A30209:67
The strait gate, or, Great difficulty of going to Heaven plainly proving
The strait gate, or, Great difficulty of going to Heaven plainly proving by the Scriptures that not only the rude and profane, but many great professors will come short of that Kingdom / by John Bunyan.
London: printed for Francis Smith, 1676
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First, What doth this word strive, import?
Answ. When he saith, strive, It is as much as to say, bend your selves to the work with all your might: Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do; do it with all thy might, for there is no work nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest. Eccles. 9. 10. thus Sampson did, when he set himself to destroy the Philistines, he bowed himself with all his might, Judg. 16. 30. Thus David did also when he made provision for the building and beautifying of the temple of God, 1 Chro. 29. 2. And thus must thou do if ever thou enterest into heaven.
Answ. When he saith, strive, It is as much as to say, bend your selves to the work with all your might: Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do; do it with all thy might, for there is no work nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest. Eccles. 9. 10. thus Sampson did, when he set himself to destroy the Philistins, he bowed himself with all his might, Judg. 16. 30. Thus David did also when he made provision for the building and beautifying of the temple of God, 1 Chro. 29. 2. And thus must thou do if ever thou entrest into heaven.
2ly, When he saith strive, he calleth for the mind and the will, that they should be on his side, and on the