VIOLENCE VICTORIOUS.
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' The sluggard thinks himself wiser than many men that can give a reason,' Ps. xxvi. IG. The sluggish discreet* Christian, I warrant you, he hath reasons for what he doth ! It is not good to be too earnest ! It will incur the disfavour of such a man or such a man ! I shall be accounted so and so for my pains ! But a wise man he aeeth the excellency of the things, and he knows that his courses and his conscience will justify him at the last, and therefore he goes on, whatever comes of it.
God is not so weary of these precious things, these precious jewels of grace and glory, as to force them upon us. Is ' the kingdom of heaven' such a slight thing, that it should be obtruded to us whether we will or no ? Shall we think to have it when our hearts tell us we esteem other things better ? No. There are none ever come to heaven but their hearts are wrought to such an admiration of grace and glory, that they undervalue all things to it. Therefore there is no hope for any to obtain it, but he that takes it by violence. We see Moses esteemed the basest thing in the church better than the greatest excellencies in the world, that men are so violent after. He esteemed the very afflictions of God's people better than the treasures and pleasures of sin for a season, nay, than the pleasures of a court, Heb. xi. 25. When men shall esteem the base things of the world above all the treasures of heaven, above the state of Christianity, they have no hope of coming there. They may pretend God is merciful, and Christ died, &c. Ay, but whosoever he brings to salvation, he works such a sense of misery in them, and such an apprehension of grace, and of the means of grace, that there is an undervaluing of all other things. ■ God will not bring them to heaven that shall not glorify him when they come there ; and how shall they glorify him here or there when they value the world and these base things that they must leave behind them more than the things of heaven ? This is the reason that few are saved, because they content themselves with easy, dull, and drowsy performances, and never consider with what proportion they are carried to things. When they had rather lose the advantage of that which will bring everlasting good to their souls, than lose the petty commodities of this world, and yet think themselves good Christians, what a delusion is this ! It is the violent only that are successful, * they take it by force.'
Obj. Ay, but what if the opposition grow more and more ?
Ans. Then the grace of God and courage will grow and increase more and more. As Luther said well, ' The more violent the adversaries were, the more free and bold was he' (a). So the more the enemies rage, the more the Spirit of grace grows in God's people. It increaseth by opposi- tion. As Noah's Ark, the higher the waters were, the nearer still it was carried to heaven. So we are nearer to God, and nearer to the ' kingdom of heaven,' the more opposition swells and rages. True courage grows ■with opposition. As tho palm-tree riseth up against the burden that presseth it down, so the divine Spirit being a heavenly thing, and all opposition below of the devil and devilish-minded men being but earthly, what are they to the divine Spirit which sets us on and encourageth us ? They cannot quell it, but the Spirit grows more and more in opposition. The apostles they ran all from Christ when he was to be crucified. They had but a little measure of the Spirit, but when the Holy Ghost was shed more plentifully on them, they began to stand courageously for the cause of Christ. When there was more opposition the Spirit grew more and more, till they sealed the truth with their blood. Therefore though opposition * Tiiat is, ' oyer-prudent, cautious.' — G.
310 VIOLE><CE VICTORIOrS.
of enemies and their fury and rago gro«', let us know whoso cause wo manage, and with what assurance of success. The violent at length ' shall take it by force.' Let us meditate upon this, that success is tied to violence. Therefore when you pray to God, if ho seem to deny your request, offer violence, wrestle with him, let him not go without a blessing. When he seems to be an enemy, as sometimes he doth to tiy our strength, we must use an holy violence. When we are dull, and not fit to pray, nor fit for holy things, let us stir up the Spirit of God in us, and labour to get out of that estate ; let us use violence, and violence will overcome at the last. A man that hath the Spirit of God gets the victory of whatsoever opposeth him. If there be snares offered from the world, he withstands them ; if Satan come with his temptations, he resists him. He hath a promise for it : ' Resist the devil, and he will flee,' James iv. 7. Let us bold out and we shall get the victory, and overcome even God himself. How much more all other things ! Therefore when either opposition without, or indisposition within, sets upon us in the course of religion and piety, let us think here, now is time and place for violence. I know, if I set myself about it, I shall have the victory and the crown. A Christian is alway in a hopeful state and condition, he hath somewhat to encourage him, he hath arguments to prevail over the state of opposition ; he knows he shall win all at last if he go on, and that makes him courageous in what estate soever he is. Let us not be discouraged to hear of opposition. And let us be encouraged when we hear of good things, when we hear that the kingdom of heaven and grace is offered in the preaching of the gospel. • Let us attend upon the posts of Wisdom's doors,' Prov. viii. 3, 4, and not give over till ' we come to peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost,' Rom. xiv. 17. If we hear of comfort in the word of God against distress of con- science, let us never give over till we find it. If we hear that God is a God ' hearing pi-ayer,' let us never leave knocking at heaven-gate, never leave wrestling, till our prayers be heard. When we hear what ill is to be avoided, and what good is offered, let us not cease till we avoid the one and obtain the other. ' The violent take it by force.'