he sees the good old Way plain before him, as it is recorded in the holy Scripture, and thereby knoweth which way to steer his Course.
⟨p. 163⟩III. A Man that runs in a Race, must see to put himself in a fit Equipage. He puts off his upper Clothes, and gets meet and necessary Garments for the purpose; because the Clothes that a Man usually wears, would much encumber him in his Running. | III. So a Man that would set out in the spiritual Race, or in a speedy Course towards Salvation, must cast off the Rags of his own Righteousness, and put on the Righteousness of Jesus Christ by Faith; for that Garment, with the Garment of Holiness and Humility, is only necessary,1 and must be put on by all that would run the Race set before them, so as to obtain the Prize.
IV. A Man that would run in a Race, so as to obtain the Prize, must lay aside all Weights whatsoever: For all know, that if a Man have a Weight or Burden on him, it will greatly hinder or obstruct him in his running; nay, if he doth not cast it off, it will soon cause him to be weary, and faint in the Way. | IV. So a Christian that would run in this heavenly Race, must cast off every spiritual Weight. This the Apostle directly counsels the Saints to do: Let us lay aside every Weight, 2and the Sin that doth so easily beset us; and let us run with Patience the Race set before us. Now these Weights are, 1. The inordinate Affections. Our Hearts must not be set upon Things below,3 not inordinately upon Father or Mother, Son or Daughter, House or Land; for he whose Heart runs out in a covetous manner after the World, as the Prophet shows,4 is like a Man that is laden with thick Clay. It is impossible for a Man to run this Race with the World upon his Back. What was it that weighed down the young Man in the Gospel, that came running to Christ, who seemed to be in a full speed towards eternal Life? Was it not the inordinate Love to the World? 2. Sin; Sin is a Weight: That Sin that doth so easily beset us. Some understand, the Sin of Unbelief is meant hereby; others, a Man's Constitution-Sin, or the Sin of his Nature, that which he is most easily overtaken with, whether it be Pride, Passion, &c. Sin, yea, every Sin must be cast off, take it how you will, (tho I rather adhere to the latter) if a Man would so run as to obtain; for nothing like Guilt tends to make a Christian grow weary, and faint in his Mind.
V.
he sees the good old Way plain before him, as it is recorded in the holy Scripture, and thereby knoweth which way to steer his Course.
⟨p. 163⟩III. A Man that runs in a Race, must see to put himself in a fit Equipage. He puts off his upper Clothes, and gets meet and necessary Garments for the purpose; because the Clothes that a Man usually wears, would much encumber him in his Running. | III. So a Man that would set out in the spiritual Race, or in a speedy Course towards Salvation, must cast off the Rags of his own Righteousness, and put on the Righteousness of Jesus Christ by Faith; for that Garment, with the Garment of Holiness and Humility, is only necessary,1 and must be put on by all that would run the Race set before them, so as to obtain the Prize.
IV. A Man that would run in a Race, so as to obtain the Prize, must lay aside all Weights whatsoever: For all know, that if a Man have a Weight or Burden on him, it will greatly hinder or obstruct him in his running; nay, if he doth not cast it off, it will soon cause him to be weary, and faint in the Way. | IV. So a Christian that would run in this heavenly Race, must cast off every spiritual Weight. This the Apostle directly counsels the Saints to do: Let us lay aside every Weight, 2and the Sin that doth so easily beset us; and let us run with Patience the Race set before us. Now these Weights are, 1. The inordinate Affections. Our Hearts must not be set upon Things below,3 not inordinately upon Father or Mother, Son or Daughter, House or Land; for he whose Heart runs out in a covetous manner after the World, as the Prophet shews,4 is like a Man that is laden with thick Clay. It is impossible for a Man to run this Race with the World upon his Back. What was it that weighed down the young Man in the Gospel, that came running to Christ, who seemed to be in a full speed towards eternal Life? Was it not the inordinate Love to the World? 2. Sin; Sin is a Weight: That Sin that doth so easily beset us. Some understand, the Sin of Unbelief is meant hereby; others, a Man's Constitution-Sin, or the Sin of his Nature, that which he is most easily overtaken with, whether it be Pride, Passion, &c. Sin, yea, every Sin must be cast off, take it how you will, (tho I rather adhere to the latter) if a Man would so run as to obtain; for nothing like Guilt tends to make a Christian grow weary, and faint in his Mind.
V.
- 1Rom. 13.14.
- 2Heb. 12 1.
- 3Col 3.2, 3
- 4Hab. 2.6.
