National Republican., 1883-08-20
THE CHRISTIAN RACE.

EARNEST SERMON by REV. NJ. @. TIIwING,
EDITOR OF THE BAPTIST NATION"
The North Baptist church, corner of Four
tcenth and Il streets northwest, was comfort
ably filed yesterday morning to hear a
sermon preached by Rev. NJ. c. Thwing,
editor of the Baptist Nation, who occupied the
pulpit in the absence of tho Rev. DIR. Lodge,
the regular pastor.
The reverend gentleman took his text from
/ Corinthians iS, 24-"Know yo not that
they which run in u race run ALL but one
reCeiveth tho prize? So run that ye may
obtain" The speaker said that only one
wins the race notwithstanding tho fact that
many start. He who touches tho goal first
wins, but ho says all must run and use every
effort to win.
There is no successful running of the
Christian race with Christ left out. We want
to keep our eyes upon Him to see how lie
runs. Christ is the example to follow and to
initiate. He leads in the race; He shows how
We must run TO win this race. We must
think like Christ; we ought to know or find
out how He thought. And he is running the
Christian race best who finds out and learns
how Christ thought. Christ wore no mask,
but all people do; there is sense in which all
are hypocritical. If men could look into
each others hearts and minds as God docs, no
doubt but we would all go off and live the
although it would come with poor grace from
us to do so on account of our sinfulness. His
deeds and words we must copy.
10 initiate Him in all things is the only
way the Christian race can be won. This
must be full and complete imitation OF
Christ in word, deed, thought, and action.
No one has the ability to beat any one else;
every one is equal at the start. We must all
run this race to win, to touch the goal. "Lay
aside every weight" strip ourselves of all
burdens, and especially that great load which
all carry-unbelief-before entering for this
race. Unbeliefis the besetting sin. 1t began
with Eve, and is with us to-day, and we must
rid ourselves of it if we hope to win the race.
Want of faith hinders us in the race We
must have faith in Christ, and use every
power in us in running the Christian race.
1t is worth our while to enter this race, and
to keep in it, for continuation in this race is
the only way of ever succeeding. We must
have the one solitary object before us, and
that is to touch the goal, We must take on
the character of Christ as near as possible,
and not let any word or deed change the
Christlike character in us. Tho requirement
IS that we keep in the race all the
time. The consequences if we don't
win are not given; but if you
touch tho goal you win tho race. The victor
of the ancient races that were run in Rome
was given wreath, but tho winner of this
race VIII wear crown. When we touch the
goal we shall see Him and be like Him.
Every one who enters this Christian race and
reaches and touches the goal, obtains the
prize, which is Christ. The Saviour said
"Se Will not come unto mo and be saved -
He calls upon you TO enter sthe raco. Ifyou
have soul, enter the race and continue irr il
unto the end, for there is no reason or excuse
why you should not be in the race. Ente,
it now, and may God give you strength to
reach and touch the goal, and thereby win
the crown which endureth forever.