The zealous Christian taking heavenThe zealovs Christian taking heaven

Violence is here opposed to lukewarmness and moderation in Religion, to that coldness and frozenness that is in the hearts of men under the preaching of the Word. It is called an holy violence, to distinguish between them that were Christians indeed and other men; to distinguish them from the Scribes and Pharisees that were cold and frozen under the Ministry of the Cospel. They were so earnest after Christ in the Gospel, that no difficulties or discouragements could take them off from ¹their pursuits after Christ. 'They were so greedy of Christ, that no force could pluck them away, but they would rather die then be drawn away from the Gospel. It is a metaphor taken from warriors, who force their passage into a City, and take it by storm, and divide the spoil. The parallel phrase is, Luk. 16. 16. Every man presseth into the Kingdom of God.

Violence is here opposed to lukewarmnesse and moderation in Religion, to that coldnesse and frozennesse that is in the hearts of men under the preaching of the Word. It is called an holy violence, to distinguish between them that were Christians indeed and other men; to distinguish them from the Scribes and Pharisees that were cold and frozen under the Ministery of the Cospel. They were so earnest after Christ in the Gospel, that no difficulties or discouragements could take them off from ¹their pursuits after Christ. 'They were so greedy of Christ, that no force could pluck them away, but they would rather die then be drawn away from the Gospel. It is a metaphor taken from warriours, who force their passage into a City, and take it by storm, and divide the spoil. The parallel phrase is, Luk. 16. 16. Every man presseth into the Kingdome of God.

1. 1Adeo avidi di sunt ut nulla vi rbstrahi possunt, sed potius moaiuntur quam abstrahantur ab Evange•io. Luther.