02 The Second Petition in the Lord's Prayer pt 2a
Use 4. For exhortation to all in general.
[1] There are many who have gone many steps in the way to heaven, and yet have fallen short of it. "You are not far from the kingdom of God;" yet he was not near enough. Mark 12:34.
How many steps may a man take in the way to the kingdom of God, and yet miss it?
He may be adorned with civility; he may be moral and upright; he may be prudent, just, temperate; he may keep all the laws of the land; all which is good—but not enough to bring a man to heaven.
He may hang out the flag of a glorious profession, and yet fall short of the kingdom. The Scribes and Pharisees went far; they sat in Moses’ chair, were expounders of the law; they prayed, gave alms, were strict in the observation of the Sabbath; if one had got a thorn in his foot, he would not pull it out on the Sabbath-day, for fear of breaking the Sabbath. They were so externally devout in God’s worship, that the Jews thought, that if but two in all the world went to heaven, the one would be a Scribe, and the other a Pharisee. But the mantle of their profession, was not lined with sincerity; they did all for the applause of men, and therefore missed heaven. "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall never enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20. A man may be a frequenter of church ordinances, and yet miss the kingdom. It is a good sight to see people flock as doves to the windows of God’s house; it is good to lie in the way where Christ passes by; yet, be not offended, if I say, one may be a hearer of the word, and fall short of glory. Herod heard John the Baptist gladly—yet beheaded John—instead of beheading his sin. The prophet Ezekiel’s hearers came with as much delight to his preaching, as one would do to a piece of beautiful music. "You are to them as a very lovely song of one that has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words—but they do them not." Ezekiel 33:32. What is it to hear one’s duty, and not do it? It is as if a physician prescribed a good remedy—but the patient would not take it. A man may have some trouble for sin, and weep for it, and yet miss the heavenly kingdom.
Whence is this? A sinner’s tears are forced by God’s judgments; as water which comes out of a distillery is forced by the fire. Trouble for sin is transient, it is quickly over again. As some that go to sea are sea- sick—but when they come to land are well again; so hypocrites may be sermon-sick—but this trouble does not last, the sick-fit is soon over. A sinner weeps—but goes on in sin; his sins are not drowned in his tears! A man may have good desires and yet miss the kingdom. "Let me die the death of the righteous." Numb 23:10.
Wherein do these desires come short?
They are sluggish. A man would have heaven—but will take no pains. As if one should say, he desires water—but will not let down the bucket into the well. "The desire of the slothful kills him, for his hands refuse to labor." Proverbs 21:25. The sinner desires mercy but not grace; he desires Christ as a Savior—but not as he is the Holy One; he desires Christ only as a bridge to lead him over to heaven. Such desires as these may be found among the damned! A man may forsake his sins, oaths, drunkenness, uncleanness—and yet come short of the kingdom. He may forsake gross sins, and yet have no reluctance to heart-sins, such as pride, unbelief, and the first risings of malice and lust. Though he dams up the stream, he lets alone the fountain! Though he lops and prunes the branches, he does not strike at the root of it. Though he leaves sin for fear of hell, or because it brings shame and poverty—yet he still loves sin; as if a snake should cast off her skin—and yet retain her poison! "They set their heart on their iniquity." Hosea 4:8. It is but a partial forsaking of sin; though he leaves one sin, he lives in some other. Herod reformed very much. "He did many things;" but he lived in incest. Mark 6:20. Some leave drunkenness, and live in covetousness; they forbear swearing, and live in slandering. It is but a partial reformation, and so they miss of the kingdom of glory. Thus you see there are some who have gone many steps in the way to heaven, and yet have come short. Some have gone so far in profession, that they have been confident their estate has been good, and that they should go to the kingdom of heaven, and yet have missed it. "When once the master of the house is risen up, and has shut to the door, and you begin to stand without, and to knock, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us." Luke 13:25. How confident were these of salvation! They did not beseech—but knock, as if they did not doubt but to be let into heaven; yet to these Christ says, "I never knew you; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity." Therefore fear and tremble, lest any miss of this kingdom of heaven.
[2] This fear is necessary—if we consider what a loss it is to lose the heavenly kingdom. All the tears in hell are not sufficient to lament the loss of heaven! Those who lose the heavenly kingdom, lose God’s sweet presence, the ravishing views and smiles of his glorious face. God’s presence is the diamond in the ring of glory! "In your presence is fullness of joy." Psalms 16:11. If God is the fountain of all bliss, then, to be separated from him, is the fountain of all misery.
Those who lose the heavenly kingdom, lose the society of angels; and, what sweeter music than to hear them praise God in concert? They lose all their treasure, their white robes, their sparkling crowns; they lose their hopes. "Whose hope shall be cut off." Job 8:14. Their hope is not an anchor—but a spider’s web. If hope deferred makes the heart sick, what is hope disappointed? Proverbs 13:12. They lose the purpose of their being. Why were they created—but to be enthroned in glory? Now, to lose this, is to lose the end of their being, as if an angel should be turned to a worm! There are many aggravations of the loss of this heavenly kingdom. The eyes of the wicked shall be opened to see their loss; now they care not for the loss of God’s favor, because they know not the worth of it. A man who loses a rich diamond, and took it but for an ordinary stone, is not much troubled at the loss of it; but when he comes to know what a jewel he lost, he laments. He whose heart would never break at the sight of his sins, breaks at the sight of his loss. When the wife of Phinehas heard the ark was lost, she cried out, "The glory is departed." 1 Samuel 4:21. When the sinner sees what he has lost, that he has lost the beatific vision, he has lost the kingdom of heaven—he will cry out in horror and despair, "The glory, the everlasting glory, is departed!"
(1) Take heed of spiritual SLOTH. Many Christians are settled upon their lees; they are loath to put themselves to too much pains. It is said of Israel, "They despised the pleasant land." Psalms 106:24. Canaan was a paradise of delights, a type of heaven; yes—but some of the Jews thought it would cost them a great deal of trouble and hazard in the getting, and they would rather go without it. "They despised the pleasant land." I have read of certain Spaniards that live where there is a great store of fish—but are so lazy that they will not be at the pains to catch them—but buy from their neighbors. Such sinful sloth is upon the most, that though the kingdom of heaven is offered to them—yet they will not put themselves to any labor for it. They have some faint wishes and desires. "O that I had this kingdom!" They are like a man who wishes for venison—but will not hunt for it. "The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing." Proverbs 13:4. Men would be content to have the kingdom of heaven if it would drop as a ripe fig into their mouths—but they are loath to fight for it. O take heed of spiritual sloth! God never made heaven to be a hive for drones. We cannot have the world without labor, and do we think to have the kingdom of heaven? Heathens will rise up in judgment against many Christians. What pains did they take in their Olympic races when they ran but for a crown of olive or myrtle intermixed with gold; and do we stand still when we are running for a kingdom? "Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep." Proverbs 19:15. Sloth is the soul’s sleep. Adam lost his rib when he was asleep. Many a man loses the kingdom of heaven when he is in this deep sleep of sloth.
(2) Take heed of UNBELIEF. Unbelief kept Israel out of Canaan. "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." Hebrews 3:19. And it keeps many out of heaven. Unbelief is an enemy to salvation, it is a damning sin; it whispers thus, "To what purpose is all this pain for the heavenly kingdom? I had as good sit still." "And they said—There is no hope." Jeremiah 18:12. Unbelief destroys hope; and if you cut this sinew, a Christian goes but lamely in religion, if he goes at all. Unbelief raises jealous thoughts of God; it represents him as a severe judge; it discourages many a soul, and takes it off from duty. Beware of unbelief. Believe the promises. "The Lord is good to the soul that seeks him." Seek him earnestly and he will open both heart and heaven to you. Lamentations 3:25. [God does not fail those who desire him.] Do what you are able, and God will help you. While you spread the sails of your endeavor, God’s Spirit will blow upon these sails, and carry you swiftly to the kingdom of glory.
(3) If you would not miss the heavenly kingdom, take heed of imagining the way to be easier than it is; as though it were but a sigh, or, "Lord have mercy." There is no going to heaven at a leap; one cannot leap out of Delilah’s lap into Abraham’s bosom. The sinner is "dead in trespasses." Ephesians 2:1. Is it easy for a dead man to restore himself to life? Is regeneration easy? Are there no pangs in the new birth? Does not the Scripture call Christianity a warfare and a race? And do you imagine this easy? The way to the kingdom is not easy—but a mistake about the way is easy.
(4) If you would not miss the heavenly kingdom, take heed of delays and PROCRASTINATION. [Delay brings danger.] It is a usual delusion, "I will mind the kingdom of heaven—but not yet; when I have gotten an estate, and grown old, then I will look after heaven." But suddenly, death surprises men, and they fall short of heaven. Delay strengthens sin, hardens the heart, and gives the devil fuller possession of a man. Take heed of adjourning and putting off seeking the kingdom of heaven until it is too late. Caesar, deferring to read a letter put into his hand, was killed in the senate-house. Consider how short your life is; it is a candle which is soon blown out. [The life of everyone living is fleeing away.] Delay not the business of salvation a day longer; sometimes death strikes, and gives no warning.
(5) If you would not come short of the kingdom of heaven—take heed at PREJUDICE. Many take a prejudice at religion, and on this rock dash their souls. They are prejudiced at Christ’s person, his truths, his followers, his ways.
[1] His BASENESS. The Jews expected a monarch for their Messiah; but Christ came not with outward pomp and splendor. His kingdom was not of this world. The stars which are seated in the brightest orbs are least seen. Christ, who is the bright morning-star, was not much seen; his divinity was hidden in the dark lantern of his humanity, all who saw the man did not see the Messiah. The Jews stumbled at the baseness of his person.
[2] Men are prejudiced at Christ’s STRICTNESS. They look upon him as austere, and his laws as too severe. "Let us break their bands, and cast away their cords from us." Psalms 2:3. Though to a saint, Christ’s laws are no more burdensome than wings to a bird—yet to the wicked his laws are a yoke; and they love not to come under restraint, therefore they hate Christ. Though they pretend to love him as a Savior, they hate him as he is the Holy One.
[1] Self-denial. A man must deny his righteousness. Php 3:9. He will graft the hope of salvation upon the stock of his own righteousness.
[2] He must deny his unrighteousness. The Scripture seals no patents to sin; it teaches us to deny all "ungodliness and worldly lusts." Titus 2:12. We must divorce those sins which bring in pleasures and profit.
[3] Forgiveness of injuries. Mark 11:25. These truths men are prejudiced at; they can rather lack forgiveness from God, than they can forgive others.
3. They are prejudiced at Christ’s FOLLOWERS.
[1] Their paucity. There are but few, in comparison, who embrace Christ; but why should this offend? Men are not offended at pearls and precious stones, because they are few.
[2] Their poverty. Many who wear Christ’s livery are low in the world; but why should this give offence? Christ has better things than these to bestow upon his followers; such as the holy anointing, the white stone, the hidden manna, and the crown of glory. All Christ’s followers are not humbled with poverty. Abraham was rich with gold and silver, as well as rich in faith. Though not many noble are called—yet some noble are. "Many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men." Acts 17:12. Constantine and Theodosius were godly emperors. So that this stumbling block is removed.
[3] Their scandals. Some of Christ’s followers, under a mask of piety, commit sin, which begets a prejudice against religion; but does Christ or his gospel teach any such thing? The rules he prescribes are holy. Why should the master be thought the worse of, because some of his servants prove bad?
(6) If you would not miss the kingdom of heaven—take heed of PRESUMPTION. Most men presume all is well with their souls, and take it as a principle not to be disputed—that they shall go to heaven when they die. The devil has given them opium, to cast them into a deep sleep of carnal security. The presumptuous sinner is like the leviathan, made "without fear;" he lives as bad as the worst—yet hopes he shall be saved as well as the best; he blesses himself and says that he shall have peace, though he goes on in sin. Deuteronomy 29:19. This is the same as if a man would drink poison—yet not fear but he will have his health. But whence does this presumptuous hope arise? Surely from a conceit that God is made up of all mercy. It is true that God is merciful—but he is just also. "Keeping mercy for thousands, and that will by no means clear the guilty." Exodus 34:7. If a king proclaimed that those only should be pardoned, who came in and submitted, ought any still persisting in rebellion, to claim the benefit of the pardon? Do you hope for mercy who will not lay down your weapons—but stand out in rebellion against heaven? None might touch the ark but the priests: none may touch this ark of God’s mercy—but holy, consecrated people. Presumption is the great devourer of souls. A thousand have missed heaven—by putting on the broad spectacles of presumption.
(7) If you would not miss the heavenly kingdom, take heed of the delights and pleasures of the FLESH. Soft pleasures harden the heart; many people cannot endure a serious thought—but are for comedies and romances; they play away their salvation. "Men are caught by pleasure, as fish by the hook." Cicero. Pleasure is the sugared bait men bite at—but there is a hook under it! "They sing with tambourine and harp. They make merry to the sound of the flute." Job 21:12. "How terrible it will be for you who sprawl on ivory beds surrounded with luxury, eating the meat of tender lambs and choice calves. You sing idle songs to the sound of the harp. You drink wine by the bowlful, and you perfume yourselves with exotic fragrances." Amos 6:4-6. The pleasures of the world keep many from the pleasures of paradise! Beard speaks of one who had a room richly hung with beautiful pictures, he had most lovely music, he had the rarest beauties, he had all the candies and dainties to gratify his senses with pleasure; and swore that he would like to live one week in such a state, though he were sure to be damned in hell the next day! One observes, that the dogs of Sicily while hunting among the sweet flowers, lose the scent of the rabbit; so, many while hunting after the sweet pleasures of the world, lose the kingdom of heaven. "It is," says Theophylact, "one of the worst sights—to see a sinner go laughing to hell."
(8) If you would not fall short of the kingdom of heaven—take heed of WORLDLY-MINDEDNESS. A covetous spirit chokes holy affections, as the earth puts out the fire. The world hindered the young man from following Christ; he went away sorrowful, which extorted these words from our Savior: "How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" Luke 18:24-25. "The riches of the world are the snares of the devil!" Bernard. Riches are golden snares. If a man were to climb up a steep rock, and had weights tied to his legs, it would hinder him in his ascent. Just so, many golden weights will hinder us from climbing up the steep rock which leads to heaven. "They are entangled in the land, the wilderness has shut them in." Exodus 14:3. So it may be said of many, they are entangled in earthly affairs, the world has shut them in. The world is no friend to grace. The more the babe sucks—the weaker the mother is. Just so, the more the world sucks—the weaker our grace is.
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15. Had a man a monopoly of all the wealth of the world; could he heap up riches to the stars--yet his heart would not be filled. Covetousness is never satisfied. Joshua could stop the course of the sun—but could not stop Achan in his covetous pursuit of the wedge of gold. He whose heart is locked up in his chest, will be locked out of heaven. Some ships which have escaped the rocks--have been wrecked upon the sands. Just so, many who have escaped gross sins--have been wrecked upon the world’s golden sands!
(9) If you would not come short of the kingdom of heaven—take heed of indulging any SIN. One millstone will drown, as well as more; one sin lived in will damn, as well as more. If any one sin reigns—it will keep you from reigning in the kingdom of heaven. Especially keep from sins of your natural constitution; your darling sin; "I kept myself from my iniquity," that sin which my heart would soonest decoy and flatter me into. Psalms 18:23. As in the hive there is one master bee--so in the heart there is one master-sin. Oh, take heed of this!
How may this darling-sin be known?
I have read of a monarch, who being pursued by the enemy, threw away the crown of gold on his head, that he might run the faster. Just so, the sin which you wore as a crown of gold must be thrown away, that you may run the faster to the kingdom of heaven. Oh, if you would not lose glory, mortify the beloved sin! Set it, as Uriah—in the forefront of the battle to be slain. By plucking out this right eye—you will see the better to go to heaven!
(10) If you would not fall short of the kingdom of heaven—take heed of inordinate PASSION. Many a ship has been lost in the storm; and many a soul has been lost in a storm of unruly passions. Every member of the body is infected with sin, as every branch of wormwood is bitter; but "the tongue is full of deadly poison." James 3:8. Some care not what they say in their passion; they will censure, slander, and wish evil to others. How can Christ be in the heart—when the devil has taken possession of the tongue? Passion disturbs reason, it is a temporary insanity. Jonah in a passion flies out against God. "I do well to be angry, even unto death." Jonah 4:9. What! to be angry with God, and to justify it? "I do well to be angry;" the man was not well in his wits. Passion unfits for prayer. "I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." 1 Timothy 2:8. He who prays in anger may lift up his hands in prayer—but he does not lift up holy hands. Water, when hot, soon boils over; so, when the heart is heated with anger, it soon boils over in fiery passionate speeches. Some curse others in their passion. Let those whose tongues are set on fire, take heed that they do not one day in hell desire a drop of water to cool them! Oh, if you would not miss the heavenly kingdom—beware of giving way to unbridled passions. Some say, "words are but wind;" but they are such a wind as may blow them to hell.
(11) If you would not fall short of the heavenly kingdom—beware of too much indulging the sensual appetite. "Make no provision for the flesh." Romans 13:14. The Greek word, to make provision, signifies to be caterers for the flesh. "Whose god is their belly." Php 3:19. The throat is a slippery place. Judas received the devil in the sop; and often the devil slides down in the liquor. Excess in food and drink clouds the mind, chokes holy affections, and provokes lust. Many a man digs his own grave with his teeth. The heathen Seneca could say, "I am great and born to greater things than to be a slave to my body." He was higher born than to be a slave to his body. To pamper the body, and neglect the soul, is to feed the slave and to starve the wife. Take such a proportion of food as may recruit nature—but do not surfeit it. Excess in things lawful has lost many the kingdom of heaven. A bee may suck a little honey from the leaf—but put it in a barrel of honey, and it is drowned! To suck moderately from the creature, God allows; but excess engulfs men in perdition.
(12) If you would not fall short of the kingdom of heaven—take heed of injustice in your dealings. Defrauding lies in two things:
1. Mixing commodities, as if anyone should mix bad wheat with good, and sell it for pure wheat, which is to defraud. "Your wine mixed with water." Isaiah 1:22.
2. Giving scant measure. "Making the ephah small." Amos 8:5. The ephah was a measure which the Jews used in selling: they made the ephah small; they gave not full measure. I wish this were not the sin of many. "He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand." Hosea 12:7. Can they be holy—who are not just? "Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances?" Micah 6:11. Is his heart sincere—who has false weights? Many cannot reach heaven—because of their over-reaching.
(13) If you would not miss the kingdom of heaven—take heed of evil company. There is a necessary commerce with men in buying and selling, or, as the apostle says, we must go out of the world—but do not voluntarily choose the company of the wicked. 1 Corinthians 5:10. "I have written unto you not to keep company." 1 Corinthians 5:11. Do not incorporate into the society of the wicked, or be too much familiar with them. The wicked are God-haters. "Should you love those who hate the Lord?" 2 Chronicles 19:2. A Christian is bound, by virtue of his oath of allegiance to God in baptism, not to have intimate converse with such as are God’s sworn enemies. What company can Christ’s doves have—among birds of prey? What company can virgins have—among harlots? The company of the wicked is very defiling, it is like going among those who have the plague.
"They mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs." Psalms 106:35. If you mingle bright armor with rusty, the bright armor will not brighten the rusty—but the rusty armor will spoil the bright. By mixing with the wicked—you are apt to receive hurt. The bad will sooner corrupt the good, than the good will convert the bad. Pharaoh taught Joseph to swear—but Joseph did not teach Pharaoh to pray. There is a strange attractive power in evil company to corrupt and poison the best dispositions; they damp good affections. Throw a fire-ball into the snow—and it is soon quenched. Among the wicked, the heat of zealous affections is lost. By holding familiar correspondence with the wicked, they will dissuade us from strict godliness, and debar us our liberty and pleasure. "This sect everywhere is spoken against." Acts 28:22.
Hereupon he, who before looked towards heaven, begins to be discouraged, and gradually declines from holiness. There steals upon him a dislike of his former religious course of life; he thinks he was righteous overmuch, stricter than needed. There is instilled into his heart a secret delight of evil. He begins to like foolish scurrilous discourse; he can hear true religion spoken against, and be silent, nay, well pleased; he loves vanity, and makes sport of sin. He is by degrees so metamorphosed, and made like the company he converses with, that he now grows into disgust and hatred of his former sober ways. He is ill-affected towards godly men, transformed into scoffing Ishmael, a breathing devil; and becomes at last as much the child of hell as any of that graceless damned crew he conversed with! And what is the end of all? A blot in the name, a moth in the estate, a worm in the conscience. Oh, if you would not miss the kingdom of heaven, beware of evil company! Bad company is the bane and poison of the youth of this age. Such as were once soberly inclined, by coming among the profane, grow familiar, until at last they keep one another company in hell.
(14) If you would not miss the kingdom of heaven—take heed of parleying with the fleshly part. The flesh is a bosom traitor. When an enemy is gotten within the walls of a castle, it is in great danger of being captured. The flesh is an enemy within—it is a bad master. It says, "There is a lion in the way!" It discourages from religious strictness; it says as Peter did to Christ, "Spare yourself;" it says as Judas, "Why all this waste? Why all this praying? Why do you waste your strength and strength in piety? Why all this waste?" The flesh cries out for ease and pleasure. How many, by consulting with the flesh, have lost the kingdom of heaven!
(15) If you would not fall short of heaven—take heed of carnal relations. Our carnal friends are often bars and hindrances in our way to heaven; they will say, "Piety is preciseness and singularity. "A wife in the bosom, may be a tempter. Job’s wife was so. "Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God, and die!" Job 2:9. "What! still pray? What do you get by serving God? Job, where are your earnings? What can you show you have had in God’s service—but boils and ulcers? And do you still retain your integrity? Throw off God’s livery, renounce religion!" Here was a temptation handed over to him by his wife. The woman was made of the rib, the devil turned this rib into an arrow, and would have shot Job to the heart—but his faith quenched this fiery dart! Beware of carnal relations!
We read that some of Christ’s kindred laid hold on him, and would have hindered him when he was going to preach. "They said—He’s out of his mind!" Mark 3:21. Our kindred sometimes would stand in our way to heaven, and, judging all zeal rashness, would hinder us from being saved. Such carnal relations Spira had; for having consulted with them whether he should remain constant in his orthodox opinion, they persuaded him to recant; and so, abjuring his former faith, he fell into horror and despondency of mind. Galeacius, Marquis of Vice, found his carnal relations a great block in his way; and what ado had he to break through their temptations! Take heed of a snare in your bosom! It is a brave saying of Jerome, "If my parents should persuade me to deny Christ, if my wife should charm me with her embraces—I would forsake all, and fly to Christ."
(16) If you would not fall short of the kingdom of heaven—take heed of falling away. Beware of apostasy. He misses the prize—who does not hold out in the race; he who makes shipwreck of the faith—who cannot come to the haven of glory. We live in the fall of the leaf; men fall from that goodness they seemed to have; some are turned to error, others to vice; some to drinking and dicing; the very mantle of their profession is fallen off. It is dreadful for men to fall off from hopeful beginnings. "The apostate," says Tertullian, "seems to put God and Satan in the balance, and having weighed both their services, prefers the devil’s service, and proclaims him to be the best master; in which respect he is said to put Christ to open shame." Hebrews 6:6. This is sad at last. Hebrews 10:38. If you would not miss the glory, take heed of apostasy. Those who fall away, must needs fall short of the kingdom.