PREFACE
Table of Contents PREFACE The Publishers Preface to the First American Edition Introduction: Taking Heaven by Violence Offering Violence to Ourselves The Christian Must offer Violence to Satan
The Christian Must Offer Violence to Heaven Arrows of Reproof and Apostasy Examination and Objections 27 Motives to put forth holy violence Hinderances, Directions and Conclusions Conclusion: What shall we do?
PREFACE
TO THE LONDON EDITION
To the Reader.
I Do not pretend to have a name sufficient to confer celebrity on an author whose fame is not already established; nor have I the least intention to promote the interest of a party, which is often putting a sword into the hand of one Christian to wound the peace of another.
My design is, to introduce a book, which appears to be well calculated to promote practical religion and genuine piety—to promote an intercourse between heaven and earth; that the soul, by drawing near to God, may be changed into the same image by the Spirit of the Lord.
This writer has been much admired for his energy of style, and his easy and familiar illustrations; and many who have read the life of Colonel Gardiner, have wished to see this treatise, which he had in his hand when God was pleased to work that wonderful change, which Dr. Doddridge, in his life, thus relates:
"But it very accidentally happened, that he took up a religious book, which his good mother or aunt had, without his knowledge, slipped into his portmanteau. It was called, if I remember right, The Christian Soldier, or Heaven taken by Storm, and was written by Mr.
Thomas Watson. Guessing, by the title of it, that he should find some phrases of his own profession spiritualized, in a manner which he thought might afford him some diversion, he resolved to dip into it; but he took no serious notice of any thing he read in it; and yet, while this book was in his hand, an impression was made upon his mind,
(perhaps God only knows how) which drew after it a train of the most important and happy consequences."
That it may now be attended with the same happy consequences, is the earnest prayer of
R. ARMSTRONG.