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T H E By J O H N.B U N Y A N. 1698. |
VII. PROVOCATION. [TO RUN WITH THE FOREMOST.]
ow that you may be provoked to 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:
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 Lots 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 soul 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? (Mark 8:36). God's people wish well to the souls of others, and wilt not
thou wish well to thy own? And if this will not provoke thee, then think again,
2. If thou lose thy soul, it is thou also that must bear the blame. It made Cain
stark mad to consider that he had not looked to his brother Abel's soul. How much
more will it perplex thee to think, that thou hadst not a care of thy own? And if
this will not provoke thee to bestir thyself, think again,
3. That if thou wilt not run, the people of God are resolved to deal with thee even
as Lot dealt with his wife, that is, leave thee behind them. It may be thou hast
a father, mother, brother, &c., going post-haste to heaven, wouldst thou be willing
to be left behind them? Surely no. Again,
4. Will it not be a dishonour to thee to see the very boys and girls in the country
to have more wit than thyself? It may be the servants of some men, as the horsekeeper,
ploughman, scullion, &c., are more looking after heaven than their masters. I
am apt to think sometimes, that more servants than masters, that more tenants than
landlords, will inherit the kingdom of heaven. But is not this a shame for them that
are such? I am persuaded you scorn, that your servants should say that they are wiser
than you in the things of this world; and yet I am bold to say, that many of them
are wiser than you in the things of the world to come, which are of great concernment.
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