SEEKING THE SAINT'S REST. 125 fault, it would lie in him that commands, and not in us who obey. These are the men that ask us whether we are wiser than all the world besides? and yet they will pretend to be wiser than God. How can they reconcile their language with the laws of God ? The kingdom of heaven sujëreth violence, and the violent take it by force. (t) Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many will seek to enter in and shall not be able.(u) Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might ; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thougoest.(v) " Work out your own sal- vation with fear and trembling.(w) Give diligence to make your calling andelection sure.(x) If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sin- ner appear ? "(y) Let them bring all the seeming reasons they can, against the holy violence of the saints ; this sufliceth me to confute them all, that God is of ano- ther mind, and he hath commanded me to do much more than I do ; and though I could see no other reason for it, his will is reason enough. Who should make laws for us, but he that made us ? and who should point out the way to heaven, but he that must bring us thither ? and who should fix the terms of salvation, but he that bestows the gift of salva- tion ? So that let the world, the flesh, or the devil, speak against a holy laborious life, this is my answer, God hath commanded it. Nay, there never was, or ever will be a man, but will approve such a life, and will one day justify the diligence of the saints. And who would not go that way, which every man shall finally applaud ? True, it is now a way every where spoken against; but let me tell you, most that speak against it, in their judgments approve of it ; and those that are now against it, will shortly be of ano- ther mind. If they come to heaven, their mind must be changed before they come there ; if they go to hell their judgments will then be altered, whether they will or not. Remember this, you that love the (t) Matt. xi. 12. (r) Eccles. ix. 10 (æ) 2 Peter i. 10. (u) Luke xiii. 24. (w) Phil. ii. 12. (y) 1 Peter iv. 18.
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