lanes and by-paths that shoot down upon it, as I may say.  And again, notwithstanding the kingdom of heaven be the biggest city, yet usually those by-paths are most beaten, most travelers go those ways; and therefore the way to heaven is hard to be found, and as hard to be kept in, by reason of these.  Yet, nevertheless, it is in this case as it was with the harlot of Jericho; she had one scarlet thread tied in her window, by which her house was known:  so it is here, the scarlet streams of Christ’s blood run throughout the way to the kingdom of heaven; therefore mind that, see if thou do not find the besprinkling of the blood of Christ in the way, and if thou do, be of good 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, tho it seem never 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, tho 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 it is 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 it 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,

The fifth direction:  Do not thou be too much in looking too high in thy journey heavenward.  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 into 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 own eternal overthrow, without the marvelous 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, can not 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, neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or things too high for me.  Surely I have behaved and quieted myself as a child that is weaned of his mother:  My soul is even as a weaned child.”  Do thou so run.