on this hand, and some on that hand; as it is with those that travel into other countries; they must leave such a gate on this hand, and such a bush on that hand, and go by such a place, where standeth such a thing.  Thus therefore you must do:  “Avoid such things, which are expressly forbidden in the Word of God.”  Withdraw thy foot far from her, “and come not nigh the door of her house, for her steps take hold of hell, going down to the chambers of death.”  And so of everything that is not in the way, have a care of it, that thou go not by it; come not near it, have nothing to do with it.  So run.

The third direction:  Not only thus, but in the next place, thou must strip thyself of those things that may hang upon thee, to the hindering of thee in the way to the kingdom of heaven, as covetousness, pride, lust, or whatever else thy heart may be inclining unto, which may hinder thee in this heavenly race.  Men that run for a wager, if they intend to win as well as run, they do not use to encumber themselves, or carry those things about them that may be a hindrance to them in their running.  “Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things”; that is, he layeth aside everything that would be anywise 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, tho he run, if he fill his pockets with stones, hang heavy garments on his shoulders, and get lumpish shoes on his feet?  So it is here; thou talkest of going to heaven, and yet fillest thy pockets with stones—­i.e., 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 practise, 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 far 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.  Tho the way to heaven be but one, yet there are many crooked