Page:Race for eternal life.pdf/17

 (9.) I beseech you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that none of you do run so lazily n the way to heaven, as to hinder either your- elves or others. If a man should venture, when he is running for his life, to step aside out of his way to pick up a straw, thou wouldst condemn him; and dost thou not condemn thyself that dost worse; that loitereth in thy race; notwithstanding thy soul, heaven, glory, and all, are at stake? have a care, have a care; poor wretched sinner! have a care. Look unto Jesus, who is not only he author and finisher of faith, but who, for the y that was set before him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of God, Heb. xii. 2.

Now, that you may be provoked to run with the foremost, take notice of this. It is said, that Lot's wife, looking back from behind her, became a pillar of salt; and yet we do not read, at he did so much as once look what was become of her: his heart was indeed upon his journey, as well it might: there was the mountain before him, and the fire and brimstone behind m; life lay at stake; and he had lost it, if he d but looked behind him. Do thou so run. In thy race, remember Lot's wife, and her doom; remember for what that doom did overtake her: member that God made her an example for all lazy runners to the end of the world; and take heed fall not after the same example.

If this will not provoke thee, consider, (1.) Thy soul is either to be saved or lost: thou shalt not be my soul by thy laziness: it is thy own soul that shall it profit a man, if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (2.) If thou