1.  Fleeing.  Observe, that this running is not an ordinary, or any sort of running, but it is to be understood of the swiftest sort of running; and therefore, in the vi. of the Hebrews, it is called a fleeing:  “That we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before us.”  Mark, who have fled.  It is taken from that xx. of Joshua, concerning the man that was to flee to the city of refuge, when the avenger of blood was hard at his heels, to take vengeance on him for the offense he had committed; therefore it is a running or fleeing for one’s life:  a running with all might and main, as we use to say.  So run.

2.  Pressing.  Secondly, this running in another place is called a pressing.  “I press toward the mark”; which signifieth, that they that will have heaven, they must not stick at any difficulties they meet with; but press, crowd, and thrust through all that may stand between heaven and their souls.  So run.

3.  Continuing.  Thirdly, this running is called in another place, a continuing in the way of life.  “If you continue in the faith grounded, and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel of Christ.”  Not to run a little now and then, by fits and starts, or half-way, or almost thither, but to run for my life, to run through all difficulties, and to continue therein to the end of the race, which must be to the end of my life.  “So run that ye may obtain.”  And the reasons are: 

(1.) Because all or every one that runneth doth not obtain the prize; there may be many that do run, yea, and run far too, who yet miss of the crown that standeth at the end of the race.  You know all that run in a race do not obtain the victory; they all run, but one wins.  And so it is here; it is not every one that runneth, nor every one that seeketh, nor every one that striveth for the mastery that hath it.  “Tho a man do strive for the mastery,” saith Paul, “yet he is not crowned, unless he strive lawfully”; that is, unless he so run, and so strive, as to have God’s approbation.  What, do you think that every heavy-heeled professor will have heaven?  What, every lazy one? every wanton and foolish professor, that will be stopt by anything, kept back by anything, that scarce runneth so fast heavenward as a snail creepeth on the ground?  Nay, there are some professors that do not go on so fast in the way of God as a snail doth go on the wall; and yet these think that heaven and happiness is for them.  But stay, there are many more that run than there be that obtain; therefore he that will have heaven must run for it.