A Golden Chain

Thirdly, the consideration of this; that Christ Jesus hath prepared a place for us in heaven, & also hath trained the way with his own blood, must make every one of us to strive to enter in at the straight gate, ¹as our Saviour Christ counselleth us: and that as wrestlers do, which strive for life and death. Within this gate is a dwelling place of happiness ready for us. If a man were assured that there were made for him a great purchase in Spain or Turkey, so as if he would but come thither, he might enjoy it; would he not adventure the dangers of the sea, and of his enemies also, if need were, that he might come to his own? Well, behold Christ Jesus hath made a purchase for us in heaven, & there is nothing required of us, but that we will come & enjoy it. Why then should men refuse any pains, or fear in the way? nay we must strive to get in. It may be, we shall be pinched in the entrance, for the gate is both strait and low, and we must be fain to leave our wealth behind us, and the pleasures of this life; & enter we must, though we should be constrained to leave our flesh behind us. For the purchase that is made is worth ten thousand worlds. And besides, if we loose it by fainting in the way, our purchase shall be the blackness of darkness for ever with the devil and all his angels: who therefore would not strive, though he lost his life in the gate? The urging of this point is needful in these days. There is striving enough for worldly preferment, but a man almost may go alone in the straight way that leadeth to heaven, he shall have none to bear him company. And where are they that strive to enter in? where is the violence offered to the kingdom of heaven? where be the violent which should take it to themselves as in the days of John Baptist.

Thirdly, the consideration of this; that Christ Iesus hath prepared a place for vs in heauen, & also hath trained the way with his owne blood, must make euerie one of vs to striue to enter in at the straight gate, ¹as our Sauiour Christ counselleth vs: and that as wrastlers doe, which striue for life and death. Within this gate is a dwelling place of happines readie for vs. If a man were assured that there were made for him a great purchasse in Spaine or Turkie, so as if he would but come thither, hee might inioy it; would he not aduenture the daungers of the sea, and of his enemies also, if neede were, that he might come to his owne? Wel, behold Christ Iesus hath made a purchase for vs in heauen, & there is nothing required of vs, but that we wil come & enioy it. Why then should men refuse any paines, or feare in the way? nay we must striue to get in. It may be, we shall be pinched in the entrance, for the gate is both strait and lowe, and we must be faine to leaue our wealth behind vs, and the pleasures of this life; & enter we must, though we should be constrained to leaue our flesh behinde vs. For the purchase that is made is worth tenne thousand worldes. And besides, if we loose it by fainting in the way, our purchase shall be the blacknesse of darkenes for euer with the deuill and all his angels: who therefore would not striue, though he lost his life in the gate? The vrging of this point is needefull in these daies. There is striuing enough for worldly preferment, but a man almost may go alone in the straight way that leadeth to heauen, he shall haue none to beare him company. And where are they that striue to enter in? where is the violence offered to the kingdome of heauen? where bee the violent which should take it to themselues as in the daies of Iohn Baptist.