SERMON X.

BY REV. SAMUEL WILLARD, D. D. DEERFIELD, MASS.

[OCCASIONAL.]

ON CHRISTIAN FIDELITY.

2 TIMOTHY IV. 7, 8.

I HAVE FOUGHT A 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, will give to me at THAT DAY.

A religious character the scriptures represent, as a gradual production of time and care. In the life of a Christian, we successively behold the feeble infant, the inquisitive child, the ardent youth, and the mature man or woman. Such a life, indeed, is an assemblage of virtues, each of which is at first like the germ of a plant, while inclosed in a minute seed; which, by the genial influence of heaven co-operating with human cultivation, rises and expands, and, in the progress of months and years, becomes more and more beautiful, and finally rewards the husbandman with the richest of fruits.

In our text, the Christian character is presented to our contemplation under two distinct and significant emblems; that of a course, or an appointed race, and that of a fight, a contest, or a warfare: "I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course." Under the figure of a race, we have a lively view of the progressive nature of religion, and of the activity and perseverance it implies; and when taught to regard it as a contest, we are led to anticipate danger and hardship, and at the same time are admonished of the watchfulness, and prudence, and patience, and fortitude, and subordination, which are required of "every one who names the name of Christ."

The apostle Paul at the date of our text was a prisoner at

Rome, where he is left by the sacred historian in the Acts of the Apostles. He was, it seems, expecting soon to suffer martyrdom for the cause of Christ. "I am now ready," saith he, "to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand." Some have supposed and endeavored to prove that this was not an inspired prediction, and that the apostle was released, and did not suffer death at that time. On this point I shall say little at present, but would barely observe that few or none of the apostles, of the prophets after Moses, excepting the great "Apostle and High Priest of our profession," seem to have had any other foresight of their own death, than what is common to other men. A short time before, he had said, "Behold I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there, save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth in every city that bonds and afflictions await me." In the apprehension of the apostle, however, there was "but a step between him and death." In this solemn posture he doubtless took an accurate survey of his past life; scrutinized the general tenor of his thoughts and feelings, and reviewed the various scenes, in which he had been called to act or suffer; and, at the close of this review, he exclaimed in the words of the text, "I have fought a 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, will give to me at that day."

The apostle had indeed "run well." His natural temperament was warm and animated; and the ardor he discovered in his Pharisaic state was not extinguished by his conversion to Christianity. On the contrary, when mingled with more celestial flames, it burned with greater purity and fervor. Set free from those restraints, which are most uncongenial to a noble spirit, it had operated with greater power and effect. In his private life, he could doubtless see a long train of improvements. To the Philippians he had said, "I count not myself to have attained; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." As a private Christian, his path

appears to have been "like the dawning light, that shineth more and more till perfect day."

As a minister of the gospel, his course had been still more splendid. Like his great Master, he had gone about doing good. In his indefatigable labors for the conversion and salvation of men, he had passed in rapid progress from city to city, and from country to country. He had traversed once and again a great part of Asia Minor; he had crossed into Europe, and extended his missionary labors through the principal cities and states of Greece; and was contemplating a journey to Rome, and still further, into Spain, when he was arrested by his enemies, and was no longer at liberty to pursue his philanthropic designs. All, however, which man can do, he seems to have effected.

The apostle had not merely a race to run, but a severe conflict to endure. In almost every part of his course, he was opposed by obstructions and foes without number. In becoming a Christian, he had much to encounter in his own feelings; the reverence he had always felt for his instructors, and particularly for Gamaliel, his principal guide and patron; a strong attachment, it is probable, for the companions of his youth; those natural affections, by which he was bound to his intimate relations; the pride of learning; the love of fame; the thirst for glory and power; and the natural and innocent desire of ease and safety. Almost every passion and feeling must have conspired to discourage his entrance on the Christian profession.

These inward difficulties, however, are not all which the apostle had to encounter. He was called to contend with the Jewish hierarchy, with the power which the priests derived from their sacred office; with the specious, but hypocritical sanctity of the scribes and pharisees; and with the blind ferocity of that mob, which was ready to accomplish the malignant purposes of those, by whom it should have been guided and restrained. As the apostle to the Gentiles, he had to meet a populace, equally ferocious and corrupt, a host of arrogant and proud philosophers, a confederacy of selfish priests, and all the combined terrors of civil power, from the emperor down to the meanest magistrate. Beside all these things, he met with no small embarrassments from

Christian brethren; from the narrow prejudices of Jewish converts, or the licentiousness of those, who were partially reclaimed from Pagan impurity and superstition. In one instance, at least, he was called to withstand even an apostle, whose example was likely to pervert or obscure an important doctrine.

These complicated difficulties Paul had met with composure and fortitude. "None of these things moved him, neither had he counted his life dear to himself." He had been discouraged by no obstacles, appalled by no dangers, however many or great. With the most undaunted courage, he had united the greatest circumspection and the most consummate prudence. From the divine arsenals he had equipped himself with armour suited to the particular contest, in which he was about to engage. While supported by miraculous power, he wielded the weapons of reason and persuasion. With the Jews he argued from the scriptures; and with the Gentile philosophers, from nature, experience, and the authority of their popular poets. I add, that he was no less meek than prudent and courageous in this holy warfare. He did not "strive, but was gentle toward all men." He often reasoned, when he might have asserted, and frequently entreated, when he might have commanded.

In the arduous conflict in which the apostle had been engaged, he had kept the faith. He could not be terrified, he could not be flattered into the slightest dereliction of principle. Things of little or no importance he readily sacrificed to the peace and edification of the church; but those, which were in any degree essential to the success of the gospel, he strenuously maintained. For the unity of the church he contended with peculiar earnestness, and recoiled as soon from being called the head of a sect, as he did from receiving idolatrous worship from the priests of Jupiter in the city of Lystra. So much reason had the apostle Paul in the near view of death to exclaim, "I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith." He adds, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteous

The glories of the future state may perhaps be denominated a crown of righteousness, because they are conferred on

the righteous, or in other words, on the pure, the benevolent, and devout on those, who bear a moral resemblance to the great and blessed God. Another reason why the rewards of the faithful in heaven are called a crown of righteousness, may be because they consist in righteousness, or in a bright assemblage of moral graces. Every virtue we cultivate on earth, will be an inexhaustible treasure of happiness in heaven; an imperishable gem in that crown, which will "shine as the brightness of the firmament forever and ever." In this life, the fairest character may be obscured; but in the life to come, every cloud will be dispersed, and every virtue will be displayed in its full lustre to assembled worlds.

The apostle says, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me at that day." As this crown is expected from the hand of a righteous Judge, the expression might seem to imply that it is bestowed as a matter of justice, as something which is strictly merited. We may be sure, however, the apostle intended to suggest no such thing. After all our transgressions and follies, our only hope of pardon, and still more of heavenly bliss and glory, must be founded in the benignity of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. But God has promised a glorious reward to those who faithfully serve him; and his veracity is concerned in performing the promise, which he has freely made. I add, that the expression in our text may have a further reference to the exact proportion there will be between the rewards conferred, and the moral excellence of those, on whom they are bestowed. Though every thing is of grace, it will be suitable to the justice of God, that those who have labored most faithfully in his service, should be crowned with the most distinguished honors.

Thus much may suffice for the character of Paul, and for the animating hopes, which mingled with his anticipations of death. For every one who comes to the knowledge of the gospel, in whatever age it may be his lot to live, there is an appointed race to run, and a warfare to accomplish. Our course, indeed, may be limited and obscure; as much inferior to that of the apostle, as the course of the humblest planet is to that of the sun. But still within our narrow