ood 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,
consider, though it seem ever so pleasant, yet if thou do not find
that in the very middle of the road there is written with the heart
blood of Christ, that he came into the world to save sinners, and that
we are justified, though we are ungodly, shun that way. For this it is
which the apostle meaneth when he saith, we have "boldness to enter
into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which
he hath consecrated for us through the vail, that is to say, his
flesh." How easy a matter is it in this our day, for the devil to be
too cunning for poor souls, by calling his by-paths the way to the
kingdom! If such an opinion or fancy be but cried up by one or more,
this inscription being set upon it by the devil, "This is the way of
God," how speedily, greedily, and by heaps, do poor simple souls,
throw away themselves upon it; especially if it be daubed over with a
few external acts of morality, if so good! But this is because men do
not know painted by-paths from the plain way to the kingdom of heaven.
They have not yet learned the true Christ, and what his righteousness
is; neither have they a sense of their own insufficiency; but are
bold, proud, presumptuous, self-conceited. And therefore, take

THE FIFTH DIRECTION.--_Do not thou be too much in looking too high in
thy journey heavenwards_. You know men that run a race do not use to
stare and gaze this way and that; neither do they use to cast up their
eyes too high; lest haply, through their too much gazing with their
eyes after other things, they in the mean time stumble, and catch a
fall. The very same case is this; if thou gaze and stare after every
opinion and way that comes into the world, also if thou be prying
overmuch in God's secret decrees, or let thy heart too much entertain
questions about some nice, foolish curiosities, thou mayst stumble and
fall; as many hundreds in England have done, both in Ranting and
Quakery, to their eternal overthrow, without the marvellous operation
of God's grace be suddenly stretched forth to bring them back again.

Take heed therefore. Follow not that proud, lofty spirit, that,
devil-like, cannot be content with his own station. David was of an
excellent spirit, where he saith, "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor
mine eyes lofty: neit