The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-03-13

man sympathy by drawing for his Gre
clan readers illustrations from their own
national games. He was a man; and
nothing that pertained to man was in
| different to him.
The Isthmian games,-so-caled be-
cause their scene was on the Isthmus of
Corinth,-was the greatest of all the ma
tional festivals known to ancient Greece
The games occurred in April or May
every second year. and continued about
ten days. None but Greeks of pure
blood could take part in them, and the
| highest national distinction attainable
| by Greek was prize in these compel
| tive contests. The games we're institu-
ted to promote the physical beauty for
which Greece was always famed; the
holder of prize from the Isthmus was
always rare specimen of manly beauty.
The festival was dedicated to Grecian
deity; in Pauls day it was probably de-
voted to Neptune: it was therefore, in
the pagan sense, a religious festival. The
contests we're of wide range. Wrestling
and boxing appealed to the athletes,
while music and poetry attracted the
more intellectual; and races, both foot
races and chariot.races, attracted the
populace.
That Paul. the consecrated Christian,
with sympathy as wide as the race had
been an interested observer of the ma
tional games of the Greeks on the 18th
mus of Corinth, is probable and fits the
circumstances.
For the Greeks he draws the moral of
the Grecian games.
"They achich run in race run al, but
one receiveth the prize" In the races
there could be only one prize-winner;
but Paul's coveted prize he expected to
secure only as a joint partdker thereof.
In the Christian race all can win prizes.
EUen so run that ye mag attain. Give
yourself to the Christian life with such
self conservation as will make the prize
sure.
"Euerg man MatstriUeth IN the games
IS temperate IN all things" Ten months
were devoted to preparation for the
games, during which the candidate must
abstain from all luxury. and practice
daily in the gymnasium. An intemper
ate person was debarred even from en-
tering into the national games.
"Theg do 1t to receiue corruptible
croacn, but ace an incorruptibte." To be
crowned with wreath of pine leaves, or
of olive. or laurel, or palm. as the case
might be, and to thereby gain popular
applause and material benefit, seemed to
Paul small thing when compared to
the crown of Gods approval and gains in
the imperishable realm.
II therefore so run, as not uncertain
ly." He was running like a racer on
racecourse; only he was sure of his
prize.
80 fight I. not beating the air." He
fights the real sins of men. not their
mere external habits.
II buffet mig body, and bring it into
bondage" AS boxer Bullets. that is,
beats or pommels his body, to harden it
for endurance of the struggle of the
arena. so Paul denied luxury to his body
that he might keep it in bondage to his
spiritual purpose.
LEST by any means. after that haze
preached to Others l myself should be
rejected" Even Paul was personally
afraid of intemperance; by indulgence of
carnal desires he knew he could wreck
his apostleship.
-Habitual self-restraint of sensual
and sordid desires. and self-encourage-
ment of heavenly and unselfish impulses.
means heaven begun on earth.