Page:Race for eternal life.pdf/15

 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? O, if Judas the traitor, or Francis Spira the backslider, were but now alive, to tell these men what t, has cost their soul, for backsliding, surely it would stick by them.

(4.) He that backslides, and be that sits still in sin, care both in one minds the one will not stir, because he love his sins; the other turns back again, because he loves the things of the world. Is it not the same thing: shall not the flame hell hold them hereafter?

(5.) They that will have heaven, must run for it. This calls aloud to those that began but a while since to run, to mend their pare, if they intend to win. They who come hindermost, have breed to run fastest. There are those that have run ten years to thy one, and yet will say, they doubt they shall come late enough. How then will it be with thee? Look to it therefore, part speedily with all that is an hinderance to thee in why journey, and so run that thou mayest obtain.

(6.) You that are old professors, take heed that the young striplings of Jesus, that began to trip 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. You that are hindmost, strive to outrun them that are before you; and all you that are foremost, hold your ground: that is the right running, for one to strive to outrun another.

(7.) How unlikely are they to win, that think enough to keep company with the hindmost! If there be but any lazy, slothful, half-hearted