Tropes and Figures · Benjamin Keach
Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 8 · Part 10
The Celeſtial Race: Or, the Saints compared to Runners.
1 Cor. 9.4. Know ye not, that they which run in a Race run all, but one receiveth the Prize: So run that ye may obtain.
Heb. 12.1. Let us lay aſide every Weight, and the Sin which doth ſo eaſily beſet us; and let us run with Patience the Race that is ſet before us.
CHriſtianity, or the Life of a Chriſtian, is in theſe Scriptures compared to a Race; So run that ye may obtain. A Chriſtian is compared to a Man that runs a Race.
What ſort of Race the Apoſtle principally alludes to, is not (as we conceive) ſo material; beſides, many worthy Men do not agree about it, ſome being ſubject to think, the Apoſtle alludes to the Olympick Games. We ſhall therefore run the Parallel, with reſpect to ſuch Things concerning a Race, which all generally agree in.
To run, is variouſly taken in Scripture. 1. To break through, Pſal. 18.29. 2. To ſtrive with the greateſt Speed and Celerity, or to make haſte, Prov. 1.26. 2 Kings 4.22. 3. Eagerly in Affection to be carried after. 1 Pet. 4.4. 4. To paſs without Let, Pſal. 147.15. 5. To labour with Earneſtneſs. 6. To go forward, Gal. 5.7.
| Metaphor. | Parallel. |
| A Man that runs in a Race, takes great care to begin well. It behoves him to be exact in his ſetting out, 1. In reſpect of Time, 2. In reſpect of Place; he obſerves the Place from whence he muſt begin to run. A little Time loſt at the beginning of a Race is dangerous. | SO a Chriſtian ought to take great care how he begins or ſets out in the Race towards eternal Life. 1. In reſpect of Time, it behoveth him to ſet out early enough; he muſt not defer the great Concernment of his Soul; Delays are dangerous.Iſa. 55.6. Seek the Lord whilſt he may be found, call upon him whilſt he is near. I love them that love me, Prov. 8. and they that ſeek me early, ſhall find me. Behold, now is the accepted Time; behold, 2 Cor. 6.1. now is the Day of Salvation! Some Men begin too late, they mind not the Call of God. To day if ye will hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts. Becauſe I have called, Prov. 1.24, 28. and ye have refuſed, &c. — I alſo will laugh at your Calamity. Then they ſhall call upon me, but I will not anſwer. 2. They ought to obſerve the Place from which they muſt depart. He that would go to Zion, muſt leave Babylon; as he would go to Zoar, ſo he muſt depart out of Sodom. He muſt leave the Way of Sin, yea, all the evil Courſes, Cuſtoms, Traditions, and Inventions of Men: Ye did run well, &c. |
| II. A Man that runs in a Race, ought to know the Way well which he is to run; if the Path be not plain before him, he is not like to win the Prize. | II. So a Chriſtian ought to know the Way to Salvation, to be well-inſtructed in the Path of eternal Life. Chriſt is the Way:Joh. 14.6. No Man (ſaith he) cometh unto the Father, but by me. There is no other Name under Heaven given, Acts 4.12. whereby we muſt be ſaved. 1. Chriſt is the Way, as a Prieſt, who offered himſelf up as as a Sacrifice to God for us, to atone and make Peace between the Father and us. 2. Chriſt is the Way, as a King, who hath appointed us Laws and Ordinances, which we muſt obey and follow, to manifeſt our Subjection unto him:Pſal. 119. I will run the Way of thy Commandments. 3. As a Prophet, who hath laid down all Rules and heavenly Directions neceſſary for us in Matters of Faith and Practice, whom we muſt hear in all things.Acts 3 23. 1 Pet. 2.21. 4. Chriſt is the Way, in that holy Example he hath left, that we ſhould follow his Steps. A Saint obſerves the very Footſteps of Chriſt, and of the Primitive Church; he ſees the good old Way plain before him, as it is recorded in the holy Scripture, and thereby knoweth which way to ſteer his Courſe. |
| III. A Man that runs in a Race, muſt ſee to put himſelf in a fit Equipage. He puts off his upper Clothes, and gets meet and neceſſary Garments for the purpoſe; becauſe the Clothes that a Man uſually wears, would much encumber him in his Running. | III. So a Man that would ſet out in the ſpiritual Race, or in a ſpeedy Courſe towards Salvation, muſt caſt off the Rags of his own Righteouſneſs, and put on the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt by Faith; for that Garment, with the Garment of Holineſs and Humility, is only neceſſary,Rom. 13.14. and muſt be put on by all that would run the Race ſet before them, ſo as to obtain the Prize. |
| IV. A Man that would run in a Race, ſo as to obtain the Prize, muſt lay aſide all Weights whatſoever: For all know, that if a Man have a Weight or Burden on him, it will greatly hinder or obſtruct him in his running; nay, if he doth not caſt it off, it will ſoon cauſe him to be weary, and faint in the Way. | IV. So a Chriſtian that would run in this heavenly Race, muſt caſt off every ſpiritual Weight. This the Apoſtle directly counſels the Saints to do: Let us lay aſide every Weight, Heb. 12 1. and the Sin that doth ſo eaſily beſet us; and let us run with Patience the Race ſet before us. Now theſe Weights are, 1. The inordinate Affections. Our Hearts muſt not be ſet upon Things below,Col 3.2, 3 not inordinately upon Father or Mother, Son or Daughter, Houſe or Land; for he whoſe Heart runs out in a covetous manner after the World, as the Prophet ſhews,Hab. 2.6. is like a Man that is laden with thick Clay. It is impoſſible for a Man to run this Race with the World upon his Back. What was it that weighed down the young Man in the Goſpel, that came running to Chriſt, who ſeemed to be in a full ſpeed towards eternal Life? Was it not the inordinate Love to the World? 2. Sin; Sin is a Weight: That Sin that doth ſo eaſily beſet us. Some underſtand, the Sin of Unbelief is meant hereby; others, a Man's Conſtitution-Sin, or the Sin of his Nature, that which he is moſt eaſily overtaken with, whether it be Pride, Paſſion, &c. Sin, yea, every Sin muſt be caſt off, take it how you will, (tho I rather adhere to the latter) if a Man would ſo run as to obtain; for nothing like Guilt tends to make a Chriſtian grow weary, and faint in his Mind. |
| V. A Man that would run ſo as to obtain the Prize, muſt not be overcharged with inordinate Eating and Drinking; for Experience ſhews, how that unfits a Man for running a Race, or for any other Enterprize whatever. And a Man that ſtriveth for Mastery, is temperate in all things. | V. So a Chriſtian muſt take heed he be not overcharged in a ſpiritual Sence; there is ſpiritual Gluttony and Drunkenneſs ſpoken of in Scripture. Hence ſaith our Saviour, Take heed to your ſelves, Luke 21.24. leſt at any time your Hearts be overcharged with Surfeiting, Drunkenneſs, and the Cares of this Life, and ſo that Day come upon you unawares. What is meant by Surfeiting, Drunkenneſs, &c. but all kind of looſe Living, 1 Theſſ. 5.7. wanton Riotouſneſs, exceſſive Delight in, or Deſire after the Pleaſures of this World, &c. Or on the other hand, being overwhelmed, and ſorely afflicted or perplexed with inordinate Cares about earthly Matters? All theſe things muſt be avoided by thoſe, who would run the ſpiritual Race ſo as to obtain the Prize. |
| VI. A Man that would run in a Race, ſo as to obtain the Prize, muſt ſee he doth not leſſen his Pace; he muſt run ſwiftly, and run conſtantly; if he loyter, or grow careleſs, and idle, no wonder if he loſe the Prize. | VI. So a Chriſtian muſt run with ſpeed, he muſt be very diligent, ſwift-footed, which is ſignified by running; and alſo he muſt be even in his Courſe. He muſt not be like the Galatians, Gal. 5.7. only run well for a Time, but continue always to the end the ſame Pace, i. e. keep in a conſtant Courſe of godly Zeal and Holineſs, according to that of the Apoſtle, We deſire that every one of you do ſhew the ſame Diligence, to the full aſſurance of Hope to the end. Heb. 6 11. Some Men ſeem very zealous in a Fit, they are all on a Flame (as it were) none more forward and lively in God's Ways, and in his holy Worſhip, than they; but on a ſudden oft-times (as hath been obſerved) they flag, and grow weary. It may be, as the Proverb is, a zealous Apprentice, a lukewarm Journey-man, and a quite cold Maſter. |
| VII. A Man that would run ſo as to obtain the Prize, ought to be ſtrong and healthy. A diſtempered Perſon, or one that falls ſick in the Way, is not likely to obtain the Prize; a conſumptive Man, or one that hath feeble Knees, or a diſtempered Heart, is not likely to hold out. | VII. So a Chriſtian, that runs the heavenly Race, ought to labour after ſpiritual Strength: Be ſtrong in the Lord, Eph. 6 10. 2 Tim. 2.1 and in the Power of his Might. Thou therefore, my Son, be ſtrong in the Grace that is in Chriſt Jeſus. Diſtempers are as ſubject to ſeize upon the Soul, as upon the Body, viz. the Tympany of Pride, the Feaver of Paſſion, the Trembling of the Heart through ſlaviſh Fear, the Stone of a hard Heart, the ſpiritual Conſumption, or Decay of Grace; Want of Breath, or Difficulty in breathing out conſtant and fervent Prayers and Deſires to God, or any other Decay of the inward Man, or Diſeaſe of the Soul. If any of theſe ſeize upon a Chriſtian in his Courſe to eternal Life, without ſp…edy Cure, they will cauſe him to faint, and fall ſhort of the bleſſed Prize. |
| VIII. A Man that runs in a Race, if he falls lame in the Way, is not likely to obtain the Prize. | VIII. So that Chriſtian that falleth lame (in a ſpiritual Sence) in the Race to Glory, is in danger of miſcarrying. Make ſtrait Paths for your Feet, Heb. 12.13. leſt that which is lame be turned out of the Way, but rather let it be healed. Some by Lameneſs underſtand Want of Sincerity, when there is a Work upon one Faculty of the Soul, and not upon another; i. e. When the Conſcience is awakened, and the Underſtanding ſomewhat enlightned, and yet the Will and Affection is for Sin and the World. This Man is lame, he is no ſound Man, he goes limping as it were along; he will not run long, as he runs not well. Others by Lameneſs underſtand more directly, a wavering Mind about ſome main Truths of the Goſpel, or about the publick and viſible owning and profeſſing of Chriſt and the Goſpel, in reſpect of thoſe Truths that are moſt oppoſed by Men, in the Day and Generation in which we live. Some are like thoſe in the Prophet Elijah's Time, they halt between two Opinions,1 King. 18.21. ſtand wavering between God and Baal, and know not which to cleave to, whether to the Proteſtant, or Popiſh Religion. Now theſe are lame Profeſſors; they are corrupt, or not ſincere; they will not, unleſs healed, hold out to the end of the Race, but be turned out of the Way. |
| IX. A Man that meets with bad Way in running a Race, is thereby many times hard put to it, and in danger of loſing the Prize: As when he is forced to run up-hill a great while together, or meets with a rough and untrodden Path, or is fain to run through a deep Mire, or a very dirty Lane; this tries his Strength, Courage, and Reſolution. | IX. So when a Chriſtian meets with hard Things, or paſſeth through great Difficulties in his Way to Heaven, he is much put to it, viz. when he is forced to mount the Hill of Oppoſition, and paſs over the Stile of carnal Reaſon, and through the perilous Lane of Perſecution, and Valley of the Shadow of Death; Being accounted all the Day long as a Sheep for the Slaughter. Pſal. 23.4. He then is tried to purpoſe. Many that have ſet out Heavenwards in a Day of Peace and Proſperity, have in a Time of Tribulation and Perſecution grown weary,Mat. 13.21. or being offended, have fallen away. |
| X. Men that run in a Race, have many Spectators, who ſtedfaſtly look upon them, to ſee how they run, and who will win; ſome hoping one will gain the Prize, and others hoping the ſame Man will loſe it. | X. So the Saints of God have many and eminent Spectators, who ſtedfaſtly look upon them, with great Expectation, to ſee how they behave themſelves, whilſt they run the Celeſtial Race, viz. God the Father, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the holy Spirit, the one Almighty and Eternal God. Yea, and all the holy Angels, on the ſame ſide, behold them with great Earneſtneſs, hoping they will hold out to the end, and obtain the Crown of everlaſting Glory, and to that purpoſe help and encourage them in their Courſe. On the other ſide, there are all the Devils, or wicked Angels, who have their Eyes upon them for evil,Zech. 3.1, 2. who do not only hope and long to ſee them grow weary and faint in their Minds, but alſo ſtrive, as much as in them lies, to hinder and reſiſt them in their Race, ſo that they may loſe the Prize. |
| XI. Some Men run a great while, and afterwards grow weary, and ſlack their Pace, nay, quite give over running, and ſo loſe the Prize. | XI. So ſome Profeſſors ſeem to run well, to be zealous for God and Religion a great while, it may be for many Years together; but when Trouble ariſes, or Temptation ſeizes upon them, they grow weary, and indifferent about theſe Matters, and (with Demas) cleave to this preſent evil World, and ſo turn with the Dog to his Vomit again, and loſe Eternal Life. |
| XII. Some Men that have run in a Race, have run for a great Prize, yea, for a Crown, (as ſome have obſerved) and when they have won it, have been praiſed exceedingly, it being eſteemed a mighty Honour; it hath not only enriched them, but been to their great Renown and Glory. | XII. So the Saints of God, who run this heavenly Race, run for a great Prize, viz. a Crown of Glory.1 Cor. 9.25. And every Man that ſtriveth for the Maſtery, is temperate in all things: Now they do it to obtain a corruptible Crown, but we an incorruptible. Be thou faithful unto Death, Rev. 10. and I will give thee a Crown of Life. I have (ſaith Paul) fought the good Fight, 2 Tim. 4.7, 8. I have finiſhed my Courſe, I have kept the Faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of of Righteouſneſs, which God the Righteous Judg will give me at that Day, and not to me only, but unto all them alſo that love his appearing. This Prize will not only enrich the Soul that obtains it, but raiſe his Renown and Glory to Eternity. He ſhall be honoured of all, nay, he is the Man whom the King delights to honour:Rev. 3.21. They ſhall ſit down with Chriſt on his Throne, &c. |
| XIII. The Man that runs, who reſolves to win the Prize, breaks through all Difficulties, will not regard any vain Allurements, but preſſes on with his utmoſt Strength, Celerity and Speed imaginable; the Thoughts of the rich Prize animating his Mind, and prompting him on ſo to do. | XIII. So a true Chriſtian, who reſolves for Heaven, he makes haſte, he breaks through all Difficulties, and regards not the Golden Balls Satan throws in his Path, viz. none of the vain Allurements of this World, but with his uttermoſt Strength, Celerity, and Eagerneſs of Affection, preſſeth forward. I preſs towards the Mark, &c.Phil. 3.14. Mat. 7.13. He ſtrives to enter in at the ſtrait Gate. He ſtrives againſt Satan, againſt the World, againſt Sin, ſtrives in Reading, in Hearing, in Praying, being greatly animated and encouraged thus to do,Heb. 11. by ſeeing him who is inviſible (to the natural Eye) and by having a Sight of the excellent Reward, or that glorious Crown and Kingdom he knows he ſhall receive, when he comes to the end of the Race. |
| Metaphor. | Diſparity. |
| SOme Men in running a Race do their beſt; they do whatever in them lieth to obtain the Prize, but nevertheleſs loſe it. | BUt now a Chriſtian, whoever he be, that doth his beſt, does what he can in all Uprightneſs of Heart, to believe, to cloſe in with Chriſt, to love, ſerve, and obey him, ſhall never miſs of eternal Life.Joh. 10.2. Rom. 8.1. Never was any Man damned, ſaith a worthy Miniſter, that did what he could to be ſaved. |
| II. Many run in a Race, but one only obtains the Prize. | II. But tho Thouſands run in this ſpiritual Race, yet they may all obtain the Prize. |
Inferences.
WE may infer from hence, That the Work and Buſineſs of a Chriſtian is hard and difficult; Heaven is not obtained without running, wreſtling, ſtriving, warring, &c.
2. That many Profeſſors, who ſet out Heaven-ward, and run well a little while, are not like notwithſtanding to obtain eternal Life;Mat. 24. 'tis only he that endureth to the end, that ſhall be ſaved.
3. It may alſo inform us what the Reaſon is, that ſo many Perſons faint or grow weary in this ſpiritual Race. (1.) Their Weights which they have upon him may occaſion it. Or, (2.) The Way being bad, or up-hill. (3.) Their not being temperate in all things. (4.) Their being diſeaſed or lame. (5.) Satan beguiling them with his Golden Balls. (6.) They being not throughly affected with the Worth of that glorious Prize they run for. (7.) By means of their truſting in their own Strength, &c. (8.) Their growing lazy, loving preſent Eaſe, &c. (9.) And laſtly, which is the Sum of all, their not being truly converted, never effectually wrought upon by the Spirit of Grace.
4. It may ſerve to ſtir us all up to the greateſt Diligence imaginable, to the end. Whatſoever we meet with in the Way, Heaven will make amends for all.