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diff --git a/13750-0.txt b/13750-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d35e2da --- /dev/null +++ b/13750-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1364 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13750 *** + +Note: The 8th Chapter of Joshua is referenced in the phrase: + "It is taken from that xxth of Joshua" + + + + +THE HEAVENLY FOOTMAN + +or, A Description of the Man That Gets to Heaven: +with Directions How to Run So As to Obtain + +by + +JOHN BUNYAN + + + + +"So run, that ye may obtain."--1 Cor. IX. 24. + + + + +THE AUTHOR'S EPISTLE TO ALL SLOTHFUL AND CARELESS PEOPLE. + + +Friends, + +Solomon saith, that "the desire of the slothful killeth him;" and if +so, what will slothfulness itself do to those that entertain it? The +proverb is, "He that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame:" +and this I dare be bold to say, no greater shame can befall a man, +than to see that he hath fooled away his soul, and sinned away eternal +life. And I am sure this is the next way to do it; namely, to be +slothful; slothful, I say, in the work of salvation. The vineyard of +the slothful man, in reference to the things of this life, is not +fuller of briers, nettles, and stinking weeds, than he that is +slothful for heaven, hath his heart full of heart-choking and +soul-damning sin. + +Slothfulness hath these two evils: first, to neglect the time in which +it should be getting heaven; and by that means doth, in the second +place, bring in untimely repentance. I will warrant you, that he who +should lose his soul in this world through slothfulness, will have no +cause to be glad thereat, when he comes to hell. Slothfulness is +usually accompanied with carelessness; and carelessness is for the +most part begotten by senselessness; and senselessness doth again put +fresh strength into slothfulness; and by this means the soul is left +remediless. Slothfulness shutteth out Christ; slothfulness shameth the +soul. + +Slothfulness is condemned even by the feeblest of all the creatures. +"Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise." "The +sluggard will not plow, by reason of the cold;" that is, he will not +break up the fallow ground of his heart, because there must be some +pains taken by him that will do it; "therefore he shall beg in +harvest;" that is, when the saints of God shall have their glorious +heaven and happiness given to them; but the sluggard "shall have +nothing;" that is, be never the better for his crying for mercy; +according to that in Matthew xxv. 10-12. + +If you would know a sluggard in the things of heaven, compare him with +one that is slothful in the things of this world. As 1. He that is +slothful is loath to set about the work he should follow; so is he +that is slothful for heaven. 2. He that is slothful, is one that is +willing to make delays: so is he that is slothful for heaven. 3. He +that is a sluggard, any small matter that cometh in between, he will +make it a sufficient excuse to keep him off from plying his work; so +it is also with him that is slothful for heaven. 4. He that is +slothful doeth his work by the halves: and so it is with him that is +slothful for heaven. He may almost, but he shall never altogether, +obtain perfection of deliverance from hell; he may almost, but he +shall never (without he mend) be altogether a saint. 5. They that are +slothful do usually lose the season in which things are to be done: +and thus it is also with them that are slothful for heaven; they miss +the seasons of grace. And therefore, 6. They that are slothful have +seldom, or never, good fruit; so also it will be with the +soul-sluggard. 7. They that are slothful, are chid for the same: so +also will Christ deal with those that are not active for him. 'Thou +wicked and slothful servant! out of thine own mouth will I judge thee. +Thou saidst I was thus, and thus; wherefore then gavest thou not my +money to the bank? &c. Take the unprofitable servant, and cast him +into utter darkness, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of +teeth.' + +What shall I say? 1. Time runs; and will ye be slothful? 2. Much of +your lives are past; and will you be slothful? 3. Your souls are worth +a thousand worlds; and will ye be slothful? 4. The day of death and +judgment is at the door; and will ye be slothful? 5. The curse of God +hangs over your heads; and will you be slothful? 6. Besides, the +devils are earnest, laborious, and seek by all means every day, by +every sin, to keep you out of heaven, and hinder you of salvation; and +will you be slothful? 7. Also, your neighbors are diligent for things +that will perish; and will you be slothful for things that will endure +for ever? 8. Would you be willing to be damned for slothfulness? 9. +Would you be willing the angels of God should neglect to fetch your +souls away to heaven, when you lie a dying, and the devils stand by +ready to scramble for them? 10. Was Christ slothful in the work of +your redemption? 11. Are his ministers slothful in tendering this unto +you? 12. And lastly, If all this will not move, I tell you God will +not be slothful or negligent to damn you, (their damnation slumbereth +not, 2 Pet. ii. 3;) nor will the devils neglect to fetch thee, nor +hell neglect to shut its mouth upon thee. + +Sluggard! art thou asleep still? Art thou resolved to sleep the sleep +of death? Will neither tidings from heaven nor hell awake thee? Wilt +thou say still, yet a little sleep, a little slumber, and a little +folding of the arms to sleep? Wilt thou yet turn thyself in thy sloth, +as the door is turned upon the hinges? O that I was one that was +skilful in lamentation, and had but a yearning heart towards thee, how +would I pity thee! how would I bemoan thee! O that I could with +Jeremiah let my eyes run down with rivers of water for thee! Poor +soul, lost soul, dying soul, what a hard heart have I that I cannot +mourn for thee! If thou shouldst lose but a limb, a child, or a +friend, it would not be so much; but poor man, it is THY SOUL! If it +was to lie in hell but for a day, but for a year, nay, ten thousand +years, it would (in comparison) be nothing; but O it is FOR EVER! What +a soul-amazing word will that be, which saith, "Depart from me, ye +cursed, into EVERLASTING FIRE!" &c. + +_Objection_. 'But if I should set in, and run as you would have me, +then I must run from all my friends; for none of them are running that +way.' + +_Answer_. And if thou dost, thou wilt run into the bosom of Christ, +and of God; and then what harm will that do thee? + +_Objection_. 'But if I run this way, then I must run from all my +sins.' + +_Answer_. That is true indeed; yet if thou dost not, thou wilt run +into hell fire. + +_Objection_. 'But if I run this way, then I shall be hated, and lose +the love of my friends and relations, and of those that I expect +benefit from, or have reliance on, and I shall be mocked of all my +neighbors.' + +_Answer_. And if thou dost not, thou art sure to lose the love and +favor of God and Christ, the benefits of heaven and glory, and be +mocked of God for thy folly. "I will laugh at your calamity, and mock +when your fear cometh." If thou wouldst not be hated and mocked then, +take heed thou by thy folly dost not procure the displeasure and +mockings of the great God; for his mocks and hatred will be terrible, +because they will fall upon thee in terrible times, even when +tribulation and anguish take hold on thee; which will be when death +and judgment come, when all the men in the earth, and all the angels +in heaven cannot help thee. + +_Objection_. 'But surely I may begin this time enough, a year or two +hence; may I not?' + +_Answer_. First, Hast thou any lease of thy life? Did ever God tell +thee thou shalt live half a year, or two months longer? Nay, it may +be, thou mayst not live so long. And therefore, Secondly, Wilt thou be +so sottish and unwise, as to venture thy soul upon a little uncertain +time? Thirdly, Dost thou know whether the day of grace will last a +week longer or no? For the day of grace is past with some before their +life is ended; and if it should be so with thee, wouldst thou not say, +'O that I had begun to run before the day of grace had been past, and +the gates of heaven shut against me!' But, Fourthly, If thou shouldst +see any of thy neighbors neglect the making sure of either house or +land to themselves, if they had it proffered to them, saying, 'Time +enough hereafter,'--when the time is uncertain; and besides, they do +not know whether ever it will be proffered to them again, or no: I +say, wouldst thou not call them fools? And if so, then dost thou think +that thou art a wise man to let thy immortal soul hang over hell by a +thread of uncertain time, which may soon be cut asunder by death? + +But to speak plainly, all these are the words of a slothful spirit. +Arise, man! be slothful no longer: set foot, and heart, and all, into +the way of God, and run. The crown is at the end of the race. + +Farewell. I wish our souls may meet with comfort at the journey's end. + +JOHN BUNYAN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +HEAVEN MUST BE RUN FOR. + +SO RUN, THAT YE MAY OBTAIN.--1 Corinthians ix. 24. + + +Heaven and happiness is that which every one desireth, insomuch that +wicked Balaam could say, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and +let my last end be like his!" Yet for all this, there are but very few +that do obtain that ever-to-be-desired glory, insomuch that many +eminent professors drop short of a welcome from God into this pleasant +place. The apostle, therefore, because he did desire the salvation of +the souls of the Corinthians to whom he writes this epistle, layeth +them down in these words, such counsel, as if taken, would be for +their help and advantage. + +First, not to be wicked, and sit still, and wish for heaven; but to +run for it. Secondly, Not to content themselves with every kind of +running; but, saith he, "_So_ run, that ye may obtain." + +As if he should say, 'Some, because they would not lose their souls, +begin to run betimes; they run apace, they run with patience, they run +the right way; do you so run. Some run from both father and mother, +friends and companions, and this, that they may have the crown: do you +so run. Some run through temptations, afflictions, good report, evil +report, that they may win the pearl: do you so run. "So run, that ye +may obtain."' + +These words are taken from men's running for a wager. A very apt +similitude to set before the eyes of the saints of the Lord. "Know you +not that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the +prize? So run, that ye may obtain." That is, 'Do not only run, but be +sure you win as well as run;' "so run, that ye may obtain." + +I shall not need to make any great ado in opening the words at this +time, but shall rather lay down one doctrine that I do find in them; +and in prosecuting that, I shall show you, in some measure, the scope +of the words. + +The doctrine is this; THEY THAT WILL HAVE HEAVEN, MUST RUN FOR IT. + +I say, that they that will have heaven, must run for it. I beseech you +to heed it well. "Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all, +but one receiveth the prize?" So run ye. The prize is heaven; and if +you will have it, you must run for it. You have another scripture for +this in the 12th of the Hebrews: "Wherefore, seeing we also," saith +the apostle, "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." "And +let us _run_," saith he. Again, saith Paul, "I so run, not as +uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air." + +But before I go any farther, let me explain the Nature and Reasons of +this Running. + +As to its NATURE, this _running_ is called, + +1. _Fleeing_. Observe, that this running, is not an ordinary, or any +sort of running; but it is to be understood of the swiftest sort of +running; and therefore in the 6th of the Hebrews, it is called a +fleeing. "That we might have a strong consolation, _who have fled for +refuge_ to lay hold on the hope set before us." Mark, "Who have +_fled_." It is taken from that xxth of Joshua, concerning the man that +was to flee to the city of refuge, when the avenger of blood was hard +at his heels, to take vengeance on him for the offence he had +committed. Therefore it is a running or fleeing for one's life; a +running with all might and main, as we use to say. _So run_. + +2. _Pressing_. This running in another place is called a pressing. "I +press toward the mark;" (Phil. iii.;) which signifieth that they that +will have heaven, must not stick at any difficulties they meet with; +but press, crowd, and thrust through all, that may stand between +heaven and their souls. _So run_. + +3. _Continuing_. This running is called in another place, a continuing +in the way of life. "If ye continue in the faith, grounded and +settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel." Not to +run a little now and then, by fits and starts; or half-way; or almost +thither; but to run for my life, to run through all difficulties, and +to continue therein to the end of the race, which must be to the end +of my life. "_So run_, that ye may obtain." And the REASONS for this +point are these: + +1. Because _every one that runneth doth not obtain the prize_. There +be many that do run, yea, and run far too, who yet miss the crown that +standeth at the end of the race. You know that all that run in a race +do not obtain the victory; they all run, but one wins. And so it is +here; it is not every one that runneth, nor every one that seeketh, +nor every one that striveth for the mastery, that hath it. "Though a +man do strive for the mastery," saith Paul, "yet he is not crowned, +unless he strive lawfully;" that is, unless he so run, and so strive, +as to have God's approbation. + +What! do you think that every heavy heeled professor will have heaven? +What! every lazy one? Every wanton and foolish professor, that will be +stopped by any thing; kept back by any thing; that scarce runneth so +fast heavenward as a snail creepeth on the ground? Nay, there are +some professors that do not go on so fast in the way of God as a snail +doth go on the wall; and yet these think that heaven and happiness is +for them. But stay; there are many more that run than there be that +obtain; therefore, he that will have heaven must _run_ for it! + +2. Because you know that though men do run, yet, _if they do not +overcome, or win, as well as run, what will they be the better for the +running_. They will get nothing. You know the man that runneth, doth +do it that he may win the prize; but if he doth not obtain it, he doth +lose his labor, spend his pains and time, and that to no purpose. I +say, he getteth nothing. And ah! how many such runners will there be +found in the day of judgment? Even multitudes--multitudes that have +run, yea, run so far as to come to heaven's gates, are not able to get +any further; but there stand knocking, when it is too late, crying, +Lord, Lord; when they have nothing but rebukes for their pains. +'Depart from me; you come not in here; you come too late; you ran too +lazy; the door is shut!' "When once the master of the house is risen +up," saith Christ, "and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand +without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; +he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not, depart," &c. O sad +will the state of those be that run and miss. Therefore if you will +have heaven you must _run_ for it; and "so run, that ye may obtain." + +3. Because _the way is long_, (I speak metaphorically,) and there is +many a dirty step, many a high hill, much work to do; a wicked heart, +world, and devil to overcome. I say there are many steps to be taken +by those that intend to be saved, by running, or walking, in the steps +of that faith of our father Abraham. Out of Egypt thou must go +through the Red Sea; thou must run a long and tedious journey, +through the vast howling wilderness, before thou come to the land of +promise. + +4. They that will go to heaven must run for it; because, as the way is +so long, so _the time in which they are to get to the end of it is +very uncertain_. The time present is the only time; thou hast no more +time allotted thee than that thou now enjoyest. "Boast not thyself of +to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Do not +say, 'I have time enough to get to heaven seven years hence;' for I +tell thee, the bell may toll for thee, before seven days more be +ended. When death comes, away thou must go, whether thou art provided +or not. And therefore look to it; make no delays; it is not good +dallying with things of so great concernment as the salvation or +damnation of thy soul. You know he that hath a great way to go in a +little time, and less, by half, than he thinks of, had need to _run_ +for it. + +5. They that will have heaven must run for it; because _the devil, the +law, sin, death, and hell, follow them_. There is never a poor soul +that is going to heaven, but the devil, the law, sin, death, and hell, +make after that soul. "Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, +walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." And I will assure you the +devil is nimble; he can run apace, he is light of foot; he hath +overtaken many, he hath turned up their heels and hath given them an +everlasting fall. Also the law, that can shoot a great way: have a +care to keep out of the reach of those great guns, the ten +commandments. Hell also hath a wide mouth; it can stretch itself +farther than you are aware of. And as the angel said to Lot: "Take +heed, look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain," that +is, any where between this and heaven, "lest thou be consumed;" so +say I to thee. Take heed, tarry not, lest either the devil, hell, +death, or the fearful curses of the law of God, do overtake thee, and +throw thee down in the midst of thy sins, so as never to rise and +recover again. If this were well considered, then thou, as well as I, +would say, they that will have heaven must _run_ for it. + +6. They that will go to heaven must run for it; because _perchance the +gates of heaven may shut shortly_. Sometimes sinners have not +heaven-gates open to them so long as they suppose; and if they be once +shut against a man, they are so heavy, that all the men in the world, +or all the angels in heaven, are not able to open them. "I shut, and +no man can open," saith Christ. And how if thou shouldst come but one +quarter of an hour too late? I tell thee it will cost thee an eternity +to bewail thy misery in! Francis Spira can tell thee what it is to +stay till the gates of mercy be quite shut; or to run so lazily, that +they be shut before thou get within them. What! to be shut out! What! +out of heaven! Sinner, rather than lose it, _run_ for it; yea, and "so +run that thou mayst obtain." + +7. Lastly, Because _if thou lose, thou losest all_. Thou losest soul, +God, Christ, heaven, ease, peace, &c. Besides, thou layest thyself open +to all the shame, contempt, and reproach, that either God, Christ, +saints, the world, sin, the devil, and all, can lay upon thee. As +Christ saith of the foolish builder, so will I say of thee, if thou be +such a one who runs and misseth; I say, even all that go by will begin +to mock at thee, saying, This man began to run well, but was not able +to finish. But more of this anon. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +DIRECTIONS FOR THIS HEAVENLY COURSE. + + +_Question_. "But how should a poor soul do, so to run?" For this very +thing is that which afflicteth me sore, (as you say,) to think that I +may run and yet fall short. Methinks to fall short at last, Oh! it +fears me greatly! Pray, tell me, therefore, how I should run.' + +_Answer_. That thou mayst indeed be satisfied in this particular, +consider these following things. + +THE FIRST DIRECTION.--If thou wouldst so run as to obtain the kingdom +of heaven, then _be sure that thou get into the way that leadeth +thither_. For it is a vain thing to think that ever thou shalt have +the prize, though thou runnest ever so fast, unless thou art in the +way that leads to it. Set the case that there should be a man in +London that was to run to York for a wager; now, though he run ever so +swiftly, yet if he run full south, he might run himself out of breath, +and be never the nearer the prize, but rather the farther off. Just so +is it here. It is not simply the runner, nor yet the hasty runner, +that winneth the crown, unless he be in the way that leadeth thereto. +I have observed, (that little time which I have been a professor,) +that there is a great running to and fro, some this way, and some that +way; yet it is to be feared most of them are out of the way; and then, +though they run as swift as the eagle can fly, they are benefited +nothing at all. + +Here is one runs a Quaking, another a Ranting. One again runs after +the Baptism, and another after the Independency. Here is one for +Free-will, and another for Presbytery. And yet possibly most, of all +these sects, run quite the wrong way; and yet every one is for his +life, his soul, either for heaven or hell! + +If thou now say, Which is the way? I tell thee it is CHRIST, the Son +of Mary, the Son of God. Jesus saith, "I am the way, the truth, and +the life: no man cometh to the Father but by me." So then thy business +is, (if thou wouldst have salvation,) to see if Christ be thine, with +all his benefits; whether he hath covered thee with his righteousness; +whether he hath showed thee that thy sins are washed away with his +heart-blood; whether thou art planted into him, and whether thou have +faith in him, so as to make a life out of him, and to conform thee to +him; that is, such faith as to conclude that thou art righteous, +because Christ is thy righteousness; and so constrained to walk with +him as the joy of thy heart, because he saved thy soul. And for the +Lord's sake, take heed, and do not deceive thyself, and think thou +art in the way upon too slight grounds; for if thou miss of the way, +thou wilt miss of the prize; and if thou miss of that, I am sure thou +wilt lose thy soul, even that soul which is worth more than the whole +world. + +But I have treated more largely on this in my book of the Two +Covenants, and therefore shall pass it now. Only I beseech thee to +have a care of thy soul. And that thou mayst so do, take this counsel. +Mistrust thy own strength, and throw it away. Down on thy knees in +prayer to the Lord, for the Spirit of truth; search his word for +direction; flee seducers' company; keep company with the soundest +Christians, that have most experience of Christ; and be sure thou have +a care of Quakers, Ranters, Freewillers; also do not have too much +company with some Anabaptists, though I go under that name myself. + +I tell thee this is such a serious matter, and I fear thou wilt so +little regard it, that the thoughts of the worth of the thing, and of +thy too light regarding it, doth even make my heart ache whilst I am +writing to thee. The Lord teach thee the way by his Spirit, and then I +am sure thou wilt know it. _So run_. + +Only, by the way, let me bid thee have a care of two things, and so I +shall pass to the next thing. 1. Have a care of relying on the outward +obedience to any of God's commands, or thinking thyself ever the +better in the sight of God for that. 2. Take heed of fetching peace +for thy soul from any inherent righteousness. But, if thou canst, +believe that as thou art a sinner, so thou art justified freely by the +love of God, through the redemption that is in Christ; and that God, +for Christ's sake, hath forgiven thee, not because he saw any thing +done, or to be done, in or by thee, to move him thereunto to do it. +Because this is the right way. The Lord put thee into it, and keep +thee in it! + +THE SECOND DIRECTION.--As thou shouldst get into the way, so thou +shouldst also _be much in studying and musing on the way_. You know +men that would be expert in any thing, are usually much in studying of +that thing; and so likewise is it with those that quickly grow expert +in any thing. This therefore thou shouldst do. + +Let thy study be much exercised about Christ, who is the way; what he +is, what he hath done, and why he is what he is, and why he hath done +what is done; as why he took upon him the form of a servant, why he +was made in the likeness of men; why he cried; why he died; why he +bare the sins of the world; why he was made sin, and why he was made +righteousness; why he is in heaven in the nature of man, and what he +doth there. Be much in musing and considering of these things. Be +thinking also, enough for thy warning, of those places which thou must +not come near; but leave, some on this hand, and some on that hand; as +it is with those that travel into other countries. They must leave +such a gate on this hand, and such a bush on that hand, and go by such +a place, where standeth such a thing. Thus therefore you must do. +Avoid such things as are expressly forbidden in the word of God. +"Withdraw thy foot far from her, and come not nigh the door of her +house; for her steps take hold of hell, going down to the chambers of +death." And so of every thing that is not in the way; have a care of +it that thou go not by it; come not near it; have nothing to do with +it. _So run_. + +THE THIRD DIRECTION.--Not only thus, but, in the next place, thou must +_strip thyself of those things that may hang upon thee, to the +hindering of thee in the way to the kingdom of heaven_: as +covetousness, pride, lust, or whatever else thy heart may be +inclining unto, which may hinder thee in this heavenly race. Men that +run for a wager, (if they intend to _win_ as well as _run_,) do not +use to encumber themselves, or carry those things about them that may +be a hindrance to them in their running. "Every man that striveth for +the mastery is temperate in all things." That is, he layeth aside +every thing that would be any wise a disadvantage to him; as saith the +apostle, "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so +easily beset us; and let us run with patience the race that is set +before us." + +It is but a vain thing to talk of going to heaven, if thou let thy +heart be encumbered with those things that would hinder. Would you not +say that such a man would be in danger of losing, though he run, if he +fill his pockets with stones, hang heavy garments on his shoulders, +and great lumpish shoes on his feet? So it is here. Thou talkest of +going to heaven, and yet fillest thy pockets with stones; that is, +fillest thy heart with this world; lettest that hang on thy shoulders +with its profits and pleasures. Alas, alas! thou art widely mistaken. +If thou intendest to win, thou must strip, thou must lay aside every +weight, thou must be temperate in all things. Thou must _so run_. + +THE FOURTH DIRECTION.--_Beware of by-paths_. Take heed thou dost not +turn into those lanes which lead out of the way. There are crooked +paths, paths in which men go astray, paths that lead to death and +damnation; but take heed of all those. Some of them are dangerous +because of practice, some because of opinion; but mind them not. Mind +the path before thee; look right before thee; turn neither to the +right hand nor to the left, but let thine eyes look right on, even +right before thee. "Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways +be established." "Turn not to the right hand nor to the left. Remove +thy foot from evil." This counsel being not so seriously taken as +given, is the reason of that starting from opinion to opinion, reeling +this way and that way, out of this lane into that lane, and so missing +the way to the kingdom. + +Though the way to heaven be but one, yet there are many crooked lanes +and by-paths shoot down upon it, as I may say. And again, +notwithstanding the kingdom of heaven be the biggest city, yet usually +those by-paths are most beaten, most travellers go those ways; and +therefore the way to heaven is hard to be found, and as hard to be +kept in, by reason of these. Yet nevertheless, it is in this case as +it was with the harlot of Jericho. She had one scarlet thread tied in +her window, by which her house was known; so it is here. The scarlet +stream of Christ's blood runs throughout the way to the kingdom of +heaven. Therefore mind that: see if thou do find the besprinkling of +the blood of Christ in the way; and if thou do, be of good cheer; thou +art in the right way. + +But have a care thou beguile not thyself with a fancy; for then thou +mayst light into any lane or way. But that thou mayst not be mistaken, +consider, though it seem ever so pleasant, yet if thou do not find +that in the very middle of the road there is written with the heart +blood of Christ, that he came into the world to save sinners, and that +we are justified, though we are ungodly, shun that way. For this it is +which the apostle meaneth when he saith, we have "boldness to enter +into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which +he hath consecrated for us through the vail, that is to say, his +flesh." How easy a matter is it in this our day, for the devil to be +too cunning for poor souls, by calling his by-paths the way to the +kingdom! If such an opinion or fancy be but cried up by one or more, +this inscription being set upon it by the devil, "This is the way of +God," how speedily, greedily, and by heaps, do poor simple souls, +throw away themselves upon it; especially if it be daubed over with a +few external acts of morality, if so good! But this is because men do +not know painted by-paths from the plain way to the kingdom of heaven. +They have not yet learned the true Christ, and what his righteousness +is; neither have they a sense of their own insufficiency; but are +bold, proud, presumptuous, self-conceited. And therefore, take + +THE FIFTH DIRECTION.--_Do not thou be too much in looking too high in +thy journey heavenwards_. You know men that run a race do not use to +stare and gaze this way and that; neither do they use to cast up their +eyes too high; lest haply, through their too much gazing with their +eyes after other things, they in the mean time stumble, and catch a +fall. The very same case is this; if thou gaze and stare after every +opinion and way that comes into the world, also if thou be prying +overmuch in God's secret decrees, or let thy heart too much entertain +questions about some nice, foolish curiosities, thou mayst stumble and +fall; as many hundreds in England have done, both in Ranting and +Quakery, to their eternal overthrow, without the marvellous operation +of God's grace be suddenly stretched forth to bring them back again. + +Take heed therefore. Follow not that proud, lofty spirit, that, +devil-like, cannot be content with his own station. David was of an +excellent spirit, where he saith, "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor +mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in +things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a +child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned +child." Do thou _so run_. + +THE SIXTH DIRECTION.--Take heed that you _have not an ear open to +every one that calleth after you, as you are in your journey_. Men +that run, you know, if any do call after them, saying, 'I would speak +with you,' or, 'Go not too fast, and you shall have my company with +you,'--if they run for some great matter, they use to say, 'Alas! I +cannot stay, I am in haste; pray, talk not to me now; neither can I +stay for you; I am running for a wager: if I win, I am made; if I +lose, I am undone; and therefore hinder me not.' Thus wise are men, +when they run for corruptible things; and thus shouldst thou do. And +thou hast more cause to do so than they, forasmuch as they run but for +things that last not, but thou for an incorruptible glory. I give thee +notice of this betimes, knowing that thou shalt have enough call after +thee, even the devil, sin, this world, vain company, pleasures, +profits, esteem among men, ease, pomp, pride, together with an +innumerable company of such companions; one crying, 'Stay for me;' the +other saying, 'Do not leave me behind;' a third saying, 'And take me +along with you.' 'What! will you go,' saith the devil, 'without your +sins, pleasures and profits? Are you so hasty? Can you not stay and +take these along with you? Will you leave your friends and companions +behind you? Can you not do as your neighbors do--carry the world, sin, +lust, pleasure, profit, esteem among men, along with you?'--Have a +care thou do not let thine ear now be open to the tempting, enticing, +alluring, and soul-entangling flatteries of such sink-souls as these +are. "My son," saith Solomon, "if sinners entice thee, consent thou +not." + +You know what it cost the young man whom Solomon speaks of, (in the +7th of Proverbs,) that was enticed by a harlot. With her much fair +speech she won him, and caused him to yield; with the flattering of +her lips she forced him, till he went after her, as an ox to the +slaughter, as a fool to the correction of the stocks; even so far till +the dart struck through his liver, and he knew not that it was for his +life. "Hearken unto me, now, therefore," saith he, "O ye children, and +attend to the words of my mouth: let not thine heart decline to her +ways, go not astray in her paths; for she hath cast down many wounded; +yea, many strong men have been slain (that is, kept out of heaven) by +her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of +death." Soul, take this counsel, and say, 'Satan, sin, lust, pleasure, +profit, pride, friends, companions, and every thing else,--let me +alone, stand off, come not nigh me; for I am running for heaven, for +my soul, for God, for Christ--from hell and everlasting damnation! If +I win, I win all; and if I lose, I lose all! Let me alone for I will +not hear.' _So run_. + +THE SEVENTH DIRECTION.--In the next place, _be not daunted, though +thou meetest with ever so many discouragements in thy journey +thither_. That man that is resolved for heaven, if Satan cannot win +him by flatteries, he will endeavor to weaken him by discouragements, +saying, 'Thou art a sinner,' 'thou hast broken God's law,' 'thou art +not elected,' 'thou comest too late,' 'the day of grace is past,' 'God +doth not care for thee,' 'thy heart is naught,' 'thou art lazy,' with +a hundred other discouraging suggestions. And thus it was with David, +where he saith, "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the +goodness of the Lord, in the land of the living." As if he should say, +'The devil did so rage, and my heart was so base, that had I judged +according to my own sense and feeling, I had been absolutely +distracted. But I trusted to Christ in the promise, and looked that +God would be as good as his promise, in having mercy upon me, an +unworthy sinner; and this is that which encouraged me, and kept me +from fainting.' + +And thus must thou do when Satan, or the law, or thy conscience, do go +about to dishearten thee, either by the greatness of thy sins, the +wickedness of thy heart, the tediousness of the way, the loss of +outward enjoyments, the hatred that thou wilt procure from the world +or the like; then thou must encourage thyself with the freeness of the +promises, the tender-heartedness of Christ, the merits of his blood, +the freeness of his invitations to come in, the greatness of the sin +of others that have been pardoned; and that the same God, through the +same Christ, holdeth forth the same grace as free as ever. If these be +not thy meditations, thou wilt draw very heavily in the way to heaven +if thou do not give up all for lost, and so knock off from following +any farther. Therefore, I say, take heart in thy journey, and say to +them that seek thy destruction, "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: +when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be +a light unto me." + +THE EIGHTH DIRECTION.--_Take heed of being offended at the cross that +thou must go by, before thou come to heaven_. You must understand (as +I have already touched) that there is no man that goeth to heaven but +he must go by the cross. The cross is the standing way-mark, by which +all they that go to glory must pass. + +"We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." +"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer +persecution." If thou art in thy way to the kingdom, my life for +thine, thou wilt come at the cross shortly. The Lord grant thou dost +not shrink at it, so as to turn thee back again. "If any man will +come after me," saith Christ, "let him deny himself, and take up his +cross daily, and follow me." The Cross! it stands, and hath stood, +from the beginning, as a way-mark to the kingdom of heaven. You know +if one ask you the way to such and such a place, you, for the better +direction, do not only say, 'this is the way,' but then also say, 'You +must go by such a gate, by such a stile, such a bush, tree, bridge,' +or such like. Why, so it is here. Art thou enquiring the way to +heaven? Why, I tell thee, CHRIST IS THE WAY; into him thou must get, +even into his righteousness, to be justified. And if thou art in him, +thou wilt presently see the cross. Thou must go close by it; thou must +touch it; nay thou must take it up, or else thou wilt quickly go out +of the way that leads to heaven, and turn up some of those crooked +lanes that lead down to the chambers of death. + +Now thou mayst know the cross by these six things: 1. It is known in +the doctrine of justification. 2. In the doctrine of mortification. 3. +In the doctrine of perseverance. 4. In self-denial. 5. In patience. 6. +In communion with poor saints. + +1. In the doctrine of _justification_ there is a great deal of the +cross. In that, a man is forced to suffer the destruction of his own +righteousness for the righteousness of another. This is no easy matter +for a man to do. I assure you it stretcheth every vein in his heart, +before he will be brought to yield to it. What! for a man to deny, +reject, abhor, and throw away all his prayers, tears, alms, keeping of +sabbaths, hearing, reading with the rest, in the point of +justification, and to count them accursed; and to be willing, in the +very midst of the sense of his sins, to throw himself wholly upon the +righteousness and obedience of another man, abhorring his own, +counting it as a deadly sin, as the open breach of the law! I say, to +do this indeed and in truth, is the biggest piece of the cross; and +therefore Paul calleth this very thing a suffering; where he saith, +"And I have suffered the loss of all things," (which principally was +his righteousness,) "that I might win Christ, and be found in him, not +having (but rejecting) my own righteousness." That is the first. + +2. In the doctrine of _mortification_ is also much of the cross. Is it +nothing for a man to lay hands on his vile opinions, on his vile sins, +on his bosom sins, on his beloved, pleasant, darling sins, that stick +as close to him as the flesh sticks to the bones? What! to lose all +these brave things that my eyes behold, for that which I never saw +with my eyes? What! to lose my pride, my covetousness, my vain +company, sports, and pleasures, and the rest? I tell you this is no +easy matter; if it were, what need of all those prayers, sighs, +watchings? What need we be so backward to it? Nay, do you not see, +that some men before they will set about this work, will even venture +the loss of their souls, heaven, God, Christ, and all? What mean else +all those delays and put-offs, saying, 'Stay a little longer; I am +loath to leave my sins while I am so young, and in health?' Again, +what is the reason else that others do it so by the halves, coldly, +and seldom; notwithstanding they are convinced over and over, and +over, nay, and also promise to amend; and yet all is in vain? I will +assure you, to cut off right hands, and pluck out right eyes, is no +pleasure to the flesh. + +3. The doctrine of _perseverance_ is also cross to the flesh; which is +not only to begin, but to hold out; not only to bid fair, and to say, +'Would I had heaven,' but so to know Christ, to put on Christ, and +walk with Christ, as to come to heaven. Indeed it is no great matter +to begin to look for heaven; to begin to seek the Lord; to begin to +shun sin. Oh! but it is a very great matter to continue with God's +approbation! "My servant Caleb," saith God, "because he had another +spirit with him, and hath followed me fully," (followed me always: he +hath continually followed me,) "him will I bring into the land." +Almost all the many thousands of the children of Israel in their +generation, fell short of perseverance when they walked from Egypt +towards the land of Canaan. Indeed they went to work at first pretty +willingly; but they were very short-winded, they were quickly out of +breath, and in their hearts they turned back again into Egypt. + +It is an easy matter for a man to run hard for a spurt, for a furlong, +for a mile or two. Oh! but to hold out for a hundred, for a +thousand, for ten thousand miles! That man that doth this, must look +to meet with cross, pain, and wearisomeness to the flesh; especially +if as he goeth he meeteth with briars and quagmires and other +encumbrances, that make his journey so much the more painful. + +Nay, do you not see with your eyes daily, that perseverance is a very +great part of the cross? Why else do men so soon grow weary? I could +point out many, that after they have followed the ways of God about a +twelvemonth, others it may be two, three, or four (some more, and some +less) years, have been beat out of wind,--they have taken up their +lodging and rest before they have got half-way to heaven, some in +this, some in that sin; and have secretly, nay, sometimes openly said, +that the way is too strait, the race too long, the religion too holy +and they cannot hold out--'I can go no farther.' + +And so likewise of the other three, namely, patience, self-denial, +communion and communication with and to the poor saints: how hard are +these things? It is an easy matter to deny another man, but it is not +so easy a matter to deny one's self; to deny myself out of love to +God, to his gospel, to his saints, of this advantage and of that gain; +nay, of that which otherwise I might lawfully do, were it not for +offending them. That scripture is but seldom read, and seldomer put in +practice, which saith, "I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, +if it make my brother to offend." Again, "We then that are strong +ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please +ourselves." + +But how froward, how hasty, how peevish, and self-resolved are the +generality of professors at this day! Alas! how little considering +the poor, unless it be to say, Be thou warmed and filled! But to give, +is a seldom work! also especially to give to any poor. I tell you all +these things are cross to flesh and blood; and that man that hath a +watchful eye over the flesh, and also some considerable measure of +strength against it, shall find his heart in these things like unto a +starting horse, that is rid without a curbing bridle, ready to start +at every thing that is offensive to him; yea, and ready to run away +too, do what the rider can. + +It is the cross which keepeth back those that are kept from heaven. I +am persuaded, were it not for the cross, where we have one professor +we should have twenty; but this cross!--that is it which spoileth all. + +Some men, as I said before, when they come at the cross can go no +farther; but back again to their sins they must go. Others stumble at +it, and break their necks. Others again when they see the cross is +approaching, turn aside to the left hand, or to the right hand, and so +think to get to heaven another way. But they will be deceived. "For +all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall," mark it, "_shall_ +suffer persecution." There are but few when they come at the cross, +cry, 'Welcome cross!' as some of the martyrs did to the stake they +were burned at. + +Therefore, if thou meet with the cross in thy journey, in what manner +soever it be, be not daunted and say, Alas! what shall I do now? But +rather take courage, knowing that by the cross is the way to the +kingdom. Can a man believe in Christ, and not be hated by the devil? +Can he make a profession of this Christ, and that sweetly, and +convincingly, and the children of Satan hold their tongue? Can +darkness agree with light? Or the devil endure that Christ Jesus +should be honored both by faith and a heavenly conversation, and let +that soul alone at quiet? Did you never read that the Dragon +persecuted the woman? and that Christ saith, "In the world ye shall +have tribulation." + +THE NINTH DIRECTION.--_Beg of God that he would do these two things +for thee_: First, enlighten thine understanding: and secondly, inflame +thy will. If these two be but effectually done, there is no fear but +what thou wilt go safe to heaven. + +One of the great reasons why men and women do so little regard the +other world, is, because they see so little of it. And the reason why +they see so little of it, is, because they have their understanding +darkened. And therefore, saith Paul, Do not you, believers walk as do +other Gentiles, even "in the vanity of their minds; having their +understandings darkened; being alienated from the life of God, through +the ignorance (or foolishness) that is in them, because of the +blindness of their heart." Walk not as those; run not with them. +Alas! poor souls, they have their understandings darkened, their +hearts blinded, and that is the reason they have such undervaluing +thoughts of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the salvation of their souls. +For when men do come to see the things of another world, what a God, +what a Christ, what a heaven, and what an eternal glory there is to be +enjoyed; also when they see that it is possible for them to have a +share in it; I tell you it will make them run through thick and thin +to enjoy it. Moses, having a sight of this, because his understanding +was enlightened, feared not the wrath of the king, but chose rather to +suffer afflictions with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures +of sin for a season. He refused to be called the son of the king's +daughter; accounting it wonderful riches to be accounted worthy so +much as to suffer for Christ, with the poor, despised saints; and +that was because he saw him who is invisible, and had respect unto the +recompense of reward. And this is that which the apostle usually +prayeth for in his epistles for the saints, namely, That they might +know what is the hope of God's calling, and the riches of the glory of +his inheritance in the saints; and that they might be able to +comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and +depth, and height, and know the love of Christ, which passeth +knowledge. + +Pray therefore that God would enlighten thy understanding. That will +be a very great help unto thee. It will make thee endure many a hard +brunt for Christ; as Paul saith, "After you were illuminated, ye +endured a great fight of afflictions." You "took joyfully the spoiling +of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better +and an enduring substance." If there be ever such a rare jewel lying +just in a man's way, yet if he see it not he will rather trample upon +it than stoop for it, and it is because he sees it not. Why, so it is +here; though heaven be worth ever so much, and thou hast ever so much +need of it, yet if thou see it not, that is, have not thy +understanding opened or enlightened to see, thou wilt not regard at +all. Therefore cry to the Lord for enlightening grace, and say, 'Lord, +open my blind eyes; Lord, take the veil off my dark heart; show me the +things of the other world, and let me see the sweetness, glory, and +excellency of them, for Christ's sake.' This is the first thing. The +second is, + +THE TENTH DIRECTION.--_Cry to God that he would inflame thy will also +with the things of the other world_. For when a man's will is fully +set to do such or such a thing, then it must be a very hard matter +that shall hinder that man from bringing about his end. When Paul's +will was set resolvedly to go up to Jerusalem, (though it was +signified to him before, what he should there suffer,) he was not +daunted at all. Nay, saith he, "I am ready (or willing) not only to be +bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." +His will was inflamed by love to Christ; and therefore, all the +persuasions that could be used wrought nothing at all. + +Your self-willed people, nobody knows what to do with them. We use to +say of such, 'He will have his own will do all that you can.' Indeed +to have such a will for heaven, is an admirable advantage to a man +that undertaketh a race hither. A man that is resolved, and hath his +will fixed, saith, 'I will do my best to advantage myself; I will do +my worst to hinder my enemies; I will not give out as long as I can +stand; I will have it, or I will lose my life.' So Job, "Though he +slay me, yet will I trust in him." So Jacob, "I will not let thee go, +except thou bless me." 'I will, I will, I will!' O this blessed +inflamed will for heaven! What is like it? If a man be willing, then +any argument shall be matter of encouragement; but if unwilling, then +any argument shall give discouragement. This is seen both in saints +and sinners; in them that are the children of God, and also those that +are the children of the devil. As, + +1. The saints of old, being willing and resolved for heaven, what +could stop them? Could fire and faggot, sword or halter, stinking +dungeons, whips, bears, bulls, lions, cruel rackings, stoning, +starving, nakedness? In all these things they were more than +conquerors, through him that loved them; who had also made them +willing in the day of his power. + +2. See again, on the other side, the children of the devil, because +they are not willing, how many shifts and starting holes they will +have. 'I have married a wife;' 'I have a farm;' 'I shall offend my +landlord;' 'I shall offend my master;' 'I shall lose my trading;' 'I +shall lose my pride, my pleasures;' 'I shall be mocked and +scoffed,--therefore I dare not come.'--'I,' saith another, 'will stay +till I am older, till my children are out, till I am got a little +afore-hand in the world; till I have done this, and that, and the +other business.' But alas! the thing is, they are not willing; for +were they but soundly willing, these, and a thousand such as these, +would hold them no faster than the cords held Samson when he broke +them like burnt flax. + +I tell you the will is all; that is one of the chief things which +turns the wheel either backwards or forwards; and God knoweth that +full well, and so likewise doth the devil; and therefore they both +endeavor very much to strengthen the will of their servants. God is +for making his a willing people to serve him; and the devil doth what +he can to possess the will and affection of those that are his with +love to sin. And therefore when Christ comes close to the matter, +indeed, saith he, "Ye _will not_ come to me." "How often would I have +gathered you as a hen doth her chickens; but _ye would not_." The +devil had possessed their wills and so long he was sure enough of +them. + +O therefore cry hard to God to inflame thy will for heaven and Christ. +Thy will, I say, if that be rightly set for heaven, thou wilt not be +beat off with discouragements; and this was the reason that when Jacob +wrestled with the angel, though he lost a limb as it were; (for the +hollow of his thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with him;) +yet, saith he, "I _will not_" mark, "I WILL NOT LET THEE GO, EXCEPT +THOU BLESS ME." Get thy will tipt with the heavenly grace, and +resolution against all discouragements, and then thou goest full +speed for heaven; but if thou falter in thy will, and be not sound +there, thou wilt run hobbling and halting all the way thou runnest, +and also to be sure thou wilt fall short at last. The Lord give thee a +will and courage. + +Thus have I done with directing thee how to run to the kingdom. Be +sure thou keep in memory what I have said unto thee lest thou lose thy +way. But because I would have thee think of them, take all in short in +this little bit of paper. 1. Get into the way. 2. Then study on it. 3. +Then strip, and lay aside every thing that would hinder. 4. Beware of +by-paths. 5. Cry hard to God for an enlightened heart, and a willing +mind;--and God give thee a prosperous journey! + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +MOTIVES TO PURSUE THIS HEAVENLY COURSE. + + +Yet before I do quite take my leave of thee, let me give thee a few +motives to take along with thee. It may be they will be as good as a +pair of spurs to prick on thy lumpish heart in this rich journey. + +THE FIRST MOTIVE.--Consider there is no way but this: _thou must +either win or lose._ If thou winnest, then heaven, God, Christ, glory, +ease, peace, life, yea, life eternal, is thine; thou shalt be made +equal to the angels in heaven; thou shalt sorrow no more, sigh no +more, feel no more pain; thou shalt be out of the reach of sin, hell, +death, the devil, the grave, and whatever else may endeavor thy hurt. +But contrariwise, and if thou lose, then thy loss is heaven, glory, +God, Christ, ease, peace, and whatever else tendeth to make eternity +comfortable to the saints; besides, thou procurest eternal death, +sorrow, pain, blackness and darkness, fellowship with devils, together +with the everlasting damnation of thy own soul. + +THE SECOND MOTIVE.--Consider that this devil, this hell, death and +damnation, follow after thee as hard as they can drive, and have their +commission so to do by the law, against which thou hast sinned; and +therefore, for the Lord's sake, make haste! + +THE THIRD MOTIVE.--If they seize upon thee before thou get to the city +of Refuge, they will put an everlasting stop to thy journey. This also +cries, Run for it! + +THE FOURTH MOTIVE.--Know also, that now heaven's gates, the heart of +Christ, with his arms, are wide open to receive thee. O methinks that +this consideration, that the devil followeth after to destroy, and +that Christ standeth open-armed to receive, should make thee reach out +and fly with all haste and speed! And therefore, + +THE FIFTH MOTIVE.--Keep thine eye upon the prize. Be sure that thy +eyes be continually upon the profit thou art like to get. + +The reason why men are so apt to faint in their race for heaven, lieth +chiefly in either of these two things: They do not seriously consider +the worth of the prize; or else if they do, they are afraid it is too +good for them. But most lose heaven for want of considering the prize +and the worth of it. And therefore, that thou mayst not do the like, + +1. Keep thine eye much upon the excellency, the sweetness, the beauty, +the comfort, the peace, that is to be had there by those that win the +prize. This was that which made the apostle run through any +thing!--good report, evil report, persecution, affliction, hunger, +nakedness, peril by sea, and peril by land, bonds and imprisonments. +Also it made others endure to be stoned, sawn asunder, to have their +eyes bored out with augers, their bodies broiled on gridirons, their +tongues cut out of their mouths, to be boiled in cauldrons, thrown to +the wild beasts, burned at the stake, whipped at posts, and a thousand +other fearful torments; "while they looked not at the things which are +seen," (as the things of this world,) "but at the things which are not +seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which +are not seen are eternal." O this word, ETERNAL! it was that made them +so firm, that when they might have had deliverance, they would not +accept it, for they knew that in the world to come they should have a +better resurrection. + +2. And do not let the thoughts of the rareness of the place make thee +say in thy heart, 'This is too good for me;' for I tell thee, heaven +is prepared for whosoever will accept of it, and they shall be +entertained with hearty good welcome. Consider therefore, that as bad +as thou have got thither. Thither, went scrubbed beggarly Lazarus, &c. +Nay, it is prepared for the poor. "Hearken, my beloved brethren," +saith James; that is, take notice of it, "Hath not God chosen the poor +of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom?" Therefore, +take heart, and run, man. + +THE SIXTH MOTIVE.--Think much of them that are gone before. First, How +really they go into the kingdom. Secondly, How safe they are in the +arms of Jesus. Would they be here again for a thousand worlds? Or if +they were, would they be afraid that God would not make them welcome? +Thirdly, What would they judge of thee, if they knew thy heart began +to fail thee in thy journey, or thy sins began to allure thee, and to +persuade thee to stop thy race? Would they not call thee a thousand +fools, and say, 'O that he did but see what we see, feel what we feel, +and taste of the dainties that we taste of! Oh! if he were one quarter +of an hour to behold, to see, to feel, to taste, and enjoy but the +thousandth part of what we enjoy, what would he do? what would he +suffer? what would he leave undone? Would he favor sin? Would he love +this world below? Would he be afraid of friends, or shrink at the most +fearful threatenings that the greatest tyrants could invent to give +him?' Nay, those who have had but a sight of these things by faith, +when they have been as far off from them as heaven from earth, yet +they have been able to say with a comfortable and merry heart, as the +bird that sings in the spring, that this and more shall not stop them +from running to heaven. + +Sometimes, when my base heart hath been inclining to this world, and +to loiter in my journey towards heaven, the very consideration of the +glorious saints and angels in heaven; what they enjoy, and what low +thoughts they have of the things of this world together; how they +would befool me if they did but know that my heart was drawing back, +hath caused me to rush forward, to disdain these poor, low, empty, +beggarly things, and to say to my soul, 'Come, soul, let us not be +weary; let us see what this heaven is; let us even venture all for it, +and try if that will quit the cost. Surely Abraham, David, Paul, and +the rest of the saints of God, were as wise as any are now, and yet +they lost all for this glorious kingdom. O therefore, throw away +sinful lusts, follow after righteousness, love the Lord Jesus, devote +thyself to his fear;--I'll warrant thee he will give thee a goodly +recompense.' Reader, what sayest thou to this? Art thou resolved to +follow me? Nay, resolve, if thou canst, to get before me. So run, that +ye may obtain. + +THE SEVENTH MOTIVE.--To encourage thee a little farther, Set to the +work, and when thou hast run thyself down weary, then the Lord Jesus +will take thee up, and carry thee. Is not this enough to make any poor +soul begin his race? Thou perhaps criest, 'Oh! but I am feeble,' 'I am +lame, &c.' Well, but Christ hath a bosom: consider, therefore, that +when thou hast run thyself down weary, he will put thee in his bosom. +"He shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom; +and shall gently lead those that are with young." This is the way that +fathers take to encourage their children; saying, Run, sweet babe, +until thou art weary, and then I will take thee up and carry thee. "He +will gather his lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom." +When they are weary, they shall ride! + +THE EIGHTH MOTIVE.--Or else he will convey new strength from heaven +into thy soul, which will be as well. "The youths shall faint and be +weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait upon +the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings +like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, +and not faint." What shall I say besides, that hath not already been +said? Thou shalt have good and easy lodging, good and wholesome diet, +the bosom of Christ to lie in, the joys of heaven to feed on. Shall I +speak of the satisfaction and of the duration of all these? Verily to +describe them to the height is a work too hard for me to do. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +APPLICATION OF THE POINT. + + +Thus you see I have here spoken something, though but little. Now I +shall come to make some use and application of what hath been said, +and so conclude. + +THE FIRST USE.--You see here, that he that will go to heaven must +_run_ for it; yea, and not only run, but "_so_ run;" that is, as I +have said, run earnestly, run continually, strip off every thing that +would hinder in his race with the rest. Well then do you so run. + +1. And now let us examine a little. Art thou got into the right way? +Art thou in Christ's righteousness? Do not say, 'Yes,' in thy heart, +when, in truth, there is no such matter. It is a dangerous thing, you +know, for a man to think he is in the right way, when he is in the +wrong. It is the next way for him to lose his way; and not only so, +but if he run for heaven, as thou sayest thou dost, even to lose that +too. Oh! this is the misery of most men, to persuade themselves that +they run right, when they have never one foot in the way! The Lord +give thee understanding here, or else thou art undone for ever. + +Prithee, soul, search when was it thou turned out of thy sins and +righteousness, into the righteousness of Jesus Christ. I say, dost +thou see thyself in him? and is he more precious to thee than the +whole world? Is thy mind always musing on him? and also to be walking +with him? Dost thou count his company more precious than the whole +world? Dost thou count all things but poor, lifeless, empty, vain +things, without communion with him? Doth his company sweeten all +things; and his absence embitter all things? Soul, I beseech thee be +serious, and lay it to heart, and do not take things of such weighty +concernment as the salvation or damnation of thy soul, without good +ground. + +2. Art thou unladen of the things of this world, as pride, pleasures, +profits, lusts, vanities? What! dost thou think to run fast enough, +with the world, thy sins, and lusts, in thy heart? I tell thee, soul, +they that have laid all aside, every weight, every sin, and are got +into the nimblest posture, they find work enough to run; so to run as +to hold out. + +To run through all that opposition, all the jostles, all the rubs, +over all the stumbling blocks, over all the snares, from all the +entanglements that the devil, sin, the world, and their own hearts, +lay before them; I tell thee, if thou art going heavenward, thou wilt +find it no small or easy matter. Art thou therefore discharged and +unladen of these things? Never talk of going to heaven if thou art +not. It is to be feared thou wilt be found among the many that "will +seek to enter in, and shall not be able." + +THE SECOND USE.--If so, then in the next place, What will become of +them that are grown weary before they are got half way thither? Why, +man, it is he that holdeth out to the end that must be saved; it is he +that overcometh that shall inherit all things; it is not every one +that begins. Agrippa gave a fair step for a sudden: he steps almost +into the body of Christ in less than half an hour. "Thou," saith he to +Paul, "hast almost persuaded me to be a Christian." Ah! but it was but +_almost_; and so he had as good have been never a whit; he stept fair +indeed, but yet he stopt short; he was hot while he was at it, but he +was quickly out of wind. O this but "almost!" I tell you this but +"almost," lost him his soul. + +Methinks I have seen sometimes how these poor wretches that get but +almost to heaven, how fearfully their "almost," and their "but +almost," will torment them in hell; when they shall cry out in +bitterness of their souls, saying, 'Almost a Christian! I was almost +got into the kingdom, almost out of the hands of the devil, almost out +of my sins, almost from under the curse of God; almost, and that was +all; almost, but not altogether. Oh! that I should be almost to +heaven, and should not go quite through!' Friend, it is a sad thing to +sit down before we are in heaven, and to grow weary before we come to +the place of rest; and if it should be thy case, I am sure thou dost +not so run as to obtain. But again, + +THE THIRD USE.--In the next place, What then will become of them that +some time since were running post-haste to heaven, (insomuch that they +seemed to outstrip many,) but now are running as fast back again? Do +you think those ever come thither? What! to run back again, back +again to sin, to the world, to the devil, back again to the lusts of +the flesh? Oh! "It had been better for them not to have known the way +of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn" (to turn +back again) "from the holy commandment." Those men shall not only be +damned for sin, but for professing to all the world that sin is better +than Christ. For the man that runs back again, doth as good as say, 'I +have tried Christ, and I have tried sin, and I do not find so much +profit in Christ as in sin.' I say, this man declareth this, even by +his running back again. Oh, sad! What a doom they will have, who were +almost at heaven-gates, and then run back again! "If any draw back," +saith Christ, "my soul shall have no pleasure in him." Again, "No man +having put his hand to the plough," (that is, set forward in ways of +God,) "and looking back, (turning back again,) is fit for the kingdom +of heaven." And if not fit for the kingdom of heaven, then for +certain he must needs be fit for the fire of hell. And therefore, +saith the apostle, those that bring forth these apostatizing fruits, +as briers and thorns, are rejected, being nigh unto cursing; whose end +is to be burned. + +Oh! there is never another Christ to save _them_, by bleeding and +dying for them! And if they shall not escape that neglect, then how +shall they escape, that reject and turn their back upon so great a +salvation? And if the righteous, that is, they that run for it, will +find work enough to get to heaven, then where will the ungodly +backsliding sinner appear? Oh! if Judas the traitor, or Francis Spira +the backslider, were but now alive in the world, to whisper these men +in the ear a little, and tell them what it hath cost their souls for +backsliding, surely it would stick by them, and make them afraid of +running back again, so long as they had one day to live in this +world! + +THE FOURTH USE.--So again, fourthly, How like to those men's +sufferings will those be, that have all this while sat still, and have +not so much as set one foot forward to the kingdom of heaven! Surely +he that backslideth, and he that sitteth still in sin, are both of one +mind; the one will not stir, because he loveth his sins, and the +things of this world; the other runs back again, because he loveth his +sins, and the things of this world. Is it not one and the same thing? +They are all one here, and shall not one and the same hell hold them +hereafter? He is an ungodly one that never looked after Christ, and he +is an ungodly one that did once look after him, and then ran quite +back again: and therefore that word must certainly drop out of the +mouth of Christ against them both, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into +everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." + +THE FIFTH USE.--Again, here you may see, in the next place, that if +they that will have heaven, must run for it; then this calls aloud to +those who began but a while since to run, I say, for them to mend +their pace if they intend to win. You know that they which come +hindmost, had need run fastest. Friend, I tell thee, that, there be +those that have run ten years to thy one, nay, twenty to five, and yet +if thou talk with them, sometimes they will say, they doubt but they +shall come late enough. How then will it be with thee? Look to it +therefore that thou delay no time, not an hour's time, but part +speedily with all, with every thing that is a hindrance to thee in thy +journey, and run; yea, and so run that thou mayst obtain! + +THE SIXTH USE.--Again, sixthly, You that are old professors, take you +heed that the young striplings of Jesus, that began to strip but the +other day, do not outrun you, so as to have that scripture fulfilled +on you, "The first shall be last, and the last first:" which will be a +shame to you, and a credit for them. What! for a young soldier to be +more courageous than he that hath been used to wars! To you that are +hindermost, I say, strive to outrun them that are before you; and to +you that are foremost, I say, hold your ground, and keep before them +in faith and love, if possible. For indeed, that is the right running, +for one to strive to outrun another; even for the hindermost to +endeavor to overtake the foremost; and he that is before should be +sure to lay out himself to keep his ground, even to the very utmost. +But then, + +THE SEVENTH USE.--Again, How basely do they behave themselves, how +unlike they are to win, that think it enough to keep company with the +hindmost! There are some men that profess themselves such as run for +heaven as well as any; yet if there be but any lazy, slothful, cold, +half-hearted professors in the country, they will be sure to take +example by them. They think, if they can but keep pace with them they +shall do fair; but these do not consider that the hindmost lose the +prize. You may know it if you will, that it cost the foolish virgins +dear for their coming too late. "They that were ready, went in with +him: and the door was shut. Afterward," mark "afterward came the other +(the foolish) virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered +and said, Depart, I know you not." 'Depart, lazy professors! slothful +professors!' + +Oh! methinks the word of God is so plain for the overthrow of your +lazy professors, that it is to be wondered men do not take more notice +of it. How was Lot's wife served for running lazily, and for giving +but one look behind her, after the things she left in Sodom? How was +Esau served for staying too long before he came for the blessing? And +how were they served that are mentioned in the 13th of Luke, for +staying till the door was shut? Also the foolish virgins. A heavy +after-groan will they give that have thus stayed too long! It turned +Lot's wife into a pillar of salt; it made Esau weep with an exceeding +loud and bitter cry; it made Judas hang himself: yea, and it will make +thee curse the day in which thou wast born, if thou miss of the +kingdom, as thou wilt certainly do, if this be thy course. But, + +THE EIGHTH USE.--Again, How, and if thou by thy lazy running should'st +not only destroy thyself, but also thereby be the cause of the +damnation of some others? For thou, being a professor, thou must think +that others will take notice of thee; and because thou art but a poor, +cold, lazy runner, and one that seeks to drive the world and pleasure +along with thee; why, thereby others will think of doing so too. +'Nay,' say they, 'why may not we, as well as he? He is a professor, +and yet he seeks for pleasures, riches, profits; he loveth vain +company, and he is so and so, and professeth that he is going for +heaven; yea, and he saith also he doth not fear but he shall have +entertainment; let us therefore keep pace with him, we shall fare no +worse than he!' O how fearful a thing will it be, if thou shalt be +instrumental to the ruin of others by thy halting in the way of +righteousness! Look to it, thou wilt have strength little enough to +appear before God, to give an account of the loss of thy own soul; +thou needest not to have to give an account for others, why thou didst +stop them from entering in. How wilt thou answer that saying, 'You +would not enter in yourselves, and them that would, you hindered?' For +that saying will be eminently fulfilled on them that through their +own idleness do keep themselves out of heaven, and by giving others +the same example, hinder them also. + +THE NINTH USE.--Therefore, now to speak a word to both of you, and so +I shall conclude. + +1. I beseech you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that none of +you do run so lazily in the way to heaven as to hinder either +yourselves or others. I know that even he who runs laziest, if he +should see a man running for a temporal life, who should so much +neglect his own well-being in this world, as to venture, when he is +running for his life, to pick up, here and there, a lock of wool that +hangeth by the wayside, or to step, now and then, aside out of the way +to gather up a straw or two, or any rotten stick; I say, if he should +do this when he is running for his life, thou wouldst condemn him. And +dost thou not condemn thyself that dost the very same in effect? nay +worse; that loiterest in thy race, notwithstanding thy soul, heaven, +glory, and all is at stake? Have a care, have a care, poor wretched +sinner; have a care! + +2. If yet there shall be any that, notwithstanding this advice, will +still be flagging and loitering in the way to the kingdom of glory, be +thou so wise as not to take example by them. Learn of no man farther +than he followeth Christ. But look unto Jesus, who is not only the +author and finisher of faith, but who did, for the joy that was set +before him, endure the cross, despise the shame, and is now set down +at the right hand of God. I say, look to no man to learn of him, any +farther than he followeth Christ. "Be ye followers of me," saith Paul, +"even as I am of Christ." Though _he_ was an eminent man, yet his +exhortation was, that none should follow him any farther than he +followed Christ. + +PROVOCATION.--Now that you may be provoked to run with the foremost, +take notice of this. When Lot and his wife were running from cursed +Sodom to the mountains, to save their lives, it is said, that his wife +looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. And yet +you see that neither her practice, nor the judgment of God that fell +upon her for the same, would cause Lot to look behind him. I have +sometimes wondered at Lot in this particular. His wife looked behind +her and died immediately; but let what would become of her, Lot would +not so much as look behind him to see her. We do not read that he did +so much as once look where she was, or what was become of her. His +heart was indeed upon his journey, and well it might be. There was the +mountain before him, and the fire and brimstone behind him! His life +lay at stake, and he had lost it if he had but looked behind him. Do +thou so run: and in thy race remember Lot's wife, and remember her +doom; and remember for what that doom did overtake her; and remember +that God made her an example for all lazy runners, to the end of the +world; and take heed thou fall not after the same example! But if this +will not provoke thee, + +Consider thus, 1. Thy soul, is thy own soul, that is either to be +saved or lost. Thou shalt not lose my soul by thy laziness; it is thy +own soul, thy own ease, thy own peace, thy own advantage or +disadvantage. If it were my own that thou art desired to be good unto, +methinks reason should move thee somewhat to pity it. But alas! it is +thy own; thy own soul! "What shall it profit a man if he shall gain +the whole world, and lose his own soul?" God's people wish well to the +soul of others, and wilt not thou wish well to thy own? And if this +will not provoke thee, then, + +Think again, 2. If thou lose thy soul, it is thou also that must bear +the blame. It made Cain stark mad to consider that he had not looked +to his brother Abel's soul. How much more will it perplex thee, to +think, that thou hadst not a care of thy own? And if this will not +provoke thee to bestir thyself, + +Think again, 3. That if thou wilt not run, the people of God are +resolved to deal with thee even as Lot dealt with his wife; that is, +leave thee behind them. It may be thou hast a father, mother, brother, +&c, going post haste to heaven. Wouldst thou be willing to be left +behind them? Surely no. + +Again, 4. Will it not be a dishonor to thee to see the very boys and +girls in the country, to have more wit than thyself? It may be the +servants of some men, as the horsekeeper, ploughman, scullion, &c, are +more looking after heaven than their masters. I am apt to think +sometimes, that more servants than masters, that more tenants than +landlords, will inherit the kingdom of heaven. But is not this a shame +for them that are such? I am persuaded you scorn that your servants +should say that they are wiser than you in the things of the world; +and yet I am bold to say, that many of them are wiser than you in the +things of the world to come, which are of greater concernment. + +EXPOSTULATION.--Well then, sinner, what sayest thou? Where is thy +heart? Wilt thou run? Art thou resolved to strip? Or art thou not? +Think quickly, man! It is no dallying in this matter. Confer not with +flesh and blood. Look up to heaven, and see how thou likest it; also +to hell, (of which thou mayst understand something in my book, called +Sighs from Hell, or, The Groans of a Lost Soul, which I wish thee to +read seriously over,[A]) and accordingly devote thyself. If thou dost +not know the way, inquire at the word of God; if thou wantest company, +cry for God's Spirit; if thou wantest encouragement, entertain the +promises. But be sure thou begin betimes; get into the way, run apace, +and hold out to the end; and the Lord give thee a prosperous journey! + +FAREWELL. + + +[Footnote A: This book will be found in the volume of Bunyan's +AWAKENING WORKS, published by this Society.] + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13750 *** |