and Beloved: till he bring 'em to the Participation of his own Kingdom and Bleffedness everlafting.

Now is it not ftrange, that fo Few fhou'd ever reach to thofe Bleffed Goods, which lye open to all? When Perfecution may fo eafy, even every where be found; in the Houfe, and on the Way; In the Town, and in the Country. For where is it, that the Wicked do not Spight, and Oppofe, and Abuse those that are better than themselves? That fentence of the Apostle, who does not find it to be a certain Truth? 2 Tim. 3. 12. All that will Live Godly in Chrift Fefus, shall fuffer Perfecution. Even 'every one has a Fling at the heavenly Passengers, that are directly bound for Fefalem above: As all the Dogs run with open mouth, after him that Gallops thro' the Town.

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But we, as Nice Soldiers, fly the Fiery Furnace: Or being Injur'd by the maligRant Adverfary, we Return as bad agen: And many times are fo far from bearing Perfecution, that we are readier to Inflict it. Like the Scoffing Ishmael, making a mock of the Brother, that is Holier than our 'felves; and fo betraying our felves to be after the Flesh, by Perfecuting him that's born after the Spirit. Nor do there want fuch Enemies of a man's own House, that will Praise him, for Avenging himself, and Throw

Throwing back the Load upon him tha caft it. Yet we are called Chriftians, even while we so Defpife the Commands of

Chrift.

CHA P. X.

The Fourth Path to the Kingdom of God

Ecause these things already laid down feem to carry fuch Difficulty in 'em that but very few may Understand 'em, an much fewer are willing to make Experi ment of 'em; Therefore our bleffed Guide points out yet another Path, and that Nar rower than all the reft, Mat. 11. 12. Th Kingdom of Heaven fuffers Violence: and the Violent take it by force; q. d. I well under ftand how ready men will be to cry out of Paradoxes, and Hard fayings; That the Poor fhould be Bleffed, and the Rich Mife rable: That we fhould Rejoyce in Perfecu tions, and Mourn under Profperity: Neithe was I Ignorant, How few would ever le go Prefent Goods, for the fake of Future and wish for Evils in band, that they migh Escape greater to come. But I who am the Truth it felf, neither ought, nor could fpeak any thing, but what fhould be found most certainly True.

Now

Now therefore have I added, That the Kingdom of Heaven cannot be Gain'd, but by fome mighty Efforts; and that none but the Violent do lay hold on Eternal Life. So, Luke 18, 24. How hardly fhall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God? Tis easier for a Camel to go thro' a Needle's Eye. And Mat. 7. 14. Strait is the Gate and Narrow the Way that leads to Life, and few there be that find it. Again, Mat. 13. 44. He compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a Treafure bid in a Field, and a Pearl of great Price; which a man cannot obtain, unless he Sell all that he has. He muft Leave whatever he is Poffefs'd of on Earth, to be fo Enftated in the Kingdom of Heaven. Thus Pofitive is he, Luk. 14. 33. Whosoever Forfaketh not all that he has, cannot be my Difciple. Now this Renunciation, Tho' we underftand it but of the Mind's Preparation, and the Heart's Difengagement; yet because this Difengagement of the Heart from the Love of the World, and that real Preparation of the Mind to let go all Temporal things, whenever God's Glory and the Soul's Safety do require it, is no fuch Easy attainment, nor to be found but in very few hands; Therefore were the Parables added of one going to build a Tower, that had not wherewithal to Finish it; and of a King defigning to make war against another King, yet wanting Equal Forees to meet

him, with any hopes of Victory. And if the Building of a Tower without a great stock of Money, and the Engaging in Battel against a potent Enemy without a mighty Army, are things not only very Difficult, but quite Impracticable; How much harder will it be, to Accomplish both thefe Enterprizes at once? And yet both of 'em is he oblig'd to Perform, who would win and fecure to himself the Kingdom of Heaven. For both the Tower muft be built that reaches up to Heaven; I mean, the Good Works, which are the Way to that Kingdom, and the Difpofitions to fit up a Candidate for it: And he muft alfo Fight with many and mighty Oppofers, even the whole Pole of unclean, malicious Spirits, that fet themfelves, with all their Powers and their Inftruments to Obftruct the Building.

Of this we find a very proper Adumbration in the Children of Ifrael, defirous to Re-edify Jerufalem, after it had been Demolifht by the Chaldeans: Yet fo Interrupted by the Heathen round about 'em, Warring with 'em, that they were fain to Work and Fight both together. Ezr. 4. 4. The Enemy weak'ned their hands, and Troubled 'em in Building. And Neh.. 4. 17, They that Builded on the Wall, and they that bore Burdens, with those that Laded, Every one, with one of his hands wrought in the Work, and with the

other

other band held a Weapon. From all which we may Infer, That the Heavenly Kingdom is not to be Won without many fore Conflicts, and very hard Struggle, by them that are Wedded to Earthly things, and have not learned to Tame the Carnal Concupifcence at home, nor to Fight with the Invifible Antagonifts abroad.

But whoever will give 'emfelves (by the Grace of God,) to the ftudy and acquifition of Christian Perfection, (as far as 'tis Attainable ;) not in an Ofcitant dreaming manner, but with attentive Minds ponder the words of Chrift, and endeavour to follow the fteps of him and his Saints ; and ufe that holy Violence, not only to 'ftrive against Flesh and Blood that hinder; But allo Strive with God in Prayer, for that Grace which will promote and Per'fect the Design; They fhall by degrees find the Way widened, and the Gates opened, their Strength Augmented, and their Enemies diminisht; And thro' the manifeftation of God's Love, and further communication of his Grace, fhall begin to reckon the Burthen Light, and the Yoke Eaĵy; and perceive that Promife, Ifa. 4. 31. accomplifht in themselves, They who Truft in the Lord fhall renew their Strength; To run, and not be Weary, To Walk, and not Faint: and be able to say with the royal Prophet, Pfal. 119. 32. I will run the way of thy Commands with an Enlarged heart.

Thus,