526 The Difficulties of a Vol, I, ' Tis Eternal Life ; a State of perfe t and endlefs Happinefs; ofjoys unfpeakeable andfull of glory. And who would notflrive to enter in at that gate, which leads to fo much Felicity? Can a Man pouìbly take too much pains, be at too much trouble for a few Days, to be happy for ever? So often as I confider what incredible Induflry Men ufe for the Things of this Life, and to get a(mall Portion of this World, I sal ready to conclude, That ei- ther Men do not Believe the Rewards of another World, or that they do not un- derfland them ; elfe they could not think much to be at the fame pains for Hea- ven, that they can chearfully beflow for the obtaining of thefe Corruptible things. Can we be fo unconfcionable, as to think God unreafonable, when he offers Heaven and Everlafling Happinefs to us, upon as eafy Terms, as any thing in this World is ordinarily tobe had ? And are not we very foolilh and-unwire,. to put away Eternal Life from us, when we may have it upon Terms fo infinitely below the true worth and value of it ? I have now done with the Three Things which I propounded to fpeak to from the first part of thefe Words, which are fò many Arguments to enforce theEx- hortation here in the Text ; to firive to enter in at the firait gate, and to give all Diligence, by the courfe of a Holy and Virtuous life, to get to Heaven ; and we may affure our felves, that nothing lets than this will bring us thither. So our .Sa- viour tells us,in the latter part of the Text; that many (hallfeek to enter in and'hall not be able. I proceed now to the Sceond part of the Text ; the Reafon or Argument whereby this Exhortatión is enforced ; Strive to enter in at theflrait gate; for many, I fay untoyou, 'hallleek to enter in, and'hall not be able. Every feeking to enter in will not gain our admif- lion into Heaven ; therefore there mutt be ffriving: For Men may do many things in Religion, and make feveral faint Attempts to get to Heaven, and yet at Taft fall {fort of it, for wane of earnett contention. and endeavour which is ne- ceffary to the attaining of it. We mutt make Religion our bufinefs, and fet about it with all our might, and perfevere and hold out in it, if ever we hope to be admitted to Heaven; for ,nary 'hall leek to enter, that {ball be /hut eat. Now what this feeking is, which is here.oppofed to flriving to enter in at the flraitgate, our Saviour declares after the Text; v. zg. When once the Mailer of the Houle is rifen up, and bath ¡hut to the door, andye begin to _gaud without, and knock at thedoor,faying, Lord, Lord, open unte us;;C5 he 'hall anfser andfay untoyou,Z knowyou not whenceyou are ; Then 'hall ye begin tofay, we have eaten anddrunk inthy Prefnce, and thou haft taught in our fleeets; but he fhall fay, Itell you, I know you not whenceye are ; depart from me a,'lye workers of Iniquity. St. Mattb. menti- ons Tome other Pretences which they Mould make; upon which they (hould lay claim to Heaven , Mat. 7. zr, 22., 2.3. Not every one that faithunto me, Lord, Lord, /hall enter into the Kingdom of [leaven: but he that loth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. Many willfay unto me in that Day, Lord, Lord, have we not Pro- pheled in thy Name ? and in thy Name have cat' out Devils? andin thy name done ma- ny wonderful works? And then will¡profefe ants them, Inever knewyou; departfrom me ye that work Iniquity. After all their feeking to enter in, and notwithflandmg all thefe Pretences, they Shall be Phut out, and be for ever banifht from the Pre- fence of God. This (hall be their doom, which will be much the heavier, be- caufe of the difappointment of their confident expeFtation and hope. So St. Luke tells us, v. z8. There (hall be weeping andgnafhing of Teeth ; when yefhallfee Abraham, and Ifaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, andye your felves thrufl out. And they /hall come from the Pafr, andfrom the Weß and from the North, and from the South, and'hallfit down in the Kingdom of God. . To which St. Matthew adds, Chap. 8. v. 12.. But the Children of theKingdom 'hap" le call out into'utter darknefs, there'Ball be weeping andgna'hing of teeth. And then our Saviour concludes (Luke al. 30.) Behold, there are Lill thatfhall befrfl, and f1oß which 'hall be lafi. Fromall which it appears, with What Confidence many Men, upon thefe fall Pretences (which our Saviour calls feeking to enter in) (hall spy claim to Heaven, and how ftrangely they Shall be difappointed of their expefl A:. rion
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