renewing grace.

2. Christ strengthens his children by the power of Sin governs man. Mere instruction cannot subdue it. Dry bones. This new principle empowering every nerve, and circulating in every artery of the soul.

3. By the continued supplies of his Spirit, communicating strength from Christ to the soul.-Eph. iii. 16. II.-Through him he is enabled to do all things. 1. He can believe.

2. He can attain the perfection of holiness.

3. He can endure trials. Not a mere animal passion. 4. He can perform duties. Moses-David-Isaiahthe Apostles.

5. He can conquer enemies.

PERORATION.

1. This subject furnishes an humbling yet profitable view of human weakness.

2. It urges upon us the duties assigned us.

3. It contains encouragement for all.

EXORDIUM.

Man's veneration for sacred things good, but abused. They are designed for practice. Paul's circumstances.

Yorkville, 24th August, 1850.

SERMON LVII.

THE CHRISTIAN RACE.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us; and let us run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."-HEB. xii. 1, 2.

The Christian's life is spiritual, and can be maintained only by spiritual sustenance. It is well described by the apostle, who says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.— Gal. ii. 20. His conversation is in heaven; and his knowledge, his joys and his hopes, refer to things invisible. Hence, while the unregenerate man endeavours to amuse the immortal part with gaudy fascinations of external scenes, the believer can draw aside the curtain which intercepts the sight of the spiritual world, and feast his enraptured vision on the vast contents of "life and immortality brought to light in Christ by the Gospel." How mighty is the influence which the Christian exerts around him! While he lives in despised obscurity, he is by example and affectionate counsels the cheerful companion of his fellowtravellers to Zion; and by silent admonition he adds not a little aid to the destruction of sin, and the establishment of righteousness in the earth. Nor does his gracious influence

cease with this short period of life. Death may gather him to his fathers, and translate him to his God; but still his spirit lingers in affectionate visits to the heirs of salvation below, beckoning them to mansions in the sky, and stimulating them to zealous exertions in the Lord's vineyard. When to this we add the hourly savour which they leave behind them, who will not exclaim, "The memory of the just is blessed." "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord; for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." In the chapter preceding the text, the apostle Paul had been describing faith, and illustrating it by the example of numerous ancient worthies, who "died in the faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."-Heb. xi. 13. Taking one grand view of the assemblage of spirits before the throne, he rises with rapture on the pinions of an ever vigorous faith; then looking down upon the Hebrew church, he closes the doctrinal discussion of his epistle in the earnest exhortation of the text, "Wherefore, seeing, &c." The whole passage is an allegorical allusion to one of the ancient Grecian games. Heathen mythology informs us, that these exercises were instituted by Jupiter, after his victory over the Titians; or, as a more probable opinion, that they were first established by Hercules in honour of Jupiter Olympus, after a victory obtained over Augias. These games were of various kinds; and one, not the least important, was racing. In keeping with this figure, we shall direct your attention to the words of our text, by considering1. The race prescribed;

2. The cloud of witnesses; and

3. The influence they should exert upon us.

L-Here we have a race set before us. On the festive occasions to which we have just alluded, a course was marked out by the director of the proceedings, and none were allowed to transgress its limits. In this passage the race represents the course which God has prescribed for the Christian while sojourning in this lower world. To the believer alone is life a race: he alone is qualified to run in the way of God's commandments. This is in striking accordance with the requirements strictly observed in the selection of candidates for the Olympic races. None were permitted to engage in them, or any other games, but persons of unexceptionable morals, and high reputation. And each candidate underwent a preparatory discipline before he was admissible to the sacred celebration. They were severely examined by three interrogatories: 1. Were they freemen? 2. Were they Grecians? 3. Were their characters free from all infamous and immoral stains? And their qualifications strictly depended upon a satisfactory answer to each of these interrogatories. A spiritual preparation is not less necessary to every unrenewed man, before he enters the lists of Christ's genuine church. The guilt of sin must be cancelled, the heart must be renewed in righteousness, and the soul emancipated from the bondage of sin. When this great change takes place, and not till then, we become candidates for heaven. The sacred course marked out by Jehovah is ever guarded by repentance and faith; and however the external government of the church, in the admission of nominal members within its pale, may violate this rule, the law remains the same. "He that entereth not in by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."

-John x. 1. The "highway" of the Lord "shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the way-faring man, though a fool, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there; but the redeemed of the Lord shall walk there."-Isaiah xxxv. 8. 9.

1. That life is a race, supposes our present existence to be a state of trial. We live in a state of preparation for immortality; and our final glory will be measured by our righteousness on earth. If there be no reality in the future state of existence, the unsatisfying nature of earthly things would lead to question the wisdom and goodness of God, in appointing to his creatures a sphere too contracted for the full exercise of the noble capacities imparted by himself. For however much may be done or enjoyed in this vale of tears, some spiritual principle within us ever tends to a more exalted kingdom. The inspired volume regards earth and earthly things in relation to man as transitory, and prefatory to another state of existence. Its doctrines pour contempt on the gaudy toys of sense, and stimulate us to holiness, by the presentation of a crown of life. Its frequent and faithful admonitions, remind us of the dangers to which we are exposed; and warn us to "take heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." And its promises, fraught with glittering allusions to our celestial diadem, urge us onward by the inculcation of duty and the assurance of glory. "Arise, this is not thy resting place; for it is polluted." "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

2. Life as a race, is of short duration.

3. Implies competition.-1 Cor. iv. 24, 26.

4. Continual reference to the prize.-Phil. iii. 13, 14.