7. Aggravation of the loss of this king- dom, it will be an eternal irreparable loss; heaven, once lost, can never be recovered. Worldly losses may be made up again ; if a man lose his health, he may have it re- paired by physic; if a man be driven out of his kingdom, he may be restored to it a- gain, as king Nebuchadnezzar was, Dan. iv. 36., " My honour returned to me, and I was established in my kingdom." King Henry VI. was deposed from his thi'one, yet restored again to it. But they who once lose heaven, can never be restored to it again : after millions of years, they are as far from obtaining glory as at first. Thus you see how needful this exhortation is, that we should fear lest we fall short of this kingdom of heaven.
Quest. JVhat shall we do, that we may not 7niss of this kingdom of glory.
Ans. 1. Take heed of those things which will make you miss of heaven. 1. Take heed of spiritual sloth. Many Christians are settled upon their lees, they are loath to put themselves to too much ])ains. It is said of Israel, " They despised the pleasant land," Ps. cvi. 21. Canaan was a para- dise of delights, a type of heaven : ay, but some of the Jews thought it would cos
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them a great deal of trouble and lia/ard in the getting, and they would rather go with- out it; " They despised the pleasant land." I have read of certain Spaniards that live where there is great store of fish, yet are so lazy, that they will not be at the pains to catch them, but buy of their neighbours ; such a sinful sloth is upon the most, that though the kingdom of heaven be offered to them, yet they will not put themselves to any labour for it. They have some faint velleities and desires, O that I had this kingdom ! Like a man that wisheth for venison, but will not hunt for it, Prov. xiii. 4., " The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing." Men could be content to have the kingdom of heaven, if it would drop as a ripe fig into their mouth, but they are loath to fight for it. O take heed of spiritual sloth ; God never made heaven to be a hive for drones ! We cannot have the world without laboui*, and do we think to have the kingdom of heaven ? Heathens will rise up in judgment against many Christians; what pains did they take in their Olympic races, when they ran but for a crown of olive or myrtle intermixed with gold; and do we stand still when we are running for a kingdom? Prov. xLx. 15., " Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep." Sloth is the soul's sleep. Adam lost his rib when he was asleep. Many a man loseth the kingdom of heaven when he is in this deep sleep of sloth.
A. 2. Take heed of unbelief. Unbelief kept Israel out of Canaan, Heb. iii. 19. Sq we see " they could not enter in because of unbelief." And it keeps many out of heaven. Unbelief is an enemy to salvation, it is a damning sin ; it whispers thus, " To what purpose is all this pains for the hea- venly kingdom ? I had as good sit still ; I may come near to heaven, yet come short of heaven:" Jer. xviii. 12., " And they said, there is no hope." Unbelief destroys hope; and if you once cut this sinew, a Christian goes but lamely in religion, if he goes at all. Unbelief raiseth jealous tliouglits of God, it represents him as a severe judge ; this discourageth many a soul, and takes it off from duty. Beware of unbelief; be- lieve the promises. Lam. iii. 25., " God is p-ood to the soul that geek«i him " seek him
earnestly and he will open both heart heaven to you. Detis volentibiis non deest. Do what you are able, and God will help you. While you spread the sails of your endeavour, God's Spirit will blow upon these sails, and carry you swiftly to the kingdom of glory.
A. 3. If you would not miss of the hea- venly kingdom, take heed of mistake, ima- gining the way to the kingdom of heaven to be easier than it is ; it is but a sigh, or, ' Lord have mercy !' There's no going to heaven per saltum; one cannot leap out of Delilah's lap into Abraham's bosom. The sinner is " dead in trespasses," Eph. ii. 1. Is it easy for a dead man to restore himself to life ? Is regeneration easy ? Are there no pangs in the new birth ? Doth not the scripture call Christianity a warfare and a race ? And, do you fancy this easy ? The way to the kingdom is not easy, but the mistake about the way is easy.