Heaven taken by storm - Watson - IX - Chapter 16

Required reading
Heaven taken by storm by Thomas Watson (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 16 (Motives for exhorting all Christians to offer violence).

My summary
Today Watson gives us motives for taking heaven by violence.

We are encouraged to consider that holy violence:
(i) opens a door of hope;
(ii) is the grand business of our lives;
(iii) has much delight mingled with it;
(iv) puts a luster upon a Christian;
(v) brings rest;
(vi) is accompanied by God's help;
(vii) is preventive of much sin;
(viii) is for a kingdom;
(ix) will make heaven sweeter;
(x) gives greater glory;
(xi) brings mercy;
(xii) does not hinder secular employment;
(xiii) can only be undertaken now.

What grabbed me
After such an exhortation to work hard, I was pleased to see Watson's concluding paragraph about way of salvation: 'Yet this caution I must necessarily insert, Though we shall not obtain the kingdom without violence, though we shall also not be obtained for our violence. -- When we have done all, look up to Christ and free grace. Bellarmine saith, we merit Heaven ex congruo. that is, out of what is fitting."  No, though we are saved in the use of means, yet it is by grace too, Ephes. ii. 5. 'By grace ye are saved.' -- Heaven is a donative, Luke xii. 32. 'It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' Why may one say, I have used violence for it, I have wrought for the kingdom: I, but it is a gift that free grace bestows. We must look up to Christ for acceptance: not our sweat, but his blood saves: our labouring qualifies us for Heaven, but Christ's dying purchased Heaven. Alas, what is all that we can do in comparison with glory? What is the shedding of a tear compared to a crown? Therefore we must renounce all in terms of our justification, and let Christ and free grace carry away the glory of our salvation. God must help us in our working, Phil ii. 11. 'It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do.' How then can we merit by our working, when it is God who helps us in our working?'

In the end, all our violence for heaven is simply a sign of God's grace toward us.  We are saved by grace, not by works.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 17 (Take heed of hindrances to offering violence).

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