multitude to do evil; the multitude doth not conſider what is beſt, but what is ſafeſt; our Saviour hath told us, narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, Mat. 7.14. run in the narrow way of ſelf-denial, and mortification.
5. Reſolve to hold on in the race notwithſtanding dangers and difficulties: A good Chriſtian muſt be ſteeled with courage, and fired with zeal: 'tis probable there will be thorns in the way of our race, and flint-ſtones, therefore we had need be well ſhod.
1. We muſt be ſhod with the Goſpel of peace, Epheſ. 6.15. he whoſe heart is fil'd with that peace the Goſpel brings, will be able to run over the hardeſt piece of Religion with eaſe.
2. We muſt be ſhod with patience: Heb. 12.1. Let us run with patience the race. Patience bears up the heart of a Chriſtian, and keeps him from tyring in the race; if this ſhoo be off, we ſhall ſoon halt, and give over running.
6. Chriſtians in their race muſt keep their eye ſtill upon the mark: The Grecians had their white line drawn at the end of their race, which was called foreign, and the Racers eye was ſtill upon it: The looking upon the prize quickens Chriſtians in their race. St. Paul looked foreign towards the mark, Phil. 3.14. as Archers look at the white, Racers at the prize. And Moſes, Heb. 11.26. foreign, looked to the recompence of reward; he looked with one eye at Gods glory, and with the other eye at the Garland or Prize.
7. O run with delight; Pſal. 119.47. I will delight my ſelf in thy Commandements. Oyle ſupples the joynts and makes them agil and nimble: The oyle of gladneſs makes Chriſtians lively and fit to runne the heavenly Race: The joy of the Lord is your ſtrength, Nehem. 8.10.
8. Run in the ſtrength of Chriſt; do not think you can of your ſelves win the race; the Arminians talk of Free-will, but it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, Rom. 9.16. by nature we are blind, and lame, therefore unfit to run a race; we run faſteſt when Chriſt takes us by the hand.
9. If you would run ſo as to obtain, be often in the exerciſe of grace; is it not enough to have grace in the habit, but in the exerciſe. Such as run the heavenly race, muſt not only be living, but lively; they muſt have a flouriſhing faith, a flaming love: What is the meaning of the Loines girt, and the Lamps burning, Luke 12.35. but grace in its activity? without this there can be no ſpeed in the heavenly race.
If you would run hard, pray hard; Prayer helps us on in the race. Luther was a man of Prayer: Pray over that Prayer, Cant. 1, 4. Draw me, we will run after thee.
Pray that you may not miſtake your way through Error, nor ſtumble in it through offences. In a word, Let us pray for the Holy Spirit, which doth animate us in the race, and carry us above our own ſtrength. Gods Spirit breathed in, keeps us in breath.