A65299:391
Heaven taken
Heaven taken by storm, or, The holy violence a Christian is to put forth in the pursuit after glory by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed by R.W. for Tho. Parkhurst, 1670
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
•7. If for all that hath been said, you 1will either fit still, or keep your sweat for something else than Heaven, know, there is a time shortly coming when you will wish you had used this violence. When sickness s•izeth on you, and your disease begins to grow violent, and you think God's Sergeant is at the door then what wishes will you make, O that I had been more violent for Heaven! O that I had been praying when I was dancing and making merry! O that I had had a Bible in my hand, when I had a pair of Cards! how happy then might I have been! but alas, my case is miserable! what shall I do! I am so sick, that I cannot live, and so sinful, that I dare not die! O that God would respi•e me a little longer, that he would put a few years more in my lease, that a little space might be granted me to recover my lost hours! As one said on her death-bed, Call time again; but time will not be called again. At the hour ⟨p. 168⟩of death sinners will awake out of their lethargy, and fall into a frenzy of horror and despair; and shall not all these Arguments prevail with men to be violent for the Kingdom? what an hardened piece is a sinner's heart! We read that at Christ's passion, the Rock•rent, Mat. 27. 51. But nothing will move a sinner; The Rocks will sooner rend than his heart. If all that I have said will not prevail, it is a sign ruin is towards, 1 Sam. 2. 25. They hearkened not to the voice of their father, because the Lord would sl•y them.
•7. If for all that hath been said, you 1will either fit still, or keep your sweat for something else than Heaven, know, there is a time shortly coming when you will wish you had used this violence. When sickness sizeth on you, and your disease begins to grow violent, and you think God's Sergeant is at the door then what wishes will you make, O that I had been more violent for Heaven! O that I had been praying when I was dancing and making merry! O that I had had a Bible in my hand, when I had a pair of Cards! how happy then might I have been! but alas, my case is mierable! what shall I do! I am so sick, that I cannot live, and so sinful, that I dare not die! O that God would respie me a little longer, that he would put a few years more in my lease, that a littl space might be granted me to recover my lost hours! As one said on her death-bed, Call time again; but time will not be called again. At the hour