s at stake? Have a care, have a care, poor wretched
sinner; have a care!

2. If yet there shall be any that, notwithstanding this advice, will
still be flagging and loitering in the way to the kingdom of glory, be
thou so wise as not to take example by them. Learn of no man farther
than he followeth Christ. But look unto Jesus, who is not only the
author and finisher of faith, but who did, for the joy that was set
before him, endure the cross, despise the shame, and is now set down
at the right hand of God. I say, look to no man to learn of him, any
farther than he followeth Christ. "Be ye followers of me," saith Paul,
"even as I am of Christ." Though _he_ was an eminent man, yet his
exhortation was, that none should follow him any farther than he
followed Christ.

PROVOCATION.--Now that you may be provoked in run with the foremost,
take notice of this. When Lot and his wife were running from cursed
Sodom to the mountains, to save their lives, it is said, that his wife
looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. And yet
you see that neither her practice, nor the judgment of God that fell
upon her for the same, would cause Lot to look behind him. I have
sometimes wondered at Lot in this particular. His wife looked behind
her and died immediately; but let what would become of her, Lot would
not so much as look behind him to see her. We do not read that he did
so much as once look where she was, or what was become of her. His
heart was indeed upon his journey, and well it might be. There was the
mountain before him, and the fire and brimstone behind him! His life
lay at stake, and he had lost it if he had but looked behind him. Do
thou so run: and in thy race remember Lot's wife, and remember her
doom; and remember for what that doom did overtake her; and remember
that God made her an example for all lazy runners, to the end of the
world; and take heed thou fall not after the same example! But if this
will not provoke thee,

Consider thus, 1. Thy soul, is thy own soul, that is either to be
saved or lost. Thou shalt not lose my soul by thy laziness; it is thy
own soul, thy own ease, thy own peace, thy own advantage or
disadvantage. If it were my own that thou art desired to be good unto,
methinks reason should move thee somewhat to pity it. But alas! it is
thy own; thy own soul! "What shall it profit a man if he shall gain
the whole world, and lose his own soul?" God's people wish well to the
soul of o