ld 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 g