If there must be this offering violence1; it shows us it is not so easy a thing as men imagine to get to Heaven. There are so many precepts to obey; so many promises to believe; so many Rocks to avoid, that it is a difficult matter to be saved*. Some fancy a fine easy way to Heaven, an idle wish, a death-bed tear; but the text tells us of offering violence. Alas, there is a great work to be done; the bias of the heart is to be changed. Man by nature doth not only want grace, but hate it. He hath an envenomed spirit against goodness, and is angry with converting grace; and is it easy to have the heart metamorphised? for the proud heart to be made humble; for the earthly heart to be made heavenly: can this be done without using violence? It is all up hill to Heaven, and it will make us sweat before we get to the top of the hill. Indeed Hell will be taken without ⟨p. 89⟩storm: the gates of Hell, like that Iron gate, Acts 12. 10. open of their own accord: but if we get to Heaven, we must force our way: we must besiege it with sighs and tears, and get the scaling ladder of faith to storm it. We must not only work, but fight. Like those Jews, who built the wall of Jerusalem Nehem. 4. 17. Every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. A Christian is commanded upon hot service; he must charge through the whole Army of his lusts, every one of which is stronger than Goliath. A Christian hath no time to lye fallow; he must be either praying, or watching; either upon the Mount, or in the Valley; on the Mount of Faith, or in the Valley of Humility. Worldly things are not obtained without labour: what toiling in the shop? what sweating in the furnace? and do we think Heaven will be had without labour? Do men dig for worms, and not for gold? Those who are in Heaven are employed; much more should they who are getting thither. The Angels are Ministering spirits, H•b. 1. 14. The wings of the Seraphims ⟨p. 90⟩are hieroglyphical, and show us how swift they are in God's service. If the Angels in Heaven are busying themselves in noble and honourable employment, how industrious should we be who are getting up the •ill of God, and have not yet arrived at a state of glory? Is salvation-work so facile? can a man be saved per saltum? can he leap out of the Devil's arms into Abraham's bosom? Oh no, there must be offering violence.
If there must be this offering violence1; it shews us it is not so easie a thing as men imagine to get to Heaven. There are so many precepts to obey; so many promises to believe; so many Rocks to avoid, that it is a difficult matter tobe saved*. Some phancy a fine easie way to Heaven, an idle wish, a death-bed tear; but the text tells us of offering violence. Alas, there is a great work to be done; the biass of the heart is to be changed. Man by nature doth not only want grace, but hate it. He hath an envenomed spirit against goodness, and is angry with converting grace; and is it easie to have the heart metamorphised? for the proud heart to be made humble; for the earthly heart to be made heavenly: can this be done without using violence? It is all up hill to Heaven, and it will make us sweat before we get to the top of the hill. Indeed Hell will be taken without ⟨p. 89⟩storm: the gates of Hell, like that Irongate, Acts 12. 10. open of their own accord: but if we get to Heaven, we must force our way: we must besiege it with sighs and tears, and get the scalingladder of faith to storm it. We must not only work, but fight. Like those Jews, who built the wall of Jerusale• Nehem. 4. 17. Every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. A Christian is commanded upon hot service; he must charge through the whole Army of his lusts, every one of which is stronger than Goliah. A Christian hath no time to lye fallow; he must be either praying, or watching; either upon the Mount, or in the Valley; on the Mount of Faith, or in the Valley of Humility. Worldly things are not obtained without labour: what toiling in the shop? what sweating in the furnace? and do we think Heaven will be had without labour? Do men dig for worms, and not for gold? Those who are in Heaven are employed; much more should they who are getting thither. The Angels are Ministring spirits, H•b. 1. 14. The wings of the Seraphims ⟨p. 90⟩are hieroglyphical, and shew us how swift they are in God's service. If the Angels in Heaven are busying themselves in noble and honourable imployment, how industrious should we be who are getting up the •ill of God, and have not yet arrived at a state of glory? Is salvation-work so facil? can a man be saved per saltum? can he leap out of the Devil's arms into Abraham's bosom? Oh no, there must be offering violence.
- 1Use 1. Inform. 1. Branch.
- *[Greek or Hebrew]. Ignatius.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Ignatius.
