John Bunyan

“ Dost thou think to run fast enough, with thy sins and lusts in thy heart? I tell thee, soul, they that have laid all aside, every weight, every sin, and are got into the nimblest posture, find work enough so to run as to hold out.-Art thou therefore unladen of these things? Never talk of going to heaven, if thou art not. It is to be feared thou wilt be found among those many, that will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ”

“ If thou art in the way to the kingdom, my soul for thine, thou wilt come at the cross shortly The Lord grant thou dost not shrink at it, so as to turn thee back again. The cross stands as a way-mark to heaven, thou must go close by it; nay, thou must take it up, or else thou wilt quickly get out of the way that leads to heaven, and turn aside to some of those crooked lines, that lead down to the chambers of death. ”

“ And shall not we labour as hard, run as fast, seek as diligently, nay, a hundred times more diligently, for the company of those glorious and eternal friends? Shall it be said at the last day, That wicked men made more haste to hell, than you did to heaven? ”

“ He that backslides, and be that sits still in sin, care both in one minds the one will not stir, because he love his sins; the other turns back again, because he loves the things of the world. Is it not the same thing: shall not the flame hell hold them hereafter? ”

“ They that will go to heaven must run for it; because, as the way is long, so time, in which they are to get at the end of it, is very uncertain When death comes, away thou must go, whether thou art provided or not; and therefore look to it it is not good dallying with the salvation or damnation of thy soul.
(5.) They that will have heaven, must run for it; because the devil followeth them. He goeth about, seeking whom he may devour, and I will assure you, the devil is nimble; he can run apace he has overtaken many, turned up their heels, and given them an everlasting fall. ”

“ I tell you the will is all; that it is one of the chiefest things, which turns the wheel either backwards or forwards: and God knoweth that full well, and so does the devil, and therefore they both endeavour very much to strengthen the will of their servants.- God is for making of his a willing people to serve him; and the devil does what he can to possess the will of those that are his, with the love of sin: and therefore when Christ comes close to the matter, he says, You will not come to me. ”

“ I. If thou wouldst so run, as to obtain the kingdom of heaven, get into the way. It is not simply the runner, nor yet the hasty runner, that winneth the crown, unless he be in the way that leads thereto. There is a great running to and fro, and yet every one is for his life, his soul. If you say, Which is the way? Jesus says, "I am the way;" &c. So then, thy business is, (if thou wouldst have salvation) to see if thou art planted in him, hast faith in him, so as to make a life out of him, and to conform thee to him. ”

“ He will have his own will do all that we can. A man that is resolved says, I will do my best to advantage myself; I will do my worst to hinder my enemies; I will have it, or I will lose my life. Though he kill me, yet will I trust in him. ”

“ That unmerciful men, such as turn away their ears from the cry of the poor, shall fall in to such miseries as will bring them to their knees and make them cry sooner or later. Here in this world, worldly men make many prayers, and their religion they hope will make amends, for their inhumanity at least. But in the world to come, they shall follow their fellow Dives in his infernal devotion.
2. Though they cry, they shall not be heard; whether they cry here upon their death-beds for mercy, or hereafter in hell for ease, they shall not be heard. ”

“ If thou winnest, then heaven, yea, life eternal is thine; and if thou losest, then thy loss is heaven; besides, thou procurest eternal death, with the everlasting damnation of thy own soul. (2.) Death and damnation follow after thee' as hard as they can drive, and therefore, for the Lord's sake make haste. ”

“ The way to do it is, to be slothful in the work of salvation Slothfulness has these two evils to neglect the time in which it should be getting heaven, and to bring in untimely repentance. He, who shall lose his soul through slothfulness, will have no use to be glad thereat, when he comes to hell. "The sluggard will not plough by reason of the world." ”

“ If you be rich in this world's goods, and be not rich in good works, talk not of your faith, for there can be no true faith without good works, James ii. 17. Neither tell me of your religion; for there can be no true religion in you, so long as you make no conscience of this duty. ”

“ He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy.” Such as have shut up the bowels of compassion against the necessities of the poor, God will shut up his bowels of compassion against them, and let forth his fury upon then they shall have their portion in his plagues an indignation without the least drop, of mercy or pity. ”

“ Therefore if thou meet the cross in thy journey, in what manner soever it be, take courage, knowing that by the cross is the way to the kingdom.
DIR. IX. Beg of God, that he would enlighten thine understanding, and inflame thy will. When men come to see what a heaven there is to be enjoyed, it will make them run through thick and thin. When a man's will is fully set to do a thing, it must be a very hard matter that shall hinder that man from bringing about his end. Ye self-willed people, no body knows what to do with you. ”

“ Set to work, and when thou hast run thyself down weary, the Lord Jesus will take thee up and carry thee. Is not this enough to make any poor soul to begin his race? Fathers encouraging their children say, Run, sweet babe, until thou art weary, and then I will carry thee. He will gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom. When they are weary, they shall ride.-Or else he will convey new strength into thy soul, which will be as well. "The young men shall utterly fail, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." ”

“ It is the cross, which keeps those which are kept from heaven. It is that which spoileth all. Some, when they come at the cross, can go no farther: others stumble at it, and break their necks: others turn aside to the right hand or to the left, and so think to get to heaven another way. ”

“ Nay, do you not see that some men, before they will set about this work, they will even venture the loss of heaven, Christ and all? I assure you to cut off right hands, and pluck out right eyes, is no pleasure to the flesh. (3.) In the doctrine of perseverance: It is no great matter to begin to look for heaven, to begin to seek the Lord, to begin to shun sin, and to hate iniquity: but it is a very great matter to continue with God's approbation. ”

“ In like manner, it is found by experience, that such Christians as are most forward to supply the wants of the poor, boldly adventuring their goods upon the waters, do most of all thrive, and prosper in the world. Why then will any man be so unwise, as to lose his riches for fear of losing them? and not rather seem to lose them that he may in truth find them? these earthly things are assuredly lost by keeping, and kept by well bestowing them. ”

“ The misery of uncharitable persons appeareth in this, that the wants and necessities of the poor cry loud to heaven against them. God hath dealt bountifully with thee, loading thee with his benefits, and hath given thee not only food and raiment, things needful and necessary, but an abundance, an affluency of outward things, even all things richly to enjoy: but how many of Christ's ministers and members are in want, not having wherewithal to satisfy their own and children's hunger? ”

“ HEAVEN is that which every one desireth yet but very few do obtain that glory. Man eminent professors drop short of a welcome from God into this pleasant place: therefore, sit no still, and wish for heaven, but run for it-so run that ye may obtain. ”

“ I do assure you, it is not out of any design to take any thing from yourselves, and children, but only to shew you the surest and safest way of thriving in the world; and how you may entail God's blessing upon your children, and so secure unto them the portion which leave them. ”

“ Men, that run for a wager, do not incumber themselves. Every man that striveth for the mastery, is temperate in all things. It is but a vain thing to talk of going to heaven, if thou let thy heart be incumbered with those things that would hinder. ”

“ Be sure that thine eyes be continually upon the profit thou art like to get. The reason why men faint in their race to heaven, eth chiefly in either of these two things: First, they do not seriously consider the worth of the prize; they must lose heaven for want of considering the worth of it. That thou mayest not do the like, keep thine eye much upon the comfort that is to be had there by those that win the prize. ”

“ Rich men, therefore, ought to be rich in good works; for God expecteth fruit answerable to the seed which he soweth. Hath he abounded to you in this world's goods? you ought thereupon to be abundant in good works towards others ”

“ They that will have heaven, must run for it. This calls aloud to those that began but a while since to run, to mend their pare, if they intend to win. They who come hindermost, have breed to run fastest. There are those that have run ten years to thy one, and yet will say, they doubt they shall come late enough. ”

“ Hell also has : wide mouth: it can stretch itself farther than you are aware of: and as the angel said to Lot, Loo not behind thee, neither tarry thou in all the plain lest thou be consumedː so say I to thee, Take heed, tarry not, lest the devil, hell, death, an the fearful curses of the law overtake thee, an throw thee down in the midst of thy sins, so a never to rise again. ”

“ He that is slothful in the things of this world, is to set about the work he should follow-is willing to make delays will take any small matter a sufficient excuse to keep him off from plying his work-does his work by halves-does usually lose the season, in which things are to be done. And thus it is also with them that are slothful for heaven; they miss the season of race; and therefore they will be chid for the one. “Thou wicked or slothful servant, out of one own mouth will I judge thee ”

“ It is an easy matter for a man to run a mile or twoː O but to hold ont for a thousand miles! he that does this must look to meet with the cross. Perseverance is a very great part of the cross. I could point out many, that after they had followed the ways of God three or four years, have been beat out of wind, have taken up their lodgings and rest, before they have got half way to heaven; some in this, and some in that sin ”

“ Thus shouldst thou do, and thou hast more cause than they for as much as they run but for things that last not; but thou, for an incorruptible glory. I give thee notice of this, knowing that thou shall have enough to call after thee, even the devil, sin, pleasures, profits, ease, pride, &c. one crying, Stay for me; the other saying, Do not leave me: and a third, Take me along with you. Let not thine car be opened for such sink-souls. You know what it cost the young man that was enticed by a harlot, Prov. vii. Many strong men have been slain ”

“ It stretches every vein in a man's heart, to be willing, in the very midst of the sense of his sins, to throw himself wholly upon the righteousness of another. (2.) In the doctrine of mortification. Is it nothing for a man to lay hands on his darling sins, that stick as close to him the flesh does to the bone? ”

“ As if the Apostle should say some, because they would not lose their soul begin to run betimes, apace, with patience, the right way: do you so run. Some run from friend and companions, and this that they may have the crown: do you so run. Some run through goo report and evil report, that they may win the pearl: do you so run. ”

“ I beseech you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that none of you do run so lazily n the way to heaven, as to hinder either your- elves or others. If a man should venture, when he is running for his life, to step aside out of his way to pick up a straw, thou wouldst condemn him ”

“ How unlikely are they to win, that think enough to keep company with the hindmost! If there be but any lazy, slothful, half-hearted professors in the country, they will be sure to take example by them, not considering that the hindmost lose the prize. ”

“ Be- use the man that runs, if he does not obtain e prize, loses his labour. And ah ! how many ch runners will there be found at the day of judgment! Multitudes come to heaven's gates, and there stand crying, Lord, Lord, when they have nothing but rebukes for their pains: depart from me! you come too late-you run too lazily the door is shut. ”

“ Look to it therefore, part speedily with all that is an hinderance to thee in why journey, and so run that thou mayest obtain.
(6.) You that are old professors, take heed that the young striplings of Jesus, that began to trip but the other day, do not outrun you, so as to have that scripture fulfilled on you, "The first shall be last, and the last first. You that are hindmost, strive to outrun them that are before you; and all you that are foremost, hold your ground: that is the right running, for one to strive to outrun another. ”

“ Because the way is long; there is much work to do: there are many steps to be taken by those that intend to be saved. Out of Egypt thou must run a long journey through the vast wilderness, before thou come to the land of promise. ”