The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-03
THE HEAVENLY Il iCE.

These famous contests, held every sec
ond year, had been one Of the chief means
to foster and cement that strong tie of
brotherhood which bound all classes of
the Greek nation together They were
the greatest of all national gatherings
and even when one State was at war with
another hostilities were suspended during
their celebration.
Few, if any, greater honors could be
earned by Greek citizen than to be
victor in these games. Only a Greek of
pure blood, who had done nothing to for
felt his citizenship, was allowed to- COM
pete in the race.
1t is quite true that the wreath Of
pine awarded the victor might and
would shortly fade; but we must also re-
member that he was welcomed home with
all the honors awarded to successful
general, the wall Of his town being thrown
down that he might pass in as a con-
uueror and his statue set UP by his TEL
low citizens. In fact, the names and
deeds of many of the rictors may yet be
read in the verses Of one of the greatest
Oh Iitth potlS, WHY "cNNSSNA 49, . TN
to perpetuate these famous contests.
However highly we raise the value of
the Greek crown, the force of ST. Pauls
comparison remains. The wreath given
the victor in the games was at best cor
1uptible' and liable to decay. No pern1a-
nent satisfaction could result from the
short triumph of mere physical strength,
activity or skill; while on the other hand
we see an incorruptible crown which
shall abide and always and forever be
to the possessor q joy as thrilling and a
honor as great as at the moment he re-
ceivcd it. 1t is indeed q prize worthy of
the determined and sustained effort of a
lifetime.
Put into the one scale all worldly hon
ors and prizes, all that has stimulated
men to the most strenuous endeavors, all
that a grateful nation bestows on its he
roes or benefactors, all for which men
"scorn delights and live laborious days"
all these, however desirable, are perisha
bic and not to be compared, when in the
other scale is placed the 'incorruptible'
crown which shall endure throughout
eternity.
To those who would win this crown st.
Paul gives a few helpful rules:
% Be TEMPERATE. The temper
ance maintained by the athlete must be
outdone by the Christian if he would sue
coed. Many things may be done by the
men of the world, but from which the
Christian must turn away. All that low
ers the tone or slackens the energies
must be abandoned. Temperance to be
effectua1 must be complete Be reasona-
bic and true.
81 BE DECIDED. 81 rum" says st
Paul, mot as uncertainty" TO be among
those who win we must know where we
are going, and be quite sure we mean
right then. We have all some idea, of
what God offers and calls us to do. This
idea must be clear if we are to so straight
to the goal. The brightest jewel in that
unfading crown is the joy of being all
that God designed US to be-of perfectly
fulfilling the end of our creation; of being
able to find our greatest happiness in
goodness, in close fellowship with God
and in promoting what Christ lived for
and died to promote.
60 BE IN EARNEST. With the boxer
in these games it was all grim earnest.
He did not need any one to tell him
that his life depended on his ability to
defend himself against his trained antago-
mist. Every faculty must be on the alert.
No dreamer here had a chance. The foe
must be left stone dead on the field.
Finally, ST. Paul tells us who is this
enemy we must all fight, and against
whom he directed his well-aimed and
tirmly-planted blows. 1t was his OWN
BODY. Every mans body is his enemy,
when, instead of being his servant, 1t be-
comes his master When st. Pauls body
presumed to dictate to his spirit and de-
manded comforts and indulgences, or
shrank from hardships, he beat 1t down.
The word he uses is an exceptionally
strong one-"I keep under 1t is tech
meal term used in the games, and means
to strike full in the face. 1t was the word
given to the most damaging blow one
boxer could give another. This unmerci-
flu! and overpowering blow Paul dealt to
his body, resisting it's assaults and MAX
ing it helpless to tempt him more. He
thus brought lit into subsection made it
his slave, as the winner in some OF the
games had right to carry his Vanauished
foe into slavery. BY the grace OF God
and by sheer strength OF will ST. Paul
subdued his body. You can do the same.
You have the same means he employed
the same power stands ready to help
YOU in your battle. Can you say that
your body is brought into subsection?
That Ill does not curtali devotion on the plea
of WEAKNESS; that it does not demand a
dispensation from duty on the score Of
some slight ailment: that it never per
suades us to neglect duty for fear it may
be unpleasant: that it never prompts us
to undue anxiety about our affairs or fu-
ture; that it never treads the Spirit I'M
der foot nor defiles it?
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