The heavenly kingdom abounds with riches, Rev. xxi. 27. The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Earthly kingdoms are fain to traffic abroad for gold and spices: In the kingdom of God are all rarities to be had, all commodities of its own growth; therefore figured by the tree of life bearing several sorts of fruit, Rev. xxii. 2. How rich is that place where the blessed Deity shines forth in its immense glory infinitely beyond the comprehension of angels.

Our

2. The delights of the heavenly kingdom are unmixed. The comforts here below are checkered. Honour may be stained with disgrace; joy interlarded with sorrow. stars are mixed with clouds; but the delicacies of Heaven are pure as well as pleasant.-There is honey that hath not one drop of gall. The Crystal spring of joy hath no settling of sorrow at bottom. The rose in that paradise is without prickles; the sun in* that horizon is without eclipse.

3. This kingdom above is durable, suppose earthly kindoms to be more glorious than they are, their foundations of gold, their walls of pearl, their windows of sapphire, yet they are corruptible, Hos. i. 4. I will cause the kingdom to cease. Troy and Athens now lie buried in their own ruins. But the kingdom of glory, as it is made without hands; so without end. It is the everlasting kingdom, 2 Peter i. 11, Now methinks, if ever we will use

violence, it should be for this kingdom; this kingdom will make amends for all our labour and pains. Cæsar marching towards Rome, and hearing that all the people were fled from it, said, they that will not fight for this city, what city will they fight for? So if we will not put forth violence for this kingdom of Heaven, what will we be violent for? I I say. to all, as the children of Dan in another sense, Judges xviii. 9. We have seen the land, and behold it is very good; and are ye still? Be not slothful to go, and enter to possess the land.

13. The more violence we have used for Heaven, the sweeter Heaven will be when we come there. As when a man hath been grafting trees, or setting flowers in his garden, it is pleasant to review and look over his labours: So in Heaven, when we shall remember our former zeal and activity for the kingdom; it will indulcorate Heaven, and add to the joy of it. For a Christian to think, such a day I spent in examining my heart, such a day I was weeping for sin; when others were at their sport, I was at my prayers: and now, have I lost any thing by this violence? My tears are wiped away, and the wine of paradise cheers my heart. I now enjoy him whom my soul loves; I now have the crown and white robes I so longed for. O how pleasant will it be to think, this is the Heaven my Saviour bled for, and I sweat for.

14. The more violence we put forth in religion, the greater measure of glory we shall have. That there are degrees of glory in Heaven, seems to me beyond dispute.

1. There are degrees of torment in Hell; therefore by the rule of contraries degrees of glory in Heaven.

2. The Scripture speaks of a prophet's reward, Matt. x. 41. which is a degree above others.

3. The saints are said to shine as the stars, Dan. xii. Now one star differeth from another in glory. So that there are gradations of happiness; and of this judgment is Calvin; as also many of the ancient fathers. Consider then seriously, the more violent we are for Heaven, and the more work we do for God, the greater will be our reward. The hotter our zeal, the brighter our crown. Could we hear the blessed souls departed speaking to us from Heaven, sure thus they would say, were we to leave Heaven a while, and to dwell on the earth again, we would do God a thousand times more service than ever we have done ; we would pray with more life, act with more zeal; for now we see, the more hath been our labour, the more astonishing is our joy, and the more flourishing our crown.

15. Upon our violence for the kingdom, God hath promised mercy. Matt. vii. 7. Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.

1. Ask. Ask with importunity. A faint asking begs a denial. King Ahashuerus stood with his golden sceptre, and said to queen Esther, ask and it shall be given to half of the kingdom. But God saith more, ask and he will give the whole kingdom, Luke xii. 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 easy, that our prayers put up in fervency may enter. Upon our asking, God hath promised to give his spirit, Luke xi. 13. And if he give his spirit, he will give the kingdom: the spirit first anoints, 1 John ii. 27. and after its anointing oil 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 xiii. 24. I answer, that is, because they did seek in a wrong manner.

1. They did seek ignorantly, setting up an alter 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. iii. 1. So many seek Christ in a supine manner; they seek, but they do not strive.

4. They did seek hypocritically; 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 them not think to lay in Dalilah'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. xxix. 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. xxii. 16. He continued knocking. We must continue krocking by prayer, and Heaven-gate shall be opened. How may this be as oil 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