tangle his feet, encumber his body, and retard him in "pressing towards the mark for the prize of his high calling:" he is required to "crucify the flesh with the affections, and lusts;" to mortify every inordinate propensity to this world, and aim at setting his affections on things which are above. As a means of attaining to this selfdenial, this mortification to the world, the christian should often cherish in his mind impressions of the uncertainty of life, of the unsatisfying nature of all earthly joys, and of that solemn reckoning which shortly awaits him at the tribunal of his Judge: He ought to realize the incomparable excellence of the soul above the body, of things eternal above things temporal, and thus as much as possible keep his mind weaned from earth and its concerns. "Love not the world," is the divine injunction to all the children of the kingdom, "neither the things that are in the world;" do not permit them to occupy an undue share of your thoughts, and thus draw your hearts aside from God and his glory; "if any man love this world the love of the Father is not in him." We are again admonished, "if ye be risen with Christ" if you are as you profess risen with Christ, born of his spirit, raised from the death of corruption to the life of holiness and of glory, "seek those things which are above, where Jesus Chrisť sitteth on the right hand of God; set your affections on things which are above, and not on things which are on the earth." This is also the import of that parable delivered by our Lord with such solemnity to his apostles, "let your loins be girded about," as the man entering his race will carefully gird up his loins, as he will gather in his clothes which are loose, and bind up those which are long and entangling, " so let the loins of your mind be girded up, let every wandering thought be collected, and every wanton inclination crucified; "and your lights burning," all the graces of the spiritual life, your patience, your love, your joy, your hope shedding around their amiable lustre, "and you yourselves. like unto men which wait for their Lord." And without all controversy, God might be more glorified; his cause more advanced; the righteous more encouraged and edified, our progress in our heavenly career more promoted, and our prize in the end more honorably won, was this solemn injunction more generally regarded.. It is really to be deplored that professors appear so carnal; that they think so much, and talk so much, and toil so much about the present world, as if their portion was wholly in it.

3. In a race unremitting diligence is re-quisite: The attention of him who runs with a prospect of succeeding must be unvaryingly directed to the course which he pursues. How ridiculous, for instance, would the man appear who pretends to run, and yet is frequently loitering by the way, and permits himself to be diverted by

every little object which is presented to his view: Nay, diligence appears indispensably necessary for ensuring success in any undertaking, and in the various stations of human life. This is requisite for securing learning to the student, affluence to the husbandman, independence to the merchant; and all the injunctions, and all the allusions of scripture instruct us that unceasing exertion is equally requisite in the spiritual life. Is it not compared to a race, intimating that we should keep loose from the world, and be eagerly pressing on to the end of our course? Is it not compared to a strait gate, and narrow way, admonishing us that the entrance is arduous, and that a constant struggle is necessary if we expect to be making any considerable advances? Is not the christian likened to a soldier, to shew us that he should be always clothed with the armour of God, and prepared to meet the foes of his salvation, whether they encounter him on the right hand, or on the left? Is he not compared also to a traveller or sojourner to remind us that we should daily be going on in our spiritual course, and advancing nearer and nearer our celestial home? We are thus solemnly urged to give diligence, nay, to give all diligence to add to our faith virtue, and knowledge, and brotherly kindness, and charity, just as the architect having begun a superstructure will be constantly adding to it, or the traveller will aim to advance a few paces more in his journey. Many considerations might be mentioned, which ought to awaken the follower of Jesus to a holy earnestness in performing the duties of his calling. Human life is at best but very short, and its continuance to us is altogether uncertain, and yet a great work to be done. How many duties are encumbent upon us! duties which we owe to our Creator, our Redeemer, our generation, and to ourselves; to our bodies, keeping them in subjection, lest, after having preached or professed the gospel, we should be cast away, and to our souls, drawing them off from an ensnaring world, and lifting them to God as "our exceeding joy;" and yet how soon may the moment arrive when we must reckon for our discharge of all these duties, and according to our works be either acquitted or condemned!

"Wherefore, holy brethren" and sisters, "seeing ye are encompassed with so great a cloud of witnesses," and urged to diligence by arguments so impressive, "be not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit. serving the Lord; lay aside every weight, and the sins which most easily beset you, and run with patience the race that is set before you:" Many days, and weeks, and months, and years of your time are already gone, occupy, with all diligence, and to the best advantage, the few hours for labor which yet remain.

4. In a race obstacles must be surmounted. No path can be conceived so smooth, but some impediments will be found to try

the patience, and perhaps in some measure retard the progress of him who attempts to run. More especially in a journey, which is a race continued, many inconveniences must be expected. The traveller is sometimes discouraged by mountains which he must ascend, or vallies over which he must pass; his patience is also tried, sometimes by want of suitable accommodations, sometimes from intemperate heat, and again from pinching cold. It is scarcely necessary to mention that the believer's life may for this reason be compared to a race. "Ye have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, ye may receive the reward which God hath promised to them that love him." We scarcely attempt to advance a single step in our christian course, but some obstacle intervenes, or to speak in plainer language, there is not a duty in which we engage without experiencing opposition from an evil heart of unbelief. True it is, when man proceeded originally from the hand of his Creator, the path of the divine commandments was level and smooth; no thorns sprung up to torture the traveller's foot; no obstacles interrupted him in his career; no enemy appeared either to annoy or impede him in his progress, but obedience to his Creator's will was performed asequally his duty, and glory, and delight. But sin has thrown innumerable impediments in our way both to discourage and retard. There is the enmity of the heart which often rises up in opposition