The Heavenly Footman | Page 4

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 I 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