DISC. " maftery is temperate in all things." The

X.

Apostle ftrengthens his precept by pro-
pofing his own example; "I therefore fo
" run, not as uncertainly"- ουκ ως αδήλως
not as one unprepared to distinguish himself
in public, as one preluding only in private,
not yet trained and fitted for the conflict:
"fo fight I, not as one that beateth the air,"
in a previous fictitious combat with mine-
own fhadow; "but I keep under my body,":
UTTIα, contundo, fugillo, I deal blows-
in earnest, that do execution; " and bring
"it into fubjection" douλaywyw, lead it cap
tive with all it's appetites, obedient to my
better part, my mind; and all this I do,
"left that by any means, when I have-
preached to others,” αλλοις κηρύξας, pro-
claimed to others the laws and the rewards,
like the herald at the Olympic games,
« I-

ولها

myself should be a caftaway"— adoxyios, disapproved; be rejected as unworthy; come off without honour and approbation.

Nothing can be ftronger or more forcible upon the subject than this paffage."He

" that

X.

" that striveth for the mastery is temperate DISC. "in all things." Otherwife, he will never ftrive long, or to any purpose, in the conflicts to which he is expofed. At all times and in all circumftances, "the cor

66

ruptible body in fome degree preffeth "down the foul;" how much more, when itself is oppreffed with a load of meats and drinks! The time loft by fitting too long at the table is matter of fome confideration; but this is not all: the mind becomes indifpofed towards any rational, manly, noble employment, for many hours afterward; perhaps, till the fumes of an intemperate meal shall have been carried off by a night's reft. When we are told that "the people "fate down to eat and to drink," the next information we receive concerning them is, that they" rose up to play;" to something trifling and frivolous, at beft; but, probably, to fomething much worse; to fomething bafe and vicious, intemperance having awakened every other corrupt appetite and evil paffion dormant in the heart of man. Daily experience evinces the truth of what is here

P 3

DISC. here advanced. There is no person who X. has not often perceived and lamented the

difference he has found in himself, when cool and sprightly at one part of the day, and when heated and ftupified at another. Believe it, and let it fink deep in your minds-" He that striveth for the mastery," either as an Academic, or a Christian, either in the prosecution of learning, or his advancement in religion, if he wishes to fucceed, "must be temperate in all things." It was not more neceffary for a candidate in the Grecian games to be fo, than it is for him. And if an Apoftle of our Lord, one not a whit behind the chief of them, with all his gifts and graces, thought that, without a ftrict and conftant adherence to this discipline, he was not fafe, but after converting the nations, might himself be loft; what are we, that we expect by any other means to fecure our falvation? You have heard the words of the disciple; let me fubjoin those of the Mafter-" Beware left at any time your hearts be overcharged," Baguvwow, made heavy, weigh

ed

X.

ed down," with furfeiting and drunken- DISC. "ness,” ngainan nas pen, too much eating, and too much drinking; "and fo, that day," the day of death, and of judgment,. come upon you unawares."

Nor is it lefs expedient that we should be duly and regularly exercised in every fpecies of good works, and inured to bear with equanimity, and without inconvenience, the change of fortune and fituation; that fo, when called forth at the hour of trial, we may be found ready and expert at the fittest and beft methods of doing the one, and undergoing the other. "Herein

(fays St. Paul) do I exercife myself,' aoxw," to have always a confcience void of. "offence.” And he gives this advice to young Timothy ; "Exercise thyself," youvas σεαυτον, "unto godlinefs"." And refpecting the patient endurance of change-“ I have "learned, in whatsoever ftate I am, there"with to be content. I know both how

DISC. " to be abased, and I know how to abound

X.

every where and in all things I sám "inftructed, both to be full and to be

hungry, both to abound and to fuffer "need. I can do all things through Chrift "that strengtheneth me." Great and illuftrious champion! Well waft thou prepared to enter the lifts, and to run thy race! Trained by thy holy inftructions and example, and aided by the fame Saviour, may we be enabled, at an humble diftance, to follow thee, and to do likewise! o

4

In order to this, we must remember to caft away every impediment, as the competitors in the games did. "Let us lay afide "every weight (fays the Apostle) and the "fin which doth fo easily befet us," BUTTERI sarov, that intangles by wrapping round, as the long and troublefome garments of the Greeks, unless thrown off, would intangle and impede their steps, and prove the fatal cause of lofing the victory. What it is that incumbers and intangles him in his Christian

Philip. iv. 11.

Heb. xii. 1.

courfe,