Heaven taken by storm - Watson - VI - Chapters 10, 11 & 12

Required reading
Heaven taken by storm by Thomas Watson (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 10 (The Christian offering violence to Satan), Chapter 11 (The Christian Offering violence to the World) and 12 (The Christian offering violence to heaven)

My summary
Firstly this week Watson encourages us to offer violence to Satan.  We are taught about Satan's subtleties in tempting and then instructed to offer violence by faith and prayer.

Secondly we are exhorted to offer violence to the world because it is:
(i) a golden apple;
(ii) a flattering enemy;
(iii) deceitful;
(iv) defiling;
(v) perishing.

Thirdly we are told to offer violence to heaven because:
(i) of God's indispensable command;
(ii) of God's decree;
(iii) we are taking a kingdom;
(iv) of the violent assaults made against us;
(v) the powers of hell oppose us;
(vi) it is a matter of the highest importance.

What grabbed me
I liked Watson's comments about the world's sense of moderation: 'Moderation, in the world's sense, means not to be too zealous, not to be too fierce for Heaven. Moderation is not to venture further in religion than may coexist with self-preservation.  As the king of Navarr told Beza, He would launch no farther into the sea than he might be sure to return safe to land. To keep on the warm side of the hedge is a main article in the politicians creed. Moderation in the world's sense is neutrality. The moderate person finds a medium between strictness and profaneness; he is not for debauchery, nor for purity. It was the advice Calvin gave Melanchthon, that he should not so affect the name of moderate, that at last he lost all his zeal. To be lukewarm in matters of religion, is far from offering violence to Heaven, Rev iii. 19. 'Be zealous and repent.' If any should ask us why we are so violent, tell them it is for a kingdom. If any shall ask us why we make such haste in the ways of religion, tell them we are running a heavenly race, and a softly moderate pace will never win the prize. Moderation has made many lose Heaven; they have not made haste enough; they have come too late, (like the foolish virgins) when the door has been shut.'

There is no place for such moderation in religious exercises.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 13 (Arrows of reproof to those not offering violence).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.