A65299:400
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.
If you would be violent for Heaven, 1take heed of despondency of spirit. Be serious, but cheerful. He whose spirit is pressed down with sadness, is unfit to go about his work. An uncheerful heart is unfit to pray, or praise God. When the strings of a Lute are wet, it will not put forth any sweet harmony. Such as go drooping under fears and discouragements, cannot be violent in Religion. When a soldier faints in the field, he soon lets fall his sword. David chides himself out of his melancholy, Psal. 43. 5. Why art thou cast down O my soul? Why art thou disquieted within me? hope yet in God. A sad heart makes a dull action. We use the Drum and Trumpet in Battle, that the noise of the Trumpet may excite and quicken the soldiers spirits, and make them fight more vigorously. Cheerfulness is like music in battle, it excites a Christian's spirits, and makes him vegete and lively in duty. What is done with cheerfulness, is done with delight, and the soul flies most swiftly to Heaven upon the wing of delight.
If you would be violent for Heaven, 1take heed of despondency of spirit. Be serious, but chearfull. He whose spirit is pressed down with sadness, is unfit to go about his work. An unchearful heart is unfit to pray, or praise God. When the strings of a Lute are wet, it will not put forth any sweet harmony. Such as go drooping under fears and discouragements, cannot be violent in Religion. When a souldier faints in the field, he soon lets fall his sword. David chides himself out of his melancholy, Psal. 43. 5. Why art thou cast down O my soul? Why art thou disquieted within me? hope yet in God. A sad heart makes a dull action. We use the Drum and Trumpet in Battel, that the noise of the Trumpet may excite and quicken the souldiers spirits, and make them fight more vigorously. Chearfulness is like musick in battel, it excites a Christian's spirits, and makes him vegete and lively in duty. What is done with cherfulness, is done with delight, and the soul flies most swiftly to Heaven upon the wing of delight.
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