The Central Presbyterian

Illustrations of Scripture.
"I therefore run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air."—1 Cor. ix: 26.
In order to attain the greater agility and dexterity, it was usual for those who intended to box in the games, to exercise their arms with the gauntlet on, when they had no antagonist near them, in which a man would of course beat the air. In the foot race, the runners, of whatever number they were, ranged themselves in a line, after having drawn lots for their places. While they waited for the signal to start, they practiced, by way of prelude, various motions to awaken their activity, and to keep their limbs pliable and in a right temper. They kept themselves breathing by small leaps, and making little excursions, which were a kind of trial of their speed and agility; in such exercises, they might be said with great propriety to run uncertainly, toward no particular point, and with no direct or immediate view to the prize. But these allusions occur in the declaration of the apostle: "therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air." He did not engage, in his Christian course, as one doubtful in himself whether, in pursuing the path of duty, he should have the honor of being crowned at last or not; as they are, who know that one only receives the prize; nor did he exercise himself unto godliness, like boxers or wrestlers, who sometimes fight in jest, or merely to prepare for the combat, or to display their strength and agility, while they had no resistance to encounter, no enemy to subdue, no reward to merit; but he pressed on, fully persuaded that, by the grace of God, he should obtain an incorruptible crown from the hand of his Redeemer.—Paxton.
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee."—Isa. xliii: 2.
"Save me, O God: for the waters are come into my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me."—Psalm lxix: 1, 2.
The roads in the east are often through marshes and swamps, which during the rainy season are generally overflown with water. Passing through these the traveller has often cause to say, "I sink in deep mire where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters." They are intersected also with streams, over which there are no bridges, through which it is always difficult and often dangerous to pass. On the banks of these waters, persons station themselves to conduct travellers through them. If mounted, they conduct them by taking hold of the horse's bridle; if on foot, they carry them on their shoulders. I have been often carried "through the waters" in both of these ways. What the guide does for the traveller in passing through these waters, God promises to do for the traveller heavenward, when passing through the waters of affliction, and the River of Death.
"Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again."—Luke vi: 38.
Instead of the fibula that was used by the Romans, the Arabs join together with thread, or with a wooden bodkin, the two upper corners of this garment; and after having placed them first over one of their shoulders, they then fold the rest of it about their bodies. The outer fold serves them frequently instead of an apron, in which they carry herbs, loaves, corn and other articles, and many illustrate several allusions made to it in Scripture: thus, "One of the sons of the prophets went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds, his lap full." And the Psalmist offers up his prayer, that Jehovah would "render unto his neighbors seven-fold into their bosom, their reproach." The same allusion occurs in our Lord's directions to his disciples: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom." It was also the fold of this robe which Nehemiah shook before his people, as a significant emblem of the manner in which God should deal with the man who ventured to violate his oath and promise. to restore the possessions of their impoverished brethren: "Also, I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not his promise, even thus be he shaken out and emptied."—Paxton.
"But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way."—Matt. xiii: 25.
Strange as it may appear, this is still literally done in the east. See that lurking villain, watching for the time when his neighbor shall plow his field; he carefully marks the period when the work is finished, and goes in the night following, and casts in what the natives call the pandinellu; that is pig paddy: this being of rapid growth, springs up before the good seed, and scatters itself before the other can be reaped. so that the poor owner of the field will be for years before he can get rid of the troublesome weed. But there is another noisome plant which these wretches cast into the ground of those they hate, called perum-pi-randi, which is more destructive to vegetation than any other plant. Has a man purchased a field out of the hands of another, the offended person says, "I will plant the perum-pirandi in his grounds."—Roberts.
It is the grand comfort of a Christian to look often beyond all that he can possess or attain here; and as to answer others, when he is put to it concerning his hope, so to answer himself concerning all his present griefs and wants: "I have a poor traveller's lot here, little friendships and many straits; but yet I may go cheerfully homewards; for thither I shall come, and there I have riches and honor enough, a palace and a crown abiding me. Here, nothing but depth calling unto depth, one calamity and trouble (as waves) following another; but I have a hope of that rest that remaineth for the people of God. I feel the infirmities of a mortal state; but my hopes of immortality content me under them. I find strong and cruel assaults of temptations breaking in upon me; but, for all that, I have assured hope of a full victory, and then of everlasting peace."—Leighton.