35. THE CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE OF THIS BOOK

I. DOCTRINE.—After the words are opened, this doctrine is laid down, namely, that they that will have heaven, they must run for it. . . . . 381

II. After that, THE WORD RUN IS OPENED by three other Scripture expressions—

1. Flying. 2. Pressing. 3. Continuing. . . . . 381

III. After which is laid down SEVERAL REASONS FOR THE CLEARING OF THE DOCTRINE—

1. Because every one that runeth doth not obtain.

2. Because if they do not obtain, then will they lose their running also. 3. Because the way is long.

4. Because the time is uncertain. 5. Because the devil, sin, hell, and the law runs after them. 6. Because heaven's gates may be shut shortly. 7. Because if they lose, they lose all; even God, Christ, their souls, &c. . . . . 381

IV. DIRECTIONS.—In the fourth place, I come to give some directions how to run so as to obtain; and they in all are nine—

1. To get into the way. . . . . 383

2. To ponder the path of thy feet. . . . . 384

3. To strip thyself of incumbrances that may hang on thee, like weights to hinder thee. . . . . 384

4. To shun bye-paths. . . . . 384

5. To take heed of gazing and staring about thee, on things that do not concern thy running. . . . . 385

6. Not to let thy ear be open to every one that calleth after thee. . . . . 385

7. Not to be damned with the enemies thou art like to meet with between this and the kingdom of heaven. . . . . 386

8. To take heed of stumbling at the cross. . . . . 386

9. To cry hard to God for an enlightened heart and a willing mind. . . . . 388

V. MOTIVES.—The motives are nine—

1. To consider there is no way but this, thou must either win or lose. If thou win, thou winnest all; if thou lose, thou losest all. . . . . 389

2. The devil and sin do the best they can to make thee lose. . . . . 390

3. If they get the better of thee, thou shalt lose. . . . . 390

4. Now the gates of heaven, and the heart of Christ, are both open to thee. . . . . 390

5. Therefore keep thy eye upon the prize. . . . . 390

6. Think much of them that are gone before. (1.) How REALLY they got in. (2.) How SAFE they are, now they are there. . . . . 390

7. Do but set to the work, and when thou hast run thyself down weary, Christ will carry thee in his bosom. . . . . 391

8. Or else convey new strength to thee. . . . . 391

9. Let the very industry of the devil and wicked men (I say, let the consideration of their diligence to bring their designs to pass) provoke thee. . . . . 391

VI. THE USES are nine also—

1. To examine thyself whether thou art in the way or no. . . . . 391

2. The danger they are in, that grow weary before they come to their journey's end. . . . . 392

3. The sad estate of them that are running quite back again. . . . . 392

4. Their woe also that to this day sit still, and run not at all. . . . . 392

5. This doctrine calleth out to them that began but a while since to mend their pace. . . . . 393

6. That old professors should not let young striplings outrun them. . . . . 393

7. They behave themselves basely that count they run fast enough, if they keep company with the hindmost and laxest professors. . . . . 393

8. That lazy professors are apt to keep others besides themselves out of heaven. . . . . 393

9. The conclusion, or last use; wherein, to provoke thee, thou hast the heavenly carriage of Lot as he went from Sodom, and the fearful doom of his wife. . . . . 393

VII. PROVOCATION.—Also to consider, if thy soul be lost, it is thy own loss, and THOU ONLY wilt feel the smart thereof. . . . . 394

VIII. A short EXPOSITULATION. . . . . 394

These be the contents of this little book;

If thou wilt see further, then throw it look.

'SO RUN, THAT TE MAY OBTAIN.'—1 COR. IX. 24.

HEAVEN and happiness is that which every one desireth, insomuch that wicked Baham could say, 'Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.' Na. xxii. 10. 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 his 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, which 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. Second, 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, they begin to run betimes, Ex. xii. 1, they run apace, they run with patience, He. xii. 1, they run the right way. Mat. xix. 27. Do you so run? Some run from both father and mother, friends and companions, and thus, 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. 1 Co. ix. 12. 2 Co. xi. Do you so run? 'So run that ye may obtain.' These words, they 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 ye 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.

[I. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TEXT.]

The doctrine is this: THEY THAT WILL HAVE HEAVEN, MUST RUN FOR IT; I say, they that will have heaven, they 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, the 1st, 2d, and 3rd verses: '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 therefore so run, not as uncertainly, so fight I,' &c.

[II. THE WORD RUN OPENED.]

But before I go any further, observe,

First—FLYING—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 flying;' that 'we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before us.' Mark, 'who have fled.' It is taken from that 20th 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 FLYING for one's life. A running with all might and main, as we use to say, So run! Second—PRESSING—This running in another place is called a pressing. 'I press toward the mark;' Th. xii. 14; which signifieth, that they that will have heaven, they 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! Third—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' of Christ. Col. i. 21. 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.'