The Christian Race by F. GOULD.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 12, 1865

The Christian Race.

By F. GOULD.

"WHEREFORE, seeing we also 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 set before us." Heb. xii, 1.

In the above, reference is probably made to the ancient custom of running races in the East, of which the apostle in his travels became an eye-witness. These races were a great source of amusement, and were witnessed by a large concourse of spectators. History informs us that it was customary for the competitors of the prize, to carry weights attached to their persons some length of time before running. At the commencement of the race, they would lay off those weights, and in the mean time restricted their diet to plain and nourishing food which would afford them the most natural strength, vigor, and activity. After taking such preparatory steps, they were ready to enter the arena. The apostle being an eye-witness, strives to make it (though a worldly amusement) instructive and profitable to himself and others, and by the way seeks to stimulate, stir up, and encourage his brethren, by comparing the Christian course to the figure brought to view. Hence he remarks, "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race set before us."

The Christian is running a race; there is an object to be gained. Eternal life is placed before him at the end of the journey. But we cannot be successful in gaining the victory and overcoming, while dead weights and easily-besetting sins are dragging us down, and so giving the enemy a chance to lead us captive at his own will. The question arises, How shall we obtain the victory over our most-easily-besetting sins? In the first place, we are to watch, and set a double guard around the spot where the enemy will the most easily take the advantage. He knows our weakness, and consequently will concentrate his forces to that point. For instance a well-inclosed field, strongly fortified by a good fence, with the exception of one or two weak places, does not prove a sufficient safe-guard to stop the forces that may come against it. The weak places must be stopped; then all is safe.

The enemy is called in Scripture, a strong man, and the Lord Jesus Christ is said to be stronger than the strong man armed; hence it is necessary to call to our aid the graces of the Spirit, whereby we shall be enabled to ward off the fiery darts of the wicked one, fortify the citadel, and keep the enemy at bay. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 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." 1 Cor. ix, 24, 25.

Dear brethren, let us not be weary in well doing, but so live that at the end of our journey we can say

with the apostle, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

F. GOULD.

Stowe, Vt.