to think how active they were in doing that which lost them
had upon such easy terms—will be a cutting aggravation. It will rend a sinner's heart with rage and grief, to think how easily he might have prevented the loss of the heavenly kingdom!
6. It will be an aggravation of the loss of heaven for sinners to think how active they were in doing that which lost them the kingdom. What pains they took to resist the Spirit and to stifle conscience! They sinned until they were out of breath. "They weary themselves to commit iniquity." Jer 9:5. What difficulties men went through! How much they endured for their sins! How much shame and pain! How sick was the drunkard with his cups! How sore in his body was the adulterer! What marks of sin he carried about him! What dangers men adventure upon for their lusts! They adventure God's wrath! Oh, how will this aggravate the loss of heaven! How will it make men curse themselves to think what pains they were at to lose happiness! How will it sting men's consciences to think that had they but taken as much pains for heaven as they did for hell—they had not lost it!
7. It will be an aggravation of the loss of this kingdom, that it will be irreparable: heaven once lost can never be recovered. Worldly losses may be made up again. If a man loses his health—he may have it repaired; if he is driven out of his kingdom— he may be restored to it again as king Nebuchadnezzar was, "My honor returned unto me, and I was established in my kingdom." Dan 4:36. But those who once lose heaven—can never be restored to it again. After millions of years they are as far from obtaining glory as at first. Thus you see how needful this exhortation is, that we should fear lest we fall short of this kingdom of heaven.
What shall we do that we may not miss this kingdom of glory? Take heed of those things which will make you miss heaven.