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possible way, especially in every way of his own appointment,-who could thus for our sakes exchange "the form of God" for "the form of a servant ;" and who for our sakes could thus suffer and thus endure. And in the second place we are bound to manifest our gratitude by " following his steps," and by striving to imitate his resigned piety to God; his dutiful obedience to his lawful governors; his general regard for his country; his tender affection for his friends; and his forbearance towards his enemies. "If therefore," in the language of the Apostle, "if there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies; let this mind be in us, both towards God and towards our neighbour," which was also in Christ Jesus." remembering always, that as he "suffered for us," so also "he has left us an example that we should follow his steps ;" and that it is only "by following the example of his patience and great humility," that we can become meet to be "made partakers of his resurrection."

SERMON IX.

CHRIST CRUCIfied a motivE TO HOLINESS, and

A PATTERN FOR IMITATION,

HEB. xii. 1, 2.

Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 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,

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of

our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame ; and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

ST. Luke, who recounts the whole of our Saviour's history at length, calls the passion in plain and express terms a sight or a spectacle: "all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smoţe their breasts, and

returned"." It is this sight, which the Apostle in the text calls us to "look

unto.'

Of our Saviour's life there is no part, which does not deserve our very attentive contemplation; for there is no part, which is not calculated to improve us in holiness and virtue. But of the whole his passion is that part, which ought more especially to fix our attention. He is to be "looked unto" at all times and in all acts; but then more especially, and in that act, when "for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, despising the shame.” Then saith the Apostle, "look unto him." And in another place, being desirous to show the Corinthians, what it most concerned them to know, namely Jesus Christ; and in Christ, what they were more especially interested in considering; he declares, “I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified;"-meaning hereby, that the perfection of all knowledge is Christ; and the perfection of our

knowledge relating to Christ is the knowledge of his Cross and Passion.

The best guide to the understanding of what is said is the occasion on which it is spoken. Now the occasion of the text was this. St. Paul wished to encourage the Hebrew converts and in them all future Christians, to "hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering." This profession he expresses in the former verse of the text under the terms of a "race," or a game; borrowing his similitude from the Olympic Games, which were at that time periodically celebrated in Greece, and renowned throughout the world; and by expressions derived from which, it was the practice with all writers of the age, both sacred and profane, to represent as in the running, the laborious course; so in the prize of it, the glorious recompense of a virtuous life.

That we may 66 run the race" with the greater vigour, and be more secure of attaining the prize, he sets before us two

• Heb. x. 23.