Holy walking is become the object of derision, Psalm lxix. 12. I am become the song of the drunkards. This shews a vile heart. There are some, who though they have no goodness themselves, yet honour them who 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 where the next day to suffer, they comforted themselves with this, that this was their last supper, and tomorrow they should feast with Christ in Heaven; a Papist standing by, asked them in a jeer, if Christ had any cooks in Heaven to dress their supper? Oh take heed of such an Ishmael spirit! It is a sign of a man given over to the devil. God scorneth the scorner, Prov. iii. 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 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 iv. 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 the bishop took his text.

2. The profane, who hate to be admonished, and had rather die than reform, Amos v. 10. They hate him that rebuketh in the gate. These keep off Heaven by force. Such were those, Acts xiii. 46. Seeing you put way the Word from you. The Greek word may be rendered, seeing you shuff it away with your shoulders. As if a sick man

should bolt out the physician, lest he should cure him, Job. xxi. 14. Who say unto the Almighty depart from us. God is loth to be gone; he woos 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 xiii. 9. O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself

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 oil. Let us all ask ourselves, 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, Psalm Iviii. 8. I my self will awake early. The heart is like a bell that is a long while a rais ing.

2. Do we set time apart to call ourselves to account, and try our evidences for Heaven, Psalm 1xxvii. 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 inquisitive 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. viii. 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, Psalms lxxiii. 25. There is none upon earth my soul 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?

Can we

Can

3. Are we skilled in self-denial? deny our ease, our aims, our interest? 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 castle of our hearts? Doth Christ's beauty and sweetness constrain us? 2 Cor. v. 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, set a watch, Matt. xxvii. 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. iii. 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 oil. Paul desired to attain unto the resurrection of the dead, Phil. iii. 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? Το be more eminent for love and good works?Do we something which is singular? Matt. v. 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, Psalm cxxxix. 17. I am still with thee. This requires violence; for motions upward are usually violent

11. Do we set ourselves always under God's eye? Psalm. xvi. 8. I have set the Lord always before me. Do we live soberly and godly, remembering whatever we are doing, our judge looks on.

If it be thus with us, we are happy persons. This is the holy violence the text speaks of, and is the right way of taking the kingdom of God. And surely never did Noah so willingly put forth his hand to receive the dove into the ark, as Jesus Christ will put forth his hand to receive us into Heaven.

4. It exhorts all Christians to this holy violence for Heaven. But before I press the exhortation, let me remove some objections that may be made against this blessed vio lence.

1. But we have no power of ourselves to save ourselves? you bid us be violent, as if you should bid a man tied fast in fetters te walk.

'Tis true, we cannot till grace come, effec-.