Hebrews 12:1

Heb. 12:1. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset (us), and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

The "cloud of witnesses" is a model for religious affections:

Slothfulness in the service of God, in his professed servants, is as damning, as open rebellion: for the slothful servant, is a wicked servant, and shall be cast into outer darkness, among God's open enemies (Matthew 25:26-28). They that are slothful, are not followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises. "And we desire that every one of you who do shew the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope, unto the end; that ye be not slothful; but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:11; Hebrews 6:12). And all they who follow that cloud of witnesses that are gone before to heaven, do lay aside every weight, and the sin that easily besets them, and do run with patience the race that is set before them (Hebrews 12:1). That true faith, by which persons rely on the righteousness of Christ, and the work that he hath done for them, and do truly feed and live upon him, is evermore accompanied with such a spirit of earnestness in the Christian work and course. Which was typified of old, by the manner of the children of Israel's feeding on the paschal lamb: who were directed to eat it, as those that were in haste, with their loins girded, their shoes on their feet, and their staff in their hand….

It even figures in Freedom of the Will :

And Christ had not only promises of glorious success and rewards made to his obedience and sufferings, but the Scriptures plainly represent him as using these promises for motives and inducements to obey and suffer; and particularly that promise of a kingdom which the Father had appointed Him, or sitting with the Father in his throne; as in Hebrews 12:1; Hebrews 12:2, "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God."

But the sin which so easily besets never made a sermon though it was considered as we see from Sermon Notebook I: "To preach a sermon from this text concerning the sin that doth so easily beset us." Edwards lists items to be in the sermon that was not to be:

Ways sin besets. Directions for fighting against in motives. What mischief sin does. Benefit of conquest. This sin keeps many weak. Prevents progress and comm[itment?]. Direction: find out what it is. Pride and covetousness? Describe how it besets.

The text did, however, get into "The True Christian's Life, A Journey to Heaven":

II. We ought to seek heaven, by travelling in the way that leads thither.

The way that leads to heaven is the way of holiness. We should choose and desire to travel thither in this way and in no other. We should part with all those sins, those carnal appetites that are as weights, that will tend to hinder us in our travelling towards heaven. "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race set before us," Hebrews 12:1. However pleasant any practice, or the gratification of any appetite may be, we must lay it aside, cast it away; if it be any hinderance [sic], and stumbling-block in the way to heaven.

Heb. 12:2