yes, your law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8. That is the sweetest
How shall we know the motions of the Spirit from a delusion?
The motions of the Spirit are always agreeable to the Word. If the Word is for holiness, so is the Spirit. The Spirit persuades to nothing but what the Word directs. Whichever way the tide of the Word runs —that way the wind of the Spirit blows.
(13) We obtain the kingdom of heaven—by uniform and cheerful OBEDIENCE. Obedience is the road through which we travel to heaven. Many say they love God—but refuse to obey him. Does he love the prince—who slights his commands?
1.Obedience must be uniform. "Then I shall not be ashamed" (Heb. I shall not blush) "when I have respect unto all your commandments." Psalm 119:6. As the sun goes through all the signs of the zodiac, so we must go through all the duties of piety. If a man has to go a hundred miles, and he goes ninety nine, and there stops, he comes short of the place he is to travel to. If, with Herod, we do many things which God commands—yet, if we die in the total neglect of any duty, we come short of the kingdom of heaven. For instance, if a man seems to make conscience of duties of the first table, and not the duties of the second; if he seems to be religious—but is not just, he is a transgressor, and is in danger of losing heaven. As the needle which points the way which the loadstone draws—so an obedient heart moves the whichever way the Word draws.
2. Obedience must be cheerful. "I delight to do your will, O my God, yes, your law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8. That is the sweetest obedience which is cheerful, as that is the sweetest honey which freely drops from the honey-comb. God sometimes accepts willingness without the work—but never of the work without willingness. "The wind was in their wings." Zech 5:9. Wings are swift —but wind in the wings denotes great swiftness; and is an emblem of
the swiftness and cheerfulness which should be in obedience. We go to heaven in the way of obedience.
(14) If we would obtain this kingdom—we must be much in the COMMUNION of saints. One coal of juniper will warm and inflame another; so, when the heart is dead and frozen, the communion of saints will help to warm it. "Those who feared the Lord spoke often one to another." Mal 3:16. "Christians should never meet," says Mr. Boston, "without speaking of their meeting together in heaven." One Christian may be very helpful by prayer and conference to another, and give him a lift towards heaven. Old Latimer was much strengthened and comforted by hearing Bilney's confession of faith. We read that when Moses' hands were heavy, and he was ready to let them fall, Aaron and Hur held them up. Exod 17:12. A Christian who is ready to faint under temptation, and lets down the hands of his faith—by conversing with other Christians is strengthened, and his hands are held up. A great benefit of holy conference is counsel and advice. "If a man," says Chrysostom, "who has but one head to advise him, could make that head a hundred, he would be very wise; but a single Christian has this benefit by the communion of saints, that they are as so many heads to advise him what to do in such a case or exigency." By Christian conference the saints can say, "Did not our hearts burn within us?" Communion of saints we have in our creed—but it is too little in our practice. Men usually travel fastest in company. Just so, we travel fastest to heaven in the communion of saints.
(15) If we would attain to this kingdom of heaven—let us be willing to come up to Christ's terms. Many will cheapen, and bid something for the kingdom of heaven. Some will avoid gross sin, and will come to church, and say their prayers; and yet all this while they are not willing to come up to God's price, that is, they will not
resist the idol of self-righteousness, flying only to Christ as the horns of the altar. Others will not sacrifice their bosom-sin. Others will not give God spirit-worship, serving him with zeal and intenseness of soul. John 4:24. Others will not forgive their enemies. Others will not part with their carnal profits for Christ. Many would have the kingdom of heaven—but they will not come up to the price. If you would have this kingdom, do not barter and bargain with Christ—but accept of his terms. Say, "Lord, I am willing to have the kingdom of heaven, whatever it cost me; I am willing to pluck out my right eye, to part with all for the kingdom. Here is a blank paper I put into your hand, Lord, write your own articles, I will subscribe to them!"
(16) If we would obtain the heavenly kingdom—let us attend to the holy ORDINANCES, by which God brings souls to heaven. "Except these abide in the ship, you cannot be saved." Acts 27:31. Some people would leap out of the ship of ordinances, and then God knows where they leap; but except you abide in the ship of ordinances, you cannot be saved. Especially, if you would get to heaven, attend to the Word preached. It was by the ear—by our first parents listening to the serpent, that we lost paradise; and it is by the ear—by hearing of the Word, that we get to heaven. "Hear, and your soul shall live." Isaiah 55:3. God sometimes in the preaching of the Word—drops the holy oil into the ear, which softens and sanctifies the heart! The Word preached is called the "ministry of the Spirit," because the Spirit of God makes use of the engine to convert souls. 2 Cor 3:8.
If the Word preached does not work upon men, nothing will; not judgment, nor miracles; no, not though one should rise from the dead! "If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead!" Luke 16:31. If a glorified saint should come out of heaven, and assume a body, and tell you of
all the glory of heaven, and the joys of the blessed, and attempt to persuade you to believe; if the preaching of the Word will not bring you to heaven, neither would his rhetoric do it, who rose from the dead.
In heaven there will be no need of ordinances—but while we live here there is. The lamp needs oil—but the star needs none. While the saints have their lamp of grace burning here, they need the oil of ordinances to be continually dropping upon them; but there will be no need of this oil when they are stars in heaven! If you intend to get to heaven, be swift to hear: for faith comes by hearing. Romans 10:14, 17. Peter let down the net of his ministry, and at one draught caught three thousand souls. If you would have heaven's door opened to you, wait at the posts of wisdom's door.
(17) If you would arrive at heaven—have this kingdom ever in your eye. Our blessed Lord looked at the joy which was set before him; and Moses had an "eye to the recompense of the reward." Heb 11:26. Let the kingdom be much in your thoughts. Meditation is the means to help us to heaven. How does it help?
To meditate on the kingdom of heaven—would be a means to prevent sin. There is no sword like meditation, to cut asunder the sinews of temptation. It is almost impossible to sin presumptuously, with lively thoughts and hopes of heaven. It was when Moses was out of sight, that Israel set up a calf, and worshiped it. Just so, when the kingdom of heaven is out of sight, out of men's thoughts, they set up their lusts and idolize them. The meditation of heaven banishes sin; he who thinks of the weight of glory, throws away the weight of sin!
To meditate on the kingdom of heaven—would excite and quicken obedience. We should think that we could never pray
enough, never love God enough—who has prepared such a kingdom for us! Glory possesses an immeasurable stimulus. Paul had heaven in his eye, he was once caught up there; and how active was he for God! 1 Cor 16:10. This oils the wheels of obedience.
To meditate on the kingdom of heaven—would make us strive after holiness, because none but such are holy—are admitted into this kingdom. Only the pure in heart shall see God. Matthew 5:8. Holiness is the language of heaven, it is the only coin which will pass current there. This consideration should make us "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor 7:1.
(18) The last means for obtaining the heavenly kingdom—is PERSEVERANCE in holiness. "Be faithful unto death—and I will give you a crown of life." Rev 2:10. "It is not the beginning—but the end which wins praise." Jerome. "It is the one who has endured to the end, who will be saved." Matthew 10:2.
Is there such a thing as persevering until we come to heaven? That anyone endures to the kingdom of heaven, is a wonder, if you consider:
(1) What a great mass of sin and corruption is mingled with grace. Grace is apt to be stifled, as the coal to be choked with its own ashes. Like a spark in the sea, it is a wonder that grace is not quenched. It is a wonder that sin does not overlay grace, as the nurse sometimes does the child, that it dies.
(2) The implacable malice of Satan. He envies that we should have the kingdom of heaven, when he himself is cast out. It cuts him to the heart, to see a piece of dust and clay made a bright star in glory, and he himself a demon of darkness. He will work with all the
powers of hell—to hinder us from the kingdom! Satan spits his venom, shoots his fiery darts, raises a storm of persecution; yes, and prevails against some. "There appeared a great red dragon, and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth." Rev 12:3, 4. By the red dragon is meant the heathenish empire; now, when his tail cast so many to the earth, it is a wonder that any of the stars keep fixed in their orb.
(3) The blandishments of riches. The young man in the gospel went very far—but he had rich possessions, and these golden weights hindered him from the kingdom. Luke 18:23. Jonathan pursued the battle until he came at the honeycomb, and then he stood still. 1 Sam 14:27. Many are forward for heaven, until they taste the sweetness of the world; but when they come at the honeycomb, they stand still, and go no further. "The gain of money, is the ruin of the soul!" Those who have escaped the rocks of gross sins, have been cast away upon the golden sands. What a wonder therefore that anyone holds on, until he come to the kingdom!
(4) It is a wonder that any hold out in grace, and do not tire in their march to heaven, if you consider the difficulty of the Christian's work. He has no time to waste. He is either watching or fighting! Nay, he is to do those duties which to the eye of sense and reason, seem inconsistent. While he does one duty, he seems to cross another. He must come with holy boldness to God in prayer—yet must serve him with fear. He must mourn for sin—yet rejoice. He must be contented—yet covet the greater gifts (1 Cor 12:31). He must condemn men's impieties—and yet reverence their authority. What difficult work is this! It is a wonder that any saint arrives at the heavenly kingdom!