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empty; for the Lord had dealt bitterly with her. She had far better have abode with God's people; she could then but have lost her husband, her sons, and her property. Many, in hopes of mending their condition, have forsaken the ordinances of God; and thus shunning the race, have run into great misery. All prudent care should certainly be used to avoid poverty, disease, and afflictions; but there should be a holy care to acknowledge God in all our ways; for, after all, we cannot by taking thought make one hair white or black. Let not children be impatient, like the prodigal son, to get from under the restraints of home. Let not servants rashly change their situations because of some trials. Let all remember, that complaining of the roughness of the road is murmuring against the Lord. We are where he has placed us: if he calls us to remove, he will make our way plain to us in the exercise of prayer and prudence. Till then let us live near to him, and learn to submit, without repining, to his authority.

3. A patient spirit is therefore expressly enjoined:-" Let us run with patience." It implies that trials beset the way, and the believing Hebrews were tempted by them to become weary and faint in their minds. The apostle, on this account, again and again exhorted them to patience. As in chapter vi., to follow "them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." He reminds them especially of Abraham, who, having patiently endured, received the promise. Again in chap. x. he reminds them that they had need of patience; that after they had done the will of God, they should receive the promise: and in the text again, "Let us run with patience." Thus true religion will be distinguished from transient impressions. The seed sown in the good ground are they who in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. No great good can be ordinarily effected without this. In the education and maintenance of a family, nothing can be well done without it. How patiently must parents persevere in their instructions and prayers; and with how many faults must they endure to rear those whom they love. How greatly is patience needed in our dealings with men, if we would not make all

our enemies. In our conflicts with sin; in our resistance of Satan; inour seeking the face of God; patience, or, which is here much the same thing, perseverance, is essential to our overcoming our spiritual enemies and obtaining the crown. By this grace a murmuring, repining, and angry spirit is kept under, and the soul is enabled to exercise meekness, submission, and faith and love. If impatience is indulged, prayer is turned into complaints, and rebellion takes the place of obedience. Patience is one principal feature of Christ's lovely image, who stood as a lamb, dumb before his revilers, and avoided all resentment even when in the hands of his murderers. The silence of a meek and patient sufferer has greater power with God than the bitter cries of an unsubmissive spirit. There is so much humility in it that the meekness of God's nature moves him to help the meek and patient mourner; on the other hand, there is such a want of submission in impatient souls, that their impatience must be thoroughly subdued before their prayers can be answered.

: In a word, we have to mind the directions of the word, and patiently to wait on the Lord. We may have many crosses, disappointments, and trials, against which it is of no use to murmur, for God has decreed them as exercises of our faith and submission. It is a mercy we are out of hell. It is a greater mercy to have a hope of heaven. Our light afflictions are but for a moment in comparison of eternity. To one who can calmly view the whole, our condition here, as to sickness or health, riches or poverty, honour or contempt, is not worth one anxious thought. The grand object is to do and suffer all the will of God in the strength of his grace, sought by continual prayer; and the first half-hour in glory will richly overpay all the labours, sacrifices, and trials of threescore years and ten.

We have seen in what spirit we are to run the race set before us: it now only remains to show,

III. HOW THIS DISPOSITION IS TO BE OBTAINED AND PRESERVED; AND THAT IS, BY LOOKING UNTO JESUS.

The apostle does not give us here an unconnected exhortation, but directs us at once what grace to exercise, and how to obtain

it. For any one who knows his own weakness might reasonably say, "Alas! I am commanded to run with patience, but here is my misery: my trials are too much for me; my patience is exhausted; my strength to bear trouble is gone, and I can do nothing but weep and mourn." Now, to take away all occasion for such complaints, the inspired writer directs us to the source of patience, and strength, and consolation. He presents our souls with an object, by looking to which we may prevent that weariness and faintness of mind which trials and the length of the way are so apt to superinduce. Looking unto Jesus, here is your remedy. Consider him.

1. The first thought suggested by these words is, the example he has furnished for our imitation.—He ran and carried a heavy cross, and was exposed to shame, and suffered contradiction; but he endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Poor soldiers, travelling bare-foot, hungry, thirsty, and exposed to the inclemency of the weather, are encouraged to patience if they see their captain, who was brought up delicately, going before them, and enduring, without repining, every sort of suffering that they endure. Of how much greater force is the example of our divine Lord to animate us to bear hardships and crosses, and all our inconveniences and sufferings! When we consider the dignity of his person, the base and ungrateful treatment he endured, the heavy anguish of his soul, and his resigned, mild, patient, and lovely spirit, under all his sorrows, we may well be ashamed when we suffer any complaints to escape us under our lighter pains.

I have read of one whose natural spirit was beyond description violent and ungovernable, but who became so mild and gentle that nothing seemed capable of ruffling his temper, or disturbing the serenity of his soul. When he was questioned as to the origin of so great a change, he said, "that after having long suffered an inward hell from his own temper, and endeavoured by various methods to subdue it to no purpose, he at length thought of keeping his mind fixed on the example Christ had set; and by means of looking steadfastly on that object, he found his

NO. XI.

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VOL. II.

own temper so changed that he could rather take pleasure in reproaches and persecutions, than feel irritated by them."

And there is, no doubt, far more of life and efficacy in Christ's example than in the example of the prophets and apostles; for it is exhibited by God himself as the remedy for those disorders of the soul to which the trials of our course would otherwise give rise. For consider him, lest ye be weary and faint in your mind. We are to consider him lest we be weary in our race; therefore, we understand that the soul may find rest in meditations on Christ. We are to consider him lest we be faint in our minds as well as weary. For holy thoughts of his sufferings, and the spirit in which he endured them, are reviving cordials to preserve from fainting in our course, as well as food and rest. Christ is the element in which piety lives in holy contemplations: and, as of old, looking to the brazen serpent was the appointed means of curing the deadly bites of the venomous fiery flying serpents even so looking to Christ cures our immortal souls, and fills them with health and peace. He, when he was reviled, reviled not again when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed his cause to him that judgeth righteously; leaving us an example that we should tread in his steps. In poverty, tried with inconveniences, behold and look to him who meekly said, “The Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Under reproaches, consider him who endured the contradiction of sinners against himself. When insulted, behold him blindfolded, spit upon,as a lamb, dumb before his shearers, not opening his mouth. When denied common justice, look to him on the cross praying for his murderers. When in great pain, and neglected by those who should comfort you, look to him covered with a bloody perspiration, through the agony of his soul, while his disciples slept; and then awakening them with the gentle expostulation, "Could ye not watch with me one hour? The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak.” When in want of common necessaries, look to him crying, "I thirst." Look to him born in a stable; laid in a manger; working as a carpenter; going about doing good; speaking comfort to the wretched, health to the sick, pardon to the guilty; praying whole nights; neglected by

his brethren; persecuted by the priests; betrayed by one apostle, denied by another; forsaken by all; spit on, scourged, bleeding, dying, and in all truly gentle, patient, benevolent, prayerful, full of pardon, full of grace, full of all goodness: behold as in a glass his glory, till you are changed into the same image. You see how all ended in his exaltation, and so shall your race end in being with him; for if we suffer with his temper, we shall reign with him in glory.

2. There is one more thought, however, suggested by the words, Looking unto Jesus. Behold him not as your example only, but also as your Saviour.-Do you need light for your race? Look to him who came a light into the world, that whoso followeth him should not abide in darkness, but should have the light of life. Do you need strength for your race of duty and suffering? Look to Jesus, whose grace is sufficient for you, and whose strength shall be made perfect in your weakness. Do you need pardon for your slips and falls in your race? Look to him who, if any man sin, is an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. Do you need consolation and joy in your thorny and painful way? Look unto Jesus, in whom believing, ye may rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Are you buffeted with sore temptation? Look unto Jesus, who, having suffered, being tempted, knows how to succour them that are tempted. Are you full of weakness, sickness, fears, and infirmities? Look to Jesus, your high priest, who can be touched with a fellow-feeling of your troubles, having suffered in all points like unto his brethren. Are you oppressed with a sense of ignorance, and prone to wander from the truth? Look to Jesus, who on them that are ignorant, and on them that are out of the way, is one that can have compassion. Do you often feel as if unconverted, perishing, and undone? Look to Jesus, who is able to save unto the uttermost all them that come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Do you need a light? He is the Sun of righteousness-a leader? He is the Captain of salvation—a protector? He is the shepherd of his flock—a partner? He is the husband of his church—one whose kindness you may trust? He is a friend that loveth at all

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