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WOULD you like to hear a true athlete of Christ striving according to
the rules and laws of the conflict? "I," said he, "so run, not as
uncertainly; I so fight, not as one that beateth the air: but I chastise my
body and bring it into subjection, lest by any means when I have preached
to others I myself should be a castaway." You see how he made the chief
part of the struggle depend upon himself, that is upon his flesh, as if on
a most sure foundation, and placed the result of the battle simply in the
chastisement of the flesh and the subjection of his body. "I then so run
not as uncertainly." He does not run uncertainly, because, looking to
the heavenly Jerusalem, he has a mark set, towards which his heart is
swiftly directed without swerving. He does not run uncertainly, because,
"forgetting those things which are behind, he reaches forth to those that
are before, pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus," whither he ever directs his mental gaze, and
hastening towards it with all speed of heart, proclaims with confidence,
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith." And because he knows he has run unweariedly "after the odour of
the ointment" a of Christ with ready devotion of heart, and has won the
battle of the spiritual combat by the chastisement of the flesh, he boldly
concludes and says, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me in that
day." And that e might open up to us also a like hope of reward, if we
desire to imitate him in the struggle of his course, he added: "But not to
me only, but to all also who love His coming;" declaring that we shall
be sharers of his crown in the day of judgment, if we love the coming of
Christ--not that one only which will be manifest to men even against their
will; but also this one which daily comes to pass in holy souls--and if we
gain the victory in the fight by chastising the body. And of this coming it
is that the Lord speaks in the Gospel. "I," says He, "and my Father will
come to him, and will make our abode with him." And again: "Behold, I
stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the gate, I
will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me."
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