How confident are some of salvation yet never examine their title to Heaven 3. Men are not forward to examine themselves because they rest in the good opinion of others how vain is this Alas one may be Gold and Pearl in the eye of others yet God may judge him Reprobate Silver others may think him a Saint and God may write him down in his black-book Judas was looked upon by the rest of the Apostles as a true Believer they would have been ready to have given their hands to his certificate yet he was a Traitor Standers by can but see the outward carriage they cannot tell what evil is in the heart Fair streams may run on the top of a River but vermin may lie at the bottom 4. Men are hardly brought to examine themselves because they do not believe Scripture The Scripture saith The heart is deceitful above all things Jer. 17. 9. Solomon said there were four things too wonderful for him that he could not know Prov. 30. 19. He might have added a fifth The Way of mans heart The heart is the greatest Impostor it will be ready to put one off with seeming Grace instead of saving The heart will perswade that a slight tear is Repentance a lazy desire is Faith Now because the generality of people do not believe that there is such fallacy in their hearts therefore they are so slow to examine them This natural backwardness in us to self-reflection should cause us to offer the more violence to our selves in making a thorow disquisition and search of our hearts Oh that I might prevail with Christians to take pains with themselves in this great work of Examination Their salvation depends on it It is the note of an Harlot she is seldom at home Prov. 7. 11 12. Her feet abide not in her house now is she without now in the streets It is a sign of an Harlot Professor to be altogether abroad spying the faults of others but is never at home with his own heart Oh let us try our Hearts as we do Gold by the Touchstone Let us examine our sins and finding out this leven burn it Let us examine our Grace whether it be of the right kind One went into the field to gather herbs and he gathered wild gourds and then Death was in the Pot. 2 Kings 4. 40. So many think they have Grace the right Herb but it proves a wild gourd and brings death and damnation That we may offer violence to our selves in this great business of Examination let these few things be seriously weighed 1. Without self-examination we can never know how it is with us If we should die presently we cannot tell to what Coast we should sail whether to Hell or Heaven It is reported of Socrates when he was going out of the World he had this speech I am now to dye and the gods know whether I shall be happy or iniserable That man who is ignorant of the state of his Soul must needs heve the trembling at the heart as Cain had a shaking in his flesh By a serious serutiny of our hearts we come to know to what Prince we belong whether to the Prince of peace or the Prince of the aiâ—… 2. If we will not try our selves God will try us He will examine us as the chief Captain did Paul by scourging Act. 22. 24. He will ask that question as Christ Whose image â—…d superscription is this And if we cannot shew him his own image he will reject us 3. There is secret corruption within which will never be found out but by searching There are in the heart as Austin saith hidden pollutions When Pharaoh's Steward accused Joseph's Brethren of having the Cup they durst have sworn they had not the Cup in their sack Little doth a man know what Atheism Pride Uncleanness is in his heart till he searcheth 4. The great advantage which will accrew to us the benefit is great which way soever things turn If upon examination we find that we have not grace in truth then the mistake is discovered and the danger prevented If we find that we have grace we may take the comfort of it How glad was he that had found the Pearl of great priâ—…e He that upon search finds that he hath but the minimum quod sic the least degree of grace is like one that hath found his Box of Evidences he is Heir to all the Promises and in a state of Salvation And that we â—…ay go on the more successively in this work let us desire God to help us to find out our hearts Job 34. 32. That which I see not teach thou me Lord take off the vail shew me my heart let me not perish through mistake or go to Hell with hope of Heaven The sixth duty wherein we must offer violence to our selves is The Religious sanctifying of the Lords day That there should be a day of holy rest dedicated to God appears from the institution Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day Our Christian Sabbath comes in the room of the Jewish Sabbath it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. from Christ the Author of it Our Sabbath is altered by Christ's own appointment He arose this day out of the grave and appeared on it often to his Disciples 1 Cor. 16. 1. To intimate to them saith Athanasius that he transferred the Sabbath to the Lords day And St. Austin saith That by Christ's rising on the first day of the week it was consecrated to be the Christian Sabbath in remembrance of his Resurrection This day was antâ—…tly called Dies Lucis the day of Light as Junius observes The other days of the week would be dark were it not for the shining of the Sun of Righteousness on this day This day hath been called by the Antients Regind diâ—…rum the Queen of days And St. Hieroni preferrs this day above all solemn Festivals The Primitive Churâ—…h had this day in high veneration it was a great badge of their Religion for when the question was asked Servasti Dominicum Keepest thou the Sabbath the answer was made Christianus sum I am a Christian and dare not omit the celebration of the Lords day What great cause have we thankfully to remember this day As the benefit of Israel's deliverance from the Babylonish captivity was so great that it drowned the remembrance of their deliverance from Egypt Jer. 16. 14. So the benefit of our deliverance from Satan's captivity and the rising of Christ from finishing the glorious work of our Redemption was so famous that in respect of this his other benefits receive as it were a diminution Great was the work of Creation but greater the work of Redemption It cost more to redeem us than make us In the one there was only the speaking a word Psal. 148. 5 in the other the shedding of blood Heb. 9. 22. The Creation was the work of God's fingers Psal. 8. 3. the
Reuben unstable as water but was fixed and resolute in Religion and a Prison could make no alteration in him Vers. But what went ye out for to see a man cloathed in soft raiment John did not indulge his senses he wore not silks but Camels hair nor did he affect to live at Court but in a Wilderness Mat. 3. 3 4. Again Christ commends John as being his forerunner who prepared the way before him vers 10. He was the morning Star which did precede the Sun of Righteousness and that Christ might sufficiently honour this holy man he doth not only parallel him with but prefer him before the chief of the Prophets Vers. 9. What went ye out for to see a Prophet yea I say unto you and more than a Prophet Vers. 11. Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist He was eminent both for Dignity of Office and Perspicuity of Doctrine and so the Text is usher'd in From the dayes of John the Baptist â—…ntil now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereâ—… violence and the violent take it by force In which words there is 1. The prefâ—… or introduction from the dayes of Jâ—… the Baptist until now John Baptist was a zealous Preacher a Boanerges or Son of Thunder and after his Preaching People began to be awakened out of their siâ—…s Hence learn what kind of Ministry is like to do most good namely That which works upon the Consciences of men John Baptist did lift up his voice like a Trumpet he preached the Doctrine of Repentance with power Mat. 3. 2. Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand He came hewing and cutting down mens sins and afterwards preached Christ to them First He poured in the Vinegar of the Law then the Wine of the Gospel This was that preaching made men studiously seek after Heaven John did not so much preach to please as to profit he chose rather to discover mens sins than to shew his own eloquence That is the best looking-glass not which is most gilded but which shews the truest face That Preaching is to be preferred which makes the truest discovery of mens sins and shews them their hearts John Baptist was a burning and a shining light he did burn in his Doctrine and shine in his Life and from that time men pressed into Heaven Peter who was filled with a spirit of zeal having humbled his hearers for their sins and opened to them a Fountain in Christs Blood they were then pricked at their heart Act. 2. 37. 'T is the greatest mercy to have a Soul-searching Ministry If one had a desperate Wound he would desire to have it searched to the bottom Who would not be content to have their Souls searched so they may have them saved 2. The matter in the Text The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force What is meant by the Kingdom of Heaven Some interpret it of the Doctrine of the Gospel which reveals Christ and Heaven So Erasmus But I rather by the Kingdom of Heaven understand Glory and so learned Beza and others This Kingdom suffereth violence 'T is a Metaphor from a Town or Castle that holds out in War and is not taken but by storm So the Kingdom of Heaven will not be taken without violence The violent take it by force The Earth is inherited by the Meek Mat. 5. 5. Heaven is inherited by the violent Our life is military Christ is our Captain the Gospel is the Banner tho Oraces are our spiritual Artillery and Heaven is only taken in a forcible way The words fall into two parts 1. The Combate suffereth violence 2. The Conquest The Violent take it by force The right way to take Heaven is by Storm Or thus None get into Heaven but violent ones This violence hath a double aspect It concerns men as Magistrates they must be violent 1. In punishing the nocent When Aaron's Urim and Thummim will do no good then must Moses come with his Rod. The wicked are the bad humours and surfeit of the Common-wealth which by the care of Magistracy are to be purged out God hath placed Governours for the â—…terrour of evil doâ—…rs 1 Pet. 2. 14. They must not be like the Sword-fish which hath a Sword in his Head but is without an Heart They must not have a Sword in their Hand but no Heart to draw it out for the cutting down of impiety Connivance in a Magistrate supports vice and by not punishing offenders he adopts other mens faults and makes them his own Magistracy without zeal is like the body without spirits Too much lenity emboldens sin and doth but shave the head which deserves to be cut off 2. In defending the Innocent The Magistrate is the Asylum or Altar of Refuge for the oppressed to sly to Charls Duke of Calabria was so in love with doing Justice that he caused a Bell to be hung at his Palace gate which whosoever did ring was sure presently to be admitted into the Duke's presence or have some Officers sent out to hear his cause Aristides was famous for his Justice of whom the Historian saith he would never favour any mans cause because he was his friend nor do injusâ—…ice to any because he was his Enemy The Magistrates ballance is the oppressed mans shield This violence concerns men as Christians Though Heaven be given us freely yet we must contend for it Eccles. 9. 10. What thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might Our work is great our time short our Master urgent we had need therefore summon together all the powers of our souls and strive as in a matter of Life and Death that we may arrive at the Kingdom above We must not only put forth diligence but violence For the illustrating and clearing the Proposition I shall shew 1. What violence is not meant here This violence in the text excludes 1. An ignorant violence to be violent for that which we do not understand Acts 17. 23. As I passed by and beheld your Devotions I found an Altar with this Inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the unknown God These Athenians were violent in their devotion but it might be said to them as Christ said to the Woman of Samaria Joh. 4. 22. Ye worship ye know not what Thus the Papists are violent in their Religion witness their pennance fasting dilacerating themselves till the blood comes but it is a Zeal without Knowledge their Metal is better than their Eye-sight When Aaron was to burn the Incenâ—…e upon the Altar he was â—…st to light the lampâ—… Exod. 30. 7. When zeal like incense burns first the lamp of knowledge must be lighted 2. It excludes a bloody violence which is two-fold First when one goes to lay violent hands upon himself The body is an earthly prison where God hath put the Soul we must not break
to walk much less to run a Race I acknowledge true Repentance is never too late but when a man can hardly stir his hand or lift up his eyes now is a very unfit time to begin the Race from earth to Heaven 4. This earnestness for Heaven is compared to fighting which implies violence 1 Tim. 6. 12. Fight the good fight of Faith It is not enough to be labourers but warriers Indeed in Heaven our armour shall be hung up in token of victory but now it is dies praelii a day of battel and we must fight the good fight of Faith As Hannibal forced a way for his Army over the Alps and craggy Rocks So must we force our way to Heaven We must not only pray but pray fervently Jam. 5. 16. This is offering violence to Heaven The Reasons why there must be this offering violence to Heaven are 1. God's indispensible command He hath enacted a Law that whosoever eats of the fruit of Paradise shall eat it in the sweat of his brow 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports an anxious solicitous care about salvation 2. God's decree The Lord hath in his eternal decree joyned the end and the means together striving and entring the Race and the Crown And a man can no more think to come to Heaven without offering violence than he can think to come to the end of his Journey that never sets a step in the way Who expects an harvest without plowing and sowing How can we expect the harvest of glory without labour Though our salvation in respect of Christ is a purchase yet in respect of us it is a conquest 3. We must offer violence to Heaven in regard of the difficulty of the work Taking a Kingdom First we must be pulled out of another Kingdom The Kingdom of darkness To get out of the state of nature is hard and when that is done and we are cut off from the wild Olive and implanted into Christ there is new work still to do new sins to mortifie new temptations to resist new graces to quicken A Christian must not only get Faith but go from Faith to Faith Rom. 1. 17. This will not be done without violence 4. We must offer violence to Heaven in regard of the violent assaults made against us 1. Our own hearts oppose us 'T is a strange Paradox Man who doth naturally desire happiness yet opposeth it he desires to be saved yet hates that holy violence which should save him 2. All the powers of Hell oppose us Satan stands at our right hand as he did at Joshuah's Zach. 3. 2. Shall not we be as earnest to save our souls as the Dragon is to devour them Without violent affections we shall never resist violent temptations 5. We must be violent because it is a matter of the highest importance A man doth not beat his head about trifles but matters wherein his life and estate are concerned Violence is to be offered if we consider 1. What we shall save The precious soul. What pains do we take for the feeding and enriching the body the â—…rutish part O then what violence should we use for the saving the soul The body is but a Ring of Clay â—…he soul is the Diamond The soul is the glass wherein the image of God is seen There are in the soul some shadows and faint representations of a Deity If Christ thought the soul worth shedding his blood well may we think it worth spending our sweat 2. Consider what we shall gain a Kingdom What violence is used for earthly Crowns and Empires men will wade to the Crown through blood Heaven is a Kingdom which should make us strive for it Non ad sudorem tantum sed sanguinem even to blood The hopes of a Kingdom saith St. Basil should carry a Christian chearfully through all labours and sufferings There must be offering violence in regard of that aptness and proneness in the best to grow remiss in Religion When they have been quickned in a duty they are apt to grow dead again When they have been heat at the fire of an Ordinance they are apt to freeze again therefore they must be still offering violence The heart like the Watch will be apt to go down therefore must be ever and anon wound up by prayer and meditation The fire of devotion will soon go out if it be not blown up A Christian's own experience of his inconstancy in good is cogent enough to holy violence If there must be this offering violence 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 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 Jerusaleâ—… 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 Hâ—…b 1. 14. The wings of the Seraphims 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 â—…ill of God and have not yet arrived at a state of glory Is salvation-work
then they will begin this No man saith I will learn my trade when I am old It is imprudence for one to begin to work for Heaven when he is past his labour There is a night of sickness and death coming and our Saviour saith The night cometh when none can work Joh. 9. 4. Sure a man can put forth but little violence for Heaven when old age and old sins are upon him Besides how unworthy and dis-ingenuous is it to give the Devil the flower of youth and God the dâ—…egs of old age Therefore God rejected Cain's Sacrifice because it was stale before he brought it Gen. 4. 2. There is little hope of their salvation who are never violent for Heaven till their disease grows violent 6. It reproves those that are so far from using this violence for Heaven that they deride it These are your zealous ones 2 Pet. 3. 3. In the last daies there shall be scoffers Holy walking is become the object of derision Psal. 69. 12. I am become the song of the drunkards This shews a vile heart There are some who though thy have no goodness themselves yet honour them that are good Herod reverenced John Baptist. But what Devils are they who scoff at goodness and reproach others for doing that which God commands This age produceth such as sit in the chair of scorners and throw their squibs at Religion In Bohemia when some of the Martyrs were the next day to suffer they comforted themselves with this that this was their last Supper and to morrow they should feast with Christ in Heaven a Papist standing by asked them in a jear if Christ had any Cooks in Heaven to dress their Supper Oh take heed of such an Ishmael-spirit â—…t is a sign of a man given over to the Devil God scorneth the scorner Prov. 3. 34. And sure he shall never live with God whose company God scorns 7. It reproves them who instead of taking Heaven by force keep it off by force as if they were afraid of being happy or as if a Crown of glory would hurt them Such are 1. The ignorant who shut their eyes against the light and refuse to be taught the way to Heaven Hosea 4. 6. Thou hast rejected Knowledge The Hebrew word signifies to reject with disdain As I have read of a Scotch Bishop who thanked God he never knew what the Old and New Testament was I wonder where that Bishop took his text 2. The prophane who hate to be admonished and had rather die than reform Amos 5. 10. They hate him that rebuketh in the gate These keep off Heaven by force Such were those Acts 13. 46. Seeing you put away the Word from you The Greek word may be rendred seeing you shuff it away with your shoulders As if a sick â—…n should bolt out the Physician lest he should cure him Job 21. 14. Who say unto the Almighty depart from us God is loth to bâ—… gone he woes and beseecheth sinners to accept of terms of mercy he is loth to be gone but sinners will have him gone They say to him Depart May not we say to these quis effascinavit who hath bewitched you What madness beyond Hyperbole is this that you should not only forsake mercy but fight against it as if there were danger in going to Heaven These who put away salvation from them are felo de se they do wilfully perish they would not hear of any thing that should save them Were it not a sad Epitaph to be written upon a man's Tomb-stone Here lies one that murdered himself This is the condition of desperate sinners they keep off Heaven by force they are self-murderers Therefore God writes their Epitaph upon their grave Hosea 13. 9. O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self 3. Let us then examine whether we put forth this holy violence for Heaven What is an empty Profession without this like a Lamp without Oyl Let us all ask our selves What violence do we use for Heaven 1. Do we strive with our hearts to get them into an holy frame How did David awaken all the powers of his soul to serve God Psal. 57. 8. I my self will awake early The heart is like a Bell that is a long while a raising 2. Do we set time apart to call our selves to an account and try our evidences for Heaven Psal. 77. 6. My Spirit made diligent search Do we take our hearts as a Watch all in pieces to see what is amiss and mend it Are we curiously inquisâ—…ive into the state of our souls Are we afraid of painted grace as of painted happiness 3. Do we use violence in prayer Is there fire in our Sacrifice Doth the wind of the Spirit filling our sails cause groans unutterable Rom. 8. 26. Do we pray in the morning as if we were to die at night 4. Do we thirst for the living God Are our souls big with holy desires Psal. 73. 25. There is none upon earth my soul desires besides thee Do we desire holiness as well as Heaven Do we desire as much to look like Christ as to live with Christ Is our desire constant Is this spiritual pulse ever beating 5. Are we skilled in self denial Can we deny our ease our aimes our interest Can we cross our own will to fulfill God's Can we behead our beloved sin To pluck out the right eye requires violence 6. Are we lovers of God It is not how much we do but how much we love Doth love command the â—…astle of our hearts Doth Christ's beauty and sweetness constrain us 2 Cor. 5. 14. Do we love God more than we fear Hell 7. Do we keep our spiritual watch do we set spies in every place watching our thoughts our eyes our tongues When we have prayed against sin do we watch against temptation The Jews having sealed the stone of Christ's Sepulchre seâ—…t a watch Matth. 27. 66. After we have been at the Word or Sacrament that sealing Ordinance do we set a watch 8. Do we press after further degrees of sanctity Phil. 3. 13. Reaching forth unto those things which are before A good Christian is a wonder he is the most contented yet the least satisfied he is contented with a little of the world but not satisfied with a little grace he would still have more Faith and be anointed with fresh Oyl Paul desired to attain unto the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3. 11. that is he endeavoured if possible to arrive at such a measure of grace as the Saints shall have at the Resurrection 9. Is there an holy emulation in us do we labour to out-shine others in Religion To be more eminent for love and good works 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Do we something which is singular Matth. 5. 47. What do you more than others 10. Are we got above the world though we walk on Earth do we trade in Heaven Can we say as David Psal. 139. 17. I am
Objection about worldly business let me ask thee Dost thou think in thy conscience that this will be a good excuse at the last day when God shall ask thee why didst thou not take pains for Heaven thou shalt say Lord I was so steeped in worldly business that I was hindered Were it a good plea for a servant to say to his Master he was so drunk that he could not work Truly 't is much like thine to say thou wert so drunk with the cares of the world that thou couldest not be violent for the Kingdom Having answered these Objections let me re-assume the exhortation pressing all Christians to this violence for the heavenly Kingdom As David's three Worthies ventured their lives and brake thorow the hoast of the Philistims for water 2 Sam. 23. 16. Such a kind of violence must we use breaking through all dangers for obtaining the Water of life 1. Consider the deplorable condition we are in by nature a state of misery and damnation therefore what violence should we use to get out of it Were one plunged into quick-sands would he not use violence to get out Sin is a quicksand and is it not wisdom to extricate our selves out David being encompassed with enemies said His soul was among Lions Psal. 57. 4. 'T is true in a spiritual sense our soul is among Lions Every sin is a Lion that would devour us and if we are in the Lion's Den shall we not use violence to get out The Angels used violence to Lot they laid hold on him and pulled him out of Sodom Gen. 19. 16. Such violence must be used to get out of the spiritual Sodom It is no safety to stay in the enemies quarters 2. It is possible that in the use of means we may arrive at happiness Impossibility destroies endeavour but here is a door of hope opened The thing is feasible It is not with us as with the damned in Hell there is a tomb-stone rolled over them But while we are under the sound of Aaron's Bell and the Silver Trumpet of the Gospel is blown in our ears while the Spirit of Grace breaths on us and we are on this side the grave there is great hope that by holy violence we may win Paradise An absolute impossibility of salvation is only for them who have sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost and cannot repent but who these are is a secret sealed up in God's Book else here is a great encouragement to all to be serious and earnest in the matters of eternity because they are yet in a capacity of mercy no final sentence is already passed God hath not yet taken up the draw-bridge of mercy Though the gate of Paradise is strait yet it is not shut This should be as Oyl to the wheels to make us lively and active in the business of salvation Therefore as the Husbandman plows in hope James 5. So we should pray 〈◊〉 hope do all our work for Heaven in hope for the white flag of mercy is yet held forth So long as there was Corn to be had in Egypt the Sons of Jacob would not sit starving at home Gen. 42. 3. So there is a Kingdom to be obtained therefore let us not sit starving in our sins any longer This violence for Heaven is the grand business of our lives What did we come into the world for else we did not come hither only to eat and drink and wear fine cloaths but the end of our living is to be violent for the Kingdom of glory Should the body only be tended this were to trim the scabbard and let the blade rust to preserve the lumber and let the child be burnt God sends us into the world as a Merchant sends his Factor to trade for him beyond the Seas So God sends us hither to follow a spiritual trade to serve him and save our souls If we spend all our time aut aliud agendo aut nihil in dressing and pampering our bodies or idle visits we shall give but a sad account to God when he shall send us a letter of summons by death and bid us give an account of our Stewardship Were not he much 〈◊〉 be blamed that should have a great deal of Timber given him to build him an house and he should cut out all this brave Timber into chips Just so is the case of many God gives them precious time in which they are to provide for a Kingdom and they waste this time of life and cut it out all into chips Let this excite violence in the things of God it is the main errand of our living here shall we go out of the world and forget our errand 4. How violent are the wicked in waies of sin violent for their malicious lusts Prov. 1. 16. Their feet run to evil Violent for their unclean lusts Amnon offered violence to his Sister he would have his lust though it cost him his life Sinners tire out themselves in the Devil's drudgery Jer 9. 5. They meary themselves to commit iniquity They are out of breath with sin yet not out of love with sin Jer. 50. 38. They are mad upon their Idols So violent were the Jews that they would spare no cost in their Idolatrous worship Isa. 46. 6. They lavish gold out of the bag So fiercely were they bent upon Idolatry that they would sacrifice their Sons and Daughters to their Idol godâ—… Jer. 32. 35. They built the high places of Bâ—…al to cause their Sons and Daughters to pass thorow the fire Were men thus violent for their lusts and Idols and shall not we be violent for a Kingdom Nay you that are now ingrafted into Christ how violent perhaps have some of you been formerly in evil how did you once spend your selves in a sinful way like Paul who before his conversion breathed out threatning and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord Act. 9. 1. Perhaps you have been violent in drawing others to sin you have been tempters to them and perhaps some of them whom you have seduced to sin are now crying out of you in Hell and saying They had never come there if it had not been for your example should not the consideration of this humble you should not this make you the more violent in Religion that you may bring some glory to God before you die should not you be as industrious to save souls as you have been to damn them Were you to live to the age of Methusalem you could never do God service sufficient for the dishonour you have done to him 5. This holy violence hath much delight mingled with it Prov. 3. 17. All her waies are pleasantness Though the way of Religion hath thorns in it in respect of persecution yet it is full of Roses in respect of that inward peace and content that the soul finds in it A man is violent at his recreation but there is an inward delight he takes in it which
But God saith more Ask and he will give the whole Kingdom Luke 12. 32. It is observable the door of the tabernacle was not of brass but had a thin covering a vail that they might easily enter into it So the door of Heaven is through Christ's blood made easie that our prayers put up in servency may enter Upon our asking God hath promised to give his Spirit Luke 11. 13. And if he gives his Spirit he will give the Kingdom the Spirit first anoints 1 John 2. 27. and after its anointing Oyl comes the Crown 2. Seek and ye shall find But is it not said Many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luke 13. 24. I answer that is because they did seek in a wrong manner 1. They did seek ignorantly setting up an Altar to an unknown god It is ill seeking Pearls in the dark Ignorant people seek Heaven by their good meanings they seek in the dark and no wonder they miss of salvation 2. They did seek proudly They sought Heaven by their own merits whereas we are to seek the Kingdom in Christ's strength and in his name 3. They did seek lazily as the Spouse sought Christ on her bed and found him not Cant. 3. 1. So many seek Christ in a supine manner they seek but they do not strive 4. They did seek hypocrit â—…ally they would have Heaven and their lusts too Like that Protestant Prince Cambden speaks of who set up one Altar in the same Church to the true God and another to the Idol But let not such seekers ever think to find happiness let not them think to lye in Dalila's lap and go to Abraham's bosom when they die 5. They did seek inconstantly Because mercy did not come presently they gave over seeking But else if we seek the Kingdom of Heaven cordially God hath pawned his Truth in a promise we shall find Jer. 29. 13. Then shall ye find me when you search for me with all your heart 3. Knock and it shall be opened Knocking implies violence But we must do as Peter Acts 22. 16. He continued knocking We must continue knocking by prayer and Heaven-gate shall be opened How may this be as Oyl to the wheels how may it excite holy violence when we have so gracious a promise of mercy upon our earnest seeking of it 16. This holy violence will not hinder men in their secular employments Violence for the Kingdom and diligence in a calling are not inconsistent Christians you may work for Heaven yet work in a trade God hath given you a body and a soul and he hath allotted you time to provide for both he hath given you a body therefore be diligent in your calling he hath given you a soul therefore be violent for Heaven These two may well stand together providing for a family and praying in in a family He that doth not exercise himself in some honest employment is guilty of the breach of that Commandment Six daies shalt thou labour God never sealed warrants for idleness The sluggard shall be indicted at the day of judgement for leting his field be over-run with thorns They are hypocrites who talk of living by faith but refuse to live in a Calling Only remember that the pains you tak in Religion must exceed the other Mat. 6. 33. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God First in order of time before all things and first in order of affection above all things Your soul is the nobler part therefore that must be chiefly looked after In your calling shew diligence in Religion violence But some may say We are so incumbred in the world that all time for Relion is swallowed up we cannot get leave from our calling to read or pray Resp. If your trade be such that you cannot allow your selves time for your souls then your trade is unlawful There are two things make a trade unlawful 1. When persons deal in such commodities as they know cannot be used without sin Selling of black spots or idolatrous Pictures and Crucifixes 2. When their trade doth so involve them in worldly business that they cannot mind eternity or make out one sally to the Throne of Grace They are so much in the shop that they cannot be in the closet If there be such a trade to be found doubtless it is unlawful but let not men lay it upon their trade but upon themselves their trade would give them leave to serve God but their covetousness will not give them leave O how many put a fallacy upon their own souls and cheat themselves into Hell 17. There is but a short space of time granted us therefore work the harder for Heaven before it be too late Indeed we are apt to dream of a long life as if we were not sojourners but natives and were to stay here alwaies The blossom of childhood hopes to come to the budding of youth and the bud of youth hopes to come to the flower of age and the flower of age hopes to come to old age and old age hopes to renew its strength as the Eagle But if we measure life by a pair of Scripture-compasses it is very short it is compared to a flying shadow Job 8. 17. to an hand-breadth Psal. 39. 5. as if there were but a span between the cradle and the grave parum abest à nihilo Is the time of life so short and may be shorter than we are aware what need is there zealously to improve it before it be slipp'd away if time runs let us so run 1 Cor. 9. 24. He that hath a gâ—…eat business in hand and the time allotted for doing it is but short had not need lose any of that time A Traveller that hath many miles to ride and the night ready to approach had need spur on the harder that the night do not overtake him So we have a long journy and the night of death is drawing on how should we use spurs to ouâ—… sluggish hearts that we may go on more swiftly 18. A man's personal day of grace may be short There is a time while the Scepter of grace is held forth 2 Cor. 6. 2. Now is the accepted time The Lord hath prefixed a time wherein the means of Grace shall work or not work If a person come not in by such a time God may say Never fruit grow on thee more A sign this day of grace is past when conscience hath done speaking and God's Spirit hath done striving Whether this day may be longer or shorter we cannot tell but because it may so soon expire 't is wisdom to take the present opportunity and use all violence for Heaven The day of grace hastens away no man can like Joshua bid this Sun stand still and if this critical day be once past it cannot be recalled The day of grace being lost the next is 〈◊〉 day of wrath Hierusalem had a day but she lost it Luke 19. 44 If thou hadst known
even thou in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes After the expiration of the day of grace no means or mercies shall prove effectual Now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are hid from thine eyes Which is like the ringing a doleful knell over a dying person therefore put forth all violence for Heaven and do it in this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before it be too late and the decree be gone forth 19. If you neglect the offering violence now there will be no help for you after death When men shall open their eyes in another world and see into what a damned condition they have sinned themselves O now what would they not do what violence would they not use if there were a possibility they might be saved When once the door of mercy is shut if God would make new terms far harder than before they would readily seal to them If God should say to the sinner after death Wouldst thou be content to return to the earth and live there under the harrow of persecution a thousand years for my sake Yes Lord I will subscribe to this and endure the world's fury may I have but thy favour at last But wilt thou be content to serve an Apprentiship in Hell a thousand years where thou shalt feel the worm gnawing and the fire burning Yes Lord even in Hell I submit to be so that after a thousand years I may have a release and that bitter cup may pass away from me But wilt thou for every lye thou hast told endure the rack wilt thou for every Oath that thou hast sworn fill a bottle of tears wilt thou for every sin thou hast committed lye ten thousand years in sackcloth and ashes Yes Lord all this and more if thou requirest I will subscribe to I am content now to use any violence if I may but at last be admitted into thy Kingdom No will God say there shall be no such condition proposed to thee no possibility of favour but thou shalt lye for ever among the damned and who is able to dwell with everlasting burnings Oh therefore be wise in time now while God's terms are more easie embrace Christ and Heaven for after death there will be nothing to be done for your souls The sinner and the furnace shall never be parted 20. How without all Apology will you be left if you neglect this violence for heaven Me-thinks I hear God thus expostulating the case with sinners at the last day Why did you not take pains for Heaven hath not there been a Prophet among you Did not my Ministers list up their voice like a Trumpet did not they warn you did not they perswade you to use this violence teling you that your salvation depended upon it but the most melting Rhetorick of the Gospel would not move you Did not I give you time to look after your souls Rev. 2. 21. I gave her space to repent Did not you promise in your vow in Baptism that you would take Heaven by force Fighting under my banner against world flesh and Devil Why then did you not use violence for the Kingdom it must be either sloth or obstinacy You could be violent for other things for the world for your lusts but not for the Kingdom of Heavâ—…n What can you say for your selves why the sentence of damnation should not pass O how will men be confounded and left speechless at such a time and God's Justice shall be cleared in their condemnation Psal. 51. 4. That thou maiest be clear when thou judgest Though the Sinner shall drink a Sea of wrath yet not one drop of injustice 21. What a vexation it will be at the last to lose the Kingdom of Glory for want of a little violence When one shall think with himself I did something in Religion but I was not violent enough I prayed but I should have brought fire to the sacrifice I heard the word but I should have received the truth in love I humbled my self with fasting but I should with humiliation have joyned reformation I gave Christ's poor good words I did bid them be warmed but I should have clothed and fed them and for want of a little more violence I have lost the Kingdom The Prophet bade the King of Israel smite upon the ground 2 King 13. 18. And he smote thrice and staiâ—… and the man of God was wroth and said thou shouldest have smiten five or six times then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it So a man doth something in Religion he smites thrice and then states whereas had he but put forth a little more violence for Heaven he had been saved What a mischief is this but to half do ones work and by shooting short to lose the Kingdom O how will this cut a man to the heart when he is in Hell to think had I but gone a little further it had been better with me than it is now I had not been thus tormented in the flame 22. The examples of the Saints of old who have taken Heaven by force David broke his sleep for meditation Psal. 119. 148. His violence for Heaven was boiled up to zeal Psal. 119. 139. My zeal hath consumed me And St. Paul did reach forth unto those things which were before The Greek word signifies to stretch out the neck a metaphor taken from Racers that strain every limb and reach forward to â—…ay hold upon the prizâ—… We read of Anna a Prophetess Luke 〈◊〉 37. She departed not from the Temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and day How industrious was Calvin in the Lord's Viâ—…eyard When his friends perswaded him for his health sake to remit a little of his labours saith he Would ye have the Lord find me 〈◊〉 when he comes Luther spent three hours a day in prayer It is said of holy Bradford preaching reading and prayer was his whole life I rejoyce said Bishop Jewel that my body is exhausted in the labours of my holy calling How violent were the blessed Martyrs they wore their fetters as ornaments they snatched up torments as Crowns and embraced the flames as chearfully as Eliah did the fiery Chariot that came to fetch him to Heaven Let racks fires pullies and all manner of torments come so I may win Christ said Ignatius These pious souls resisted unto blood How should this provoke our zeal write after these fair copies 23. If the Saints with all their violence have much ado to get to Heaven how shall they come there who use no violence 1 Pet. 4. 18. If the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and sinner appear If they that strive as in an Agony can hardly get in at the strait gate what shall become of them that never strive at all If Saint Paul did keep under his body by prayer watching fasting 1 Cor. 9. 27. how shall
grace as will keep life and soul together A sick man may have life but is not lively Grace may live in the heart but is sickly and doth not flourish into lively acts Weak grace will not withstand strong temptations or carry through great sufferings it will hardly follow Christ upon the water Little grace will not do God much service A Tree that hath but little sap will not have much fruit It may be said of some Christians though they are not still born yet they are starvelings in grace They are like a ship that comes with much ado to the Haven Oh labour to grow to further degrees of sanctity The more grace the more strength and the more strength the more violence If you would be violent for Heaven take heed of this opinion That it is not so hard to get the Kingdom less violence will serve turn He that thinks he need not run a Race so fast will be apt to slack his pace This hath undone many Who will take pains for Heaven that thinks it may he had at a cheaper rate But if it be so easie what needs Christ say Strive as in an Agony What needed Paul beat down his body Why doth the Text speak of taking the Kingdom by force Is not conversion called a new birth Joh. 3. 7. a Creation Psal. 51. 10. and is that facil O take heed of phancying that work easie which is both above nature and against it 'T is as great a wonder for a soul to be saved as to see a mill stone to be lift up into the middle Region 2. Uâ—…e those means which will promote this holy violence 1. Keep up daily prayer Prayer is the bellows that blows up the affections and a Christian is most active when his affections are most violent Prayer keeps the trade of Religion agoing Prayer is to the soul as the animal spirits are to the body the anmal spirits make the body more agile and lively so doth prayer the soul. That the motion of a Watch may be quicker the spring must be wound up Christian winde up thy heart every day by prayer Prayer fetcheth in strength from Christ and when his strength comes in it sets the soul a working Prayer leaves the heart in a good frame As the morning Sun leaves a warmth in the room all the day after When Christians lay aside prayer or leave off fervency in it then by degrees they lose their holy violence If you would be violent for Heaven get under lively preaching The word is quick and powerful Heb. 4. 12. It puts liâ—…e into a dead heart It is both a sword â—…o cut down sin and a spur to quicken grace The word is a fire to thaw a frozen heart Jâ—…r 23. 29. Is not my Word fire As good almost be without preaching as be under such preaching as will not warm It is a part of the Word not only to inform but to inflame Psal. 119. 50. Thy Word hath quickened me 'T is the lively dispensation of the Oracles of Heaven must animate us and make us lively in our operation If you would be violent for Heaven get your hearts filled with love to Religion This is like the Rod of Myrtle in the Travellers hand Pliny â—…peaks of which makes him fresh and lively in his travel and keeps him from being weary When a man hath warmed himself at the fire now he is sittest for work If you would be violent in working out salvation warm your selves at this fire of love A man will be violent for nothing but what he loves Why are men so eager in their pursuit after gold but because they love it Love causeth delight and delight causeth violence What made St. Paul labour more than all the other Apostles The love of Christ constrained him 2 Cor. 5. 14. Love is like Oyl to the wheels Get love to Religion and you will never be weary you will count those the best hours which are spent with God He that digs in a silver Vein sweats yet love to the silver makes his labour delightful If you would be violent be vigilant The Prophet stood upon his Watch-tower Hab. 2. 1. Why are Christians so listless in their work but because they are so careless in their watch Did they but watch to see how their enemy watcheth they would be violent to resist him Did they but watch to see how their time runs or rather flies they would be violent to redeem it Did they but watch to see how their hearts loiter in Religion they would spur on faster to Heaven The reason there is so little violence in Religion is because there is so little vigilance When Christians neglect their spiritual watch and grow secure now their motion to Heaven is retarded and Satan's motions to sin are renewed Our sleeping time is Satan's tempting time If you would be violent for the Kingdom bind your heart to God by sacred vows A servant will be more diligent after he is bound to his Master Vow to the Lord that by his grace you will act more vigorously in the sphere of Religion Psalm 56. 12. Thy vows are upon me O God A vow binds the votary to duty He looks upon himself now as under a special obligation and that quickens endeavour No question but a Christian may make such a vow because the ground of it is morally good he vows nothing but what he is bound to do namely to walk more closely with God Only remember that we vow not in our own strength but Christs We must confide in him as well for strength as righteousness Isa. 46. 24. In the Lord I have righteousness and strength If you would be violent for Heaven be sure you make going to Heaven your business What a man looks on as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or thing by the by he will never be violent for but that which he makes his business he will be industrious about A man looks upon his trade as the only thing to get a livelihood by and he follows it close So if we would but look upon Religion as the main business wherein our salvation is concerned we should be violent in it Luke 10. 42. But one thing is needfull This is the One Thing to get Christ and Heaven This is the end we came into the world for If we could thus look upon the things of eternity as our business the One Thing how earnest should we be in the pursuit of them If you would be violent have Heaven continually in your eye This made Christ violent to the death he had an eye to the joy set before him Heb. 12. 2. Set the Crown ever before you and that will provoke endeavour immensum gloria â—…alcar habet The Mariner hath his hand to the Sterh and his eye to the Star While we are working let us have an eye to that place where is Christ the bright morning star How
willingly doth a man wade through a deep water that sees the dry Land before him and is sure to be crowned as soon as he comes at shore Every time you cast your eye up to Heaven think above that starry Heaven is the Empyraean Heaven I am striving for Thus did Moses the eye of his faith quickned the feet of his obedience Heb. 11. 26. He looked to the recompence of Reward When Christians lose their prospect of Heaven then they begin to slacken their pace in the way thither If you would be violent for the Kingdom accompany with such as are violent When we want fire we use to go to our neighbours hearth and fetch fire Often be among the godly and so you shall fetch some heat and quickning from them Psal. 119. 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee Good company quickens The holy discourse and example of one Saint doth whet and sharpen another The Saints never go so fast to Heaven as when they go in company One Christian helps forward another In other Races that are run many times one hinders another but in this Race to Heaven one Christian helps forward another 1 Thes. 5. 11. Edifie one another even as also ye do O let not this Article of our Creed be forgotten The Communion of Saints If you would be violent never leave till you have the Spirit Desire of God to put forth the sweet violence of his Spirit the Spouse begg'd a gale of the Spirit Cant. 4. 16. Awake O North-wind blow a South When God's Spirit blows upon us now we go full sail to Heaven When the Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels then they moved Ezek. 1. 21. The wheels of our endeavour move apace when the Spirit of God is in these wheels Seeing there are so many violent winds of temptation blowing us backward we had need have the violent wind of God's Spirit blowing us forward to Heaven Let this suffice to have spoken of the means for this holy violence But may some say we have used this violence for Heaven what remains for us to do As the people said to Christ Luke 1. 13. What shall we do You that have been violent for Heaven aged Christians let me beseech you still to keep alive this holy violence Not only keep up duty but violence in duty Remember you have that corruption within you which is ready to abate this blessed violence The brightest coal hath those ashes growing on it as is apt to choak the fire You have those inbred corruptions that like ashes are ready to choak the fire of your zeal How was Peter's grace cooled when he denied Christ The Church of Ephesus lost her keen edge of Religion Rev. 2. 4. Take heed of declining in your affections Be not like a body in an atrophy be most violent at last A stone the nearer it is to the center the more violent it is in its motion You have but a little time now to work for God therefore work the harder Be like the Church of Thyatira Her last works were more than her first Rev. 2. 19. Be as the Sun that shines brightest before its setting As the Swan that sings sweetest before its death Rom. 13. 11. Your salvation is nearer than when you believed If your salvation be nearer your violence should be greater How should you quicken your pace when you are within sight of the Kingdom He is an happy man of whom it may be said spiritually as of Moses literally before his death Deut. 34. 7. His eyes waxed not dim and his natural force was not abated So a Christian's force and violence for Heaven is not abated He keeps the best wine of his life till the last Here is strong consolation to the violent Christian thou art in the way to the Kingdom Though perhaps thou hast not a bunch of Grapes in the way I mean that joy which some meet with yet it is happy that thou art in the way Bless God that while some lye in the totâ—…l neglect of duty God hath given thee an heart to seek him Psal. 105. 3. Leâ—… the hearts of them rejoyce that seek the Lord. Nay God hath not only given thee an heart to do duty but to do duty mixed with love which makes it savoury meat and do duty stamped with fervency which makes it pass currant with God O bless God who hath raised thee off the bed of sloth and stirred up the zeal of thy soul for Heaven He who hath made thee violent will make thee victorious Wait awhile and thou shalt be possessed of a Kingdom When Moses went up to receive God's Commands he staid six daies on the Mount and on the seventh day God called to him Exod. 24. 16. Though we wait long and have not the thing waited for yet let us continue doing our duty shortly God will call us from Heaven Come up hither and we shall go from the Mount of Faith to the Mount of Vision and behold those glorious things which eye hath â—…ot seen nor can it enter into man's heart to conceive But may a child of God say I fear I am none of those violent ones that shall take Heaven I find such a deadness of heart in duty that I question whether I shall ever arrive at the Kingdom This deadness of the heart may arise from natural causes Weakness of body may occasion indisposition of mind Thy prayer may be weak because thy body is weak A Lute that is cracked cannot send forth so sweet a sound as if it were whole 2. This indisposition of soul perhaps is only casual and for a time it may be in a deep fit of melancholy or in desertion When the Sun is gone from our climate the earth is as it were in desertion and the trees are without blossom or fruit but this is only for a time Let but the Sun return again in Spring and now the herbs flourish and the trees put forth their fruit So when God hides his face there is a deadness upon a Christian's heart he prayes as if he prayed not But let the Sun of Righteousness return now he is divinely animated and is as vigorous and lively in his operation as ever he now recovers his first love Therefore thou weak Christian be not discouraged so long as thou dost not allow thy self in thy distemper a dead heart is thy burden look up to Christ thy High-Priest who is merciful to bear with thy infirmities and is mighty to help them THE HAPPINESS OF Drawing near to GOD. PSALM 73. 28. But it is good for me to draw near to God THis Psalm is no less elegant than sacred It is calculated for the Meridian of God's Church in all times but especially it is fit for the godly to meditate upon in times of calamity It is intitled a Psalm of Asaph Asaph was a man divinely inspired a Prophet as also one of the
hath turned them away from the profession of Religion Such were Bolsecus Petrus Carolus and others Hos. 8. 3. Israel hath cast off the thing that is good At Ausborough the Papists give ten florens a year to such as revolt from the Protestant Faith Men draw back from God because they never had the Spirit of God to confirm them Such as have the Spirit 's indwelling never take their final leave of God The Spirit in the heart is called an earnest not a pawn A pawn may be called for again and taken away but an earnest remains and is part of the summ behind O how odious is it to draw back from God! The name Judas is had in abomination at this day Sure no Protestant would baptize his child Judas And how dismal was his end he who had no bowels to an innocent Christ his bowels gushed out If it be good to draw near to God it must needs be evil to draw back from him Psal. 37. 27. Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee 3. It exhorts us all to draw near to God 'T is more ingenious to draw near to God voluntarily than to be drawn near to him by affliction God is the terminus ad quem whither should the soul go but to God where can the Bee rest but in its hive To draw near to God is as well a priviledge as a duty There are but two Motives I shall use to perswade to this drawing near to God 1. The first is in the text to draw near to God is a good thing 'T is good for me That it is good appears several waies To draw near to God is our wisdom The price of Wisdom is above Rubies Job 28. 18. No Jewel we wear doth so adorn us as wisdom and wherein is our wisdom seen more than in our appropinquation to God 'T is judged wisdom to keep in with great men Prov. 19. 6. Many will intreat the favour of the Prince A Prince's love is mutable How often doth the sun-shine of his royal favour set in a cloud But it is wisdom to draw near to God he is the sweetest friend and the sorest enemy To draw near to God is our honour It is counted an honour to converse with noble personages What an high dignity is it that the great God will suffer sinful dust to draw near to him Surely the Apostle did speak it with an holy boasting 1 Joh. 1. 3. Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus As if he had said we do not walk with the Pedanticks of the world we are of the blood-royal of Heaven we live above other men Our fellowship is with the Father That the King of Kings will hold forth a Golden Scepter to us invite and welcome us into his presence and bid us draw near this is no small favour 1 Sam. 2â—… 2. Every one that was distressed and in debt drew near to David and he became a Captain over them So that we who are distressed and in debt may draw near to God and that he will not only be our captain but our Husband Isa. 54. 5. What transcendent dignity is this It is a wonder God doth not kick uâ—… out of his presence but that we should be admitted to see the King's face and that he should send us dainties off from his own table is an honour fitter for Angels than men To draw near to God is our safety God is a strong Tower Prov. 18. 10. It is good in times of danger to draw near to a Fort or Castle Haâ—… 3. 4. He had horns coming out of his haâ—…ds and â—…here was the hiding of his power The â—…orns coming out of God's hands are to push his enemies and she hiding of his power is to safeguard his people God is an impregnable strong hold Indeed there is no safety but in drawing nigh to God If the sheep straggles from the fold it is in danger of the Wolf if we straggle and wander from God we are in danger of Satan To draw near to God is our peace The only thing which breaks our peace is when we do not keep close to God but what harmony yea Heaven is in the soul when it draws nigh to God! Psal. 119. 165. Great peace have they that love thy Law This peace like Pearl in broth is cordial David drew nigh to God for he was ever with him Psal. 139. 17. And this made his pillow soft when he went to sleep Psal. 4. 8. I will lay me down in peace As the hony-dew falls upon the leaf O that sweet serenity which drops as hony upon the soul while it is drawing nigh to God! How comfortable is it to draw near the Sun and how sweet is it to approach nigh to the Sun of Righteousness To draw near to God is our riches 'T is good drawing near a golden Mine If we draw near to God he will enrich us with promises and divine consolations he will enrich us with the Pearl of price Ephes. 3. 8. He will reward us as a King yea as a God He will make over his Land and Jewels to us he will give us the spring-flowers of joy here and the harvest of glory hereafter If we draw near to God he will draw near to us If we draw near to him in duty he will draw near to us in mercy When the Prodigal approached to his Father his Father drew near to him and fell on his neck and kissed him Luke 15. 20. If we draw near to God with repenting hearts he will draw near to us with a compassionate heart David prayed Psal. 69. 18. Draw nigh to my soul. It is good to have God draw nigh to us How sweet is his presence he is light to the eye joy to the heart How happy was it for Zacheus when Christ drew near to him This day is salvation come to thy house Luke 19. 9. When God draws near to the soul Heaven and salvation draw near 2. There is a time coming when we shall wish we had drawn near to God We are shortly drawing dear to our grave Psalm 107. 18. They draw near unto the gates of death The wicked who care not for God yet at death they would draw near to him then they cry as Matth. 8. 25. Lord save us or we perish Then mercy mercy They run to God in distress as in a storm men run to a tree for shelter But God will not shelter his enemies The Lord gives the sinner abundance of mercy in his life time as you have seen a loving Father bribing a Prodigal Son with money to see if he can reclaim him but if the sinner be not wrought upon with mercy then at death the Sun of mercy sets and a dark night of wrath overtakes the sinner They who would not draw nigh to God as a friend God will draw nigh to them as an enemy How