VOL. VI. U
806 VIOLENCE vicToraous.
The third thing is the success.
* The violent take it hy force.'
The earnestness of aftcction and violence, it is successful. * They take il.' The good things of God, they are here compared to a fort, or to a well- fenced and well-armed city, strengthened with hulwarks and munition, that is a long time besieged, and at length is taken ; for this clause, ' The violent take it by force,' it doth as well shew the issue of the violent ones striving for the kingdom of heaven, to wit, that they do at length take it, as the manner how it is taken, namely, by force.
Doct. The violent, and onJij the violent, and all the violent, do at length certainh/ obtain ivhat tliej strive for, the kbujdom of heaven.
Why?
1. Because it is promised to the violent. ' Knock, and it shall be opened unto you,' Mat. vii. 7. ' Be zealous, and repent' (that is the means to cure all former transgressions, 'repent'), ' and bo zealous, and do the former works,' and ' To him that overcometh,' Rev. iii. 19, 21 (that is, he that is earnest, that will never leave off till he hath overcome), ' to him will I grant to sit with me on the throne ; and to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life,' Rev. ii. 7. All the promises are to him that overcomes, to him that is zealous and earnest.
2. Then again, The Spirit ichereby a man is earnest is a victorious Spirit. As Christians have the word and promise to build on, that leads them on, and encourageth them, so they are led by a mighty Spirit, that hath the force of wind and fire, that beats down all before it, that breaks through all oppositions and difficulties. Being led with a divine Spirit, what earthly thing can oppose that which is divine ? It brings under and subdues all. Therefore ' the violent take it,' the Spirit of God seizing upon and pos- sessing the heart, and carrying it with strength after these things.
3. And then only the violent take it, because God hath set it at this rate. * He that heareth and doth,' ' he that perseveres to the end,' ' he that sells all for the pearl,' for the treasure in the field ; there must be nothing retained ; all must be parted with ; we must be at any cost and charge and peril, and all httle enough. It is offered to us upon these terms, of parting with all, of enduring anything, of breaking through all difficulties. Only such, and all such, shall obtain it by force.
4. And again, Only the violent, because only they can inize it wheyi they have it. They only can prize grace and heaven. They know how they come by it. It cost them their pleasures and profits, it cost them labour, and danger, and loss of favour with men ; and this pains, and cost, and loss, it endears the state of grace and glory to them ; for God will never bring any man to heaven till he have raised his afiections to that pitch, to value grace and gloiy above all things in the world. Therefore only those shall take it by violence ; for only those shew that they set a right price on the best things. They weigh them * in the balance of the sanctuaiy,' Dan. V. 27. They value things as God would have them valued. <
Obj. But is not the kingdom of heaven and grace free ? Therefore what needs violence to a thing that is free, and freely oftered ?
Ans. I answer, Because it is free, therefore it is violently taken. For, alas ! if it were offered to us upon condition of our exact performing of the law, it might damp the spirits of men, as indeed usually such, if they be not better informed, they end their days in despair. But being freely ofiered, ' the publicans and harlots,' saith Christ, ' go into the kingdom of God before the proud Pharisees,' Mat. xxi. 31. Because it is fi-ee, it is
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free to sinners that feel the burden of their sins. * Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden,' &c.. Mat. xi. 28. ' Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness : they shall be satisfied,' Mat. v. 3-6. Thereupon he that hath a guilty conscience, he makes haste, and offers violence, when he hears of free pardon. What makes the condition of the devils so desperate ? There is no hope of free pardon to them. What makes men so eagerly to embrace the gospel, notwithstanding their sins ? Because it is freely offered. Thereupon it was that the Gentiles were so glad of it, that had been sinners and under Satan's kingdom before; and that makes miserable persons, that are humbled with afflic- tions and abasement in the world, glad of it — it being so great a thing, the kingdom of heaven, the favour of God, and freedom from misery, and so freely offered. It is so far from hindering violence because it is free, that therefore the humble afflicted souls that desire grace are the more eager after it. The proud Pharisees thought the kingdom of heaven belonged only to them ; and therefore they despised Christ, and despised the gospel, because it was propounded to sinners, and to such mean persons that they thought were viler than themselves. But now when the meaner sort of people, and others that were abased with crosses in the world, saw what a kind of gospel it was, what great matters were offered, and that it was offered freely, they justified wisdom, Mat. xi. 19, and the counsel of God which others despised, and pressed for it with violence, Luke vii. 29, 30.