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All that are called of God are to follow Jesus—not their heart.
The following is an excerpt from the sermon, The Heavenly Footman (or, A Description of the Man That Gets to Heaven: with Directions How to Run So As to Obtain), by John Bunyan*.
“Solomon saith, that 'the desire of the slothful killeth him;' and if so, what will slothfulness itself do to those that entertain it [or, hold it in their minds; cherish it]?” “I dare be bold to say, no greater shame can befall a man, than to see that he hath fooled away [or, spent his time in vanity; been lazy, idle with] his soul, and sinned away eternal life [or, wasted your life on vanity and missed eternal life]. [We are talking about being slothful] in the work of salvation. The vineyard of the slothful man, in reference to the things of this life, is [no] fuller of briers, nettles, and stinking weeds, than he that is slothful for heaven, [having] his heart full of heart-choking and soul-damning sin.”
Slothfulness...neglects the time in which it should be getting heaven.
Slothfulness shuts out Christ;
Slothfulness shames the soul.
“The sluggard will not plow, by reason of the cold;” that is, he will not break up the fallow
ground of his heart, because there must be some pains taken by him [or, He will have to do some work by reading the Bible and self reflecting]; 'therefore he shall beg in harvest;' that is, when the saints of God shall have their glorious heaven and happiness given to them...the sluggard 'shall have nothing;' that is, [though he will cry for mercy, it won't do any good].” It is written, And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not-Mt 25:10-12.
“What shall I say?
1. Time runs; and will ye be slothful?
2. Much of your lives are past; and will you be slothful?
3. Your souls are worth a thousand worlds; and will ye be slothful?
4. The day of death and judgment is at the door; and will ye be slothful?
5. The curse of God hangs over your heads; and will you be slothful?
6. Besides, the devils are earnest, laborious, and seek by all means every day, by every sin, to keep you out of heaven, and hinder you of salvation; and will you be slothful?
7. Also, your neighbors are diligent for things that will perish [cars, clothes, houses, boats, etc]; and will you be slothful for things that will endure for ever [the heavenly kingdom, dwelling with God]?
8. Would you be willing to be damned [go to hell] for slothfulness?
9. Would you be willing the angels of God should neglect to fetch your souls away to heaven, when you lie a dying, and the devils stand by ready to scramble for them [your soul]?
10. Was Christ slothful in the work of your redemption?
11. Are his ministers [pastors] slothful in tendering [telling] this unto you?
12. And lastly, If all this will not move [you], I tell you God will not be slothful or negligent to damn you, (their damnation slumbereth not, 2 Pet. 2:3;) nor will the devils neglect to fetch thee, nor hell neglect to shut its mouth upon thee.”
“Arise, man! be slothful no longer: set foot, and heart, and all, into the way of God, and run. The crown
is at the end of the race.
Farewell. I wish our souls may meet with comfort at the journey's end.
JOHN BUNYAN.”
*John Bunyan lived from 1628–1688. He was an English Puritan writer and preacher, best known for his book, The Pilgrim’s Progress.
Source: https://www.digitalpuritan.net/Digital%20Puritan%20Resources/Bunyan,%20John/The%20Heavenly%20Footman.pdf -pg 3-8.
