The Heavenly Footman | Page 7

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,