V. 1.— Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. The witnesses here spoken of are commonly understood of those to whom reference had been made in the preceding chapter, who, having themselves obtained the victory, are now spectators of those who are engaged in the combat; and, no doubt, reference is made in the New Testament to those games which were so celebrated in Greece. But the testimony borne by the elders, who obtained a good report, as stated in the preceding chapter, rather seems to be their testimony to the efficacy of faith, to which the Apostle had ascribed all the great actions they had performed. Faith is the spring of all holy affections and of all noble actions, of which a variety of examples had been brought forward in the preceding chapter. Now the witnesses summoned were so numerous, and the testimony delivered so various, that believers are warned and encouraged to lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and to run with patience the race that is set before us. The sin which doth so easily beset us, is evidently unbelief. The Apostle is treating of faith, than which there is nothing in which we are so prone to fail. We naturally walk by sight, but the Christian life is a life of faith. The world, and the things of the world, are constantly soliciting our attention, and by means of them the god of this world is ever attempting to draw our minds away from God, but we are to resist him steadfast in the faith. The prophet condemns our natural proneness to self-confidence in the following striking passage:— "For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee; and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be loft as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.” Isaiah 30:15-17. Our Lord, when asked how the Jews might work the work of God, replies, “This is the work of God, that ye believe in Him whom He hath sent;” but we are ever prone to let slip the truth, and to mind the things which are seen and temporal, rather than those things which are unseen and eternal. Faith is the gift of God implanted by his Spirit, and the same power is requisite for maintaining as for implanting it at first. So that if the believer grieves the Holy Spirit of God he is like Samson shorn of his locks, and becomes weak and as another man. We are constantly apt to start aside from God, like a deceitful bow; so that the Apostle may well term unbelief the sin that doth most easily beset us. Faith is the principal, indeed we may say the material, of which the Christian armor is forged; the shield of faith, and for an helmet the hope of salvation, founded on faith; the feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; which profits only when mixed with faith; and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, which profits nothing unless mixed with faith; praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, we must ask in faith, nothing wavering, else we need not expect to obtain anything of the Lord. In short, faith, so to speak, is the staple of every part of the Christian armor. Let us run...— The Christian life is here compared to a race. It is worthy of notice that it is sometimes described as a rest, a state of repose, and at other times as demanding the greatest exertion: “ For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” Jeremiah 30:15. "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest.” Hebrews 4:3. Again, “So run that ye may obtain.” 1 Corinthians 9:24. “ I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:20; 1 Corinthians 9:27. “ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14. But these apparently opposite characteristics are perfectly consistent. All the believer’ s confidence is in the power and grace of Christ, without whom he can do nothing. All his springs are in Christ, Psalms 87 :, who works in him to will and to do of his good pleasure; but at the same time he is to be sober, to be vigilant, to fight the good fight of faith, that he may lay hold on eternal life. He is to take to him all the armor of God, of which, while we have seen faith is the chief, we might say the sole material, the greatest diligence and activity are required in using it. Nothing requires more of persevering activity than a race, and here we are called to run with patience the race set before us. The believer requires patience, that after he has done the will of God he may inherit the promises. Chap. 6:12.