it 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 this 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, take

THE FIFTH DIRECTION.—­Do not thou be too much in looking too high in thy journey heavenwards.  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 in 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 eternal overthrow, without the marvellous 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, cannot 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 in 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.

THE SIXTH DIRECTION.—­Take heed that you have not an ear open to every one that calleth after you, as you are in your journey.  Men that run, you know, if any do call after them, saying, ’I would speak with you,’ or, ’Go not too fast, and you shall have my company with you,’—­if they run for some great matter, they use to say, ’Alas!  I cannot stay, I am in haste; pray, talk not to me now; neither can I stay for you; I am running for a wager:  if I win, I am made; if I lose, I am undone; and therefore hinder me not.’  Thus wise are men, when they run for corruptible things; and thus shouldst thou do.  And thou hast more cause to do so than they, forasmuch as they run but for things that last not, but thou for an incorruptible glory.  I give thee notice of this betimes, knowing that thou shalt have enough call after thee, even the devil, sin, this world, vain company, pleasures, profits, esteem among men, ease, pomp, pride, together with an innumerable company of such companions; one