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 be. 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 Lot's 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 own 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?" God's people wish well to the
soul 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