thou delay no time, not an hour's time, but part
speedily with all, with every thing that is a hindrance to thee in thy
journey, and run; yea, and so run that thou mayst obtain!

THE SIXTH USE.--Again, sixthly, You that are old professors, take you
heed that the young striplings of Jesus, that began to strip but the
other day, do not outrun you, so as to have that scripture fulfilled
on you, "The first shall be last, and the last first:" which will be a
shame to you, and a credit for them. What! for a young soldier to be
more courageous than he that hath been used to wars! To you that are
hindermost, I say, strive to outrun them that are before you; and to
you that are foremost, I say, hold your ground, and keep before them
in faith and love, if possible. For indeed, that is the right running,
for one to strive to outrun another; even for the hindermost to
endeavor to overtake the foremost; and he that is before should be
sure to lay out himself to keep his ground, even to the very utmost.
But then,

THE SEVENTH USE.--Again, How basely do they behave themselves, how
unlike they are to win, that think it enough to keep company with the
hindmost! There are some men that profess themselves such as run for
heaven as well as any; yet if there be but any lazy, slothful, cold,
half-hearted professors in the country, they will be sure to take
example by them. They think, if they can but keep pace with them they
shall do fair; but these do not consider that the hindmost lose the
prize. You may know it if you will, that it cost the foolish virgins
dear for their coming too late. "They that were ready, went in with
him: and the door was shut. Afterward," mark "afterward came the other
(the foolish) virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered
and said, Depart, I know you not." 'Depart, lazy professors! slothful
professors!'

Oh! methinks the word of God is so plain for the overthrow of your
lazy professors, that it is to be wondered men do not take more notice
of it. How was Lot's wife served for running lazily, and for giving
but one look behind her, after the things she left in Sodom? How was
Esau served for staying too long before he came for the blessing? And
how were they served that are mentioned in the 13th of Luke, for
staying till the door was shut? Also the foolish virgins. A heavy
after-groan will they give that have thus stayed too long! It turned
Lot's wife into a pillar of salt; it made Esau weep with