sufferings. "Let him take up his cross and follow me." Matthew
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?
4. They are prejudiced at Christ's WAYS. They expose them to sufferings. "Let him take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24. Many stumble at the cross. There are, as Tertullian says, "silken Christians," who love their ease; they will follow Christ to mount Tabor, to see him transfigured—but not to mount Golgotha, to suffer with him. But, alas! what is affliction, compared to the glory which follows! The weight of glory makes affliction light. O take heed of prejudice, which has been a stumbling-stone in men's way to heaven, and has made them fall short of the kingdom!
(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. Deut 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." Exod 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." Exod 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.