The Lord's Prayer
by Thomas Watson
File 13
(... continued from file 12)
(3) This kingdom of heaven deserves our utmost pains and
diligence. It is glorious, beyond hyperbole. Suppose earthly
kingdoms more magnificent than they are, their foundations of gold,
their walls of pearl, their windows of sapphire, they are not
comparable to the heavenly kingdom. If the pavement of it be
bespangled with so many bright shining lights and glorious stars,
what is the kingdom itself? 'It does not yet appear what we shall
be.' I John 3: 2. This kingdom exceeds our faith. How sublime and
wonderful is that place where the blessed Deity shines forth in his
immense glory, infinitely beyond the comprehension of angels!
The kingdom of heaven is a place of honour. There are glorious
triumphs and sparkling crowns. In other kingdoms there is but one
king, but in heaven all are kings. Rev 1: 6. Every glorified saint
partakes of the same glory as Christ does. 'The glory which thou
gavest me, I have given them.' John 17: 22.
This kingdom is a place of joy. 'Enter thou into the joy of thy
Lord.' Matt 25: 21. To have a continual aspect of love in God's
face, to be crowned with immortality, to be as the angels of God, to
drink of the rivers of pleasure for ever, this will cause raptures
of joy. Surely it deserves our utmost pains to pursue and to secure
this kingdom. Julius Caesar coming towards Rome with his army, and
hearing the senate and people had fled from it, said, 'They that
will not fight for this city, what city will they fight for?' If we
will not take pains for the kingdom of heaven, what kingdom will we
take pains for? It was the speech of the spies to their brethren,
'We have seen the land, and behold, it is very good; and are ye
still? Be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.'
Judg 18: 9. We have had a lively description of the glory of heaven,
we find the kingdom is very good; why then do we sit still? Why do
we not operam navare, put forth our utmost zeal and industry for
this kingdom? The diligence of others in seeking after earthly
kingdoms, shames our coldness and indifference in pursuing after the
kingdom of heaven.
(4) The time we have to make sure of the heavenly kingdom is
very short and uncertain. Take heed it does not slip away before you
have prepared for the kingdom. Time passes on apace, cito pede
preterita vite: it will not be long before the silver cord be
loosed, and the golden bowl broken. Eccl 12: 6. The skull wherein
the brains are inclosed is a bowl that will soon be broken. Our soul
is in the body as the bird in the shell, which soon breaks, and the
bird flies out; the shell of the body broken, the soul flies into
eternity. We know not whether we shall live to another Sabbath.
Before we hear another sermon-bell go, our passing-bell may go. Our
life runs as a swift stream into the ocean of eternity. Brethren, if
our time be so minute and transient, if the taper of life be so soon
wasted, or perhaps blown out by violent death, how should we put to
all our strength, and call in help from heaven that we may obtain
the kingdom of glory! If time be so short, why do we waste it about
things of less moment, and neglect the 'one thing needful,' which is
the kingdom of heaven? A man that has a great work to be done, and
but one day for doing it, needs to work hard. We have a great work
to do, we are striving for a kingdom, and alas! we are not certain
of one day to work in; therefore what need have we to bestir
ourselves, and what we do for heaven, to do it with all our might!
(5) To excite our diligence, let us consider how inexcusable we
shall be if we miss the kingdom of heaven. Who have had such helps
for heaven as we have had? Indians who have mines of gold, have not
such advantages for glory as we. They have the light of the sun,
moon, and stars, and the light of reason, but this is not enough to
light them to heaven. We have had the light of the gospel shining in
our horizon; we have been lifted up to heaven with ordinances; we
have had the word in season and out of season. The ordinances are
the pipes of the sanctuary, which empty the golden oil of grace into
the soul; they are scala paradisi, the ladder by which we ascend to
the kingdom of heaven. 'What nation is there so great who has God so
nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call
upon him for?' Deut 4: 7. We have had heaven and hell set before us;
we have had counsels of friends, warnings, examples, the motions and
inspirations of the Holy Ghost; how should all these spurs quicken
us in our pace to heaven? Should not that ship sail apace to the
haven which has the tide of ordinances, and the wind of the Spirit
to carry it? Surely if we, through negligence, miss the kingdom of
heaven, we shall have nothing to say for ourselves; we shall be as
far from excuse as from happiness.
(6) You cannot do too much for the kingdom of heaven. You
cannot pray too much, sanctify the Sabbath too much, nor love God
too much. In secular things a man may labour too hard, he may kill
himself with work; but there is no fear of working too hard for
heaven. In virtute non est verendum ne quid nimium sit [In
righteousness there is no need to fear excess]. Seneca. The world is
apt to censure the godly, as if they were too zealous, and
overstrained themselves in religion. Indeed, a man may follow the
world too much, he may make too much haste to be rich. The ferry-man
may take too many passengers into his boat, so as to sink it; so a
man may heap up so much gold and silver as to sink himself in
perdition. I Tim 6: 9. We cannot be too earnest and zealous for the
kingdom of heaven; there is no fear of excess here; when we do all
we can, we come short of the golden rule set us, and of Christ's
golden pattern. When our faith is highest, like the sun in the
meridian, still there is something lacking in our faith, so that all
our labour for the kingdom is little enough. I Thess 3: 1. When a
Christian has done his best, still he has sins, and wants to bewail.
(7) You may judge of the state of your souls, whether you have
grace or not, by your earnest pursuit after the heavenly kingdom.
Grace infuses a spirit of activity into a person; it does not lie
dormant in the soul; it is not a sleepy habit, but it makes a
Christian like the seraphim, swift and winged in his heavenly
motion; like fire, it makes him burn in love to God; and the more he
loves him, the more he presses forward to heaven, where he may fully
enjoy him. Hope is an active grace, it is called 'a lively hope.' I
Pet 1: 3. It is like the spring in the watch, which sets all the
wheels of the soul running. Hope of a crop makes the husband man sow
his seed; hope of victory makes the soldier fight; and a true hope
of glory makes a Christian vigorously pursue it. Here is a spiritual
touchstone by which to try our grace. If we have the anointing of
the Spirit, it will oil the wheels of our endeavour, and make us
lively in our pursuit of the heavenly kingdom. No sooner had Paul
grace infused, but it is said, 'Behold, he prayeth.' Acts 9: 11. The
affections are by divines called 'the feet of the soul;' if these
feet move not towards heaven, it is because there is no life in
them.
(8) Your labour for heaven is not lost. Perhaps you may think
that you have served God in vain; but know that your pains are not
lost. The seed is cast into the earth, and it dies, yet at last it
brings forth a plentiful crop; so your labours seem to be fruitless,
but at last they bring you to a kingdom. Who would not work hard for
one hour, when, for that hour's work, he should be a king as long as
he lived? And let me tell you, the more labour you have put forth
for the kingdom of heaven, the more degrees of glory you shall have.
As there are degrees of torment in hell, so of glory in heaven. Matt
23: 14. As one star differeth from another in glory, so shall one
saint. I Cor 15: 41. Though every vessel of mercy shall be full, yet
one may hold more than another. Such as have done more work for God,
shall have more glory in the heavenly kingdom. Could we hear
departed saints speaking to us from heaven, surely they would speak
after this manner: 'Were we to leave heaven awhile, and live on the
earth again, we would do God a thousand times more service than ever
we did; we would pray with more life, act with more zeal; for now we
see, the more has been our labour, the greater is our reward in
heaven.'
(9) While we are labouring for the kingdom, God will help us.
'I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my
statutes.' Ezek 36: 27. The promise encourages us, and God's Spirit
enables us. A master gives his servant work to do, but he cannot
give him strength to work; but God both cuts us out work and gives
us strength. 'Give thy strength unto thy servant.' Psa 86: 16. God
not only gives us a crown when we have done running, but gives us
legs to run; he gives exciting, assisting grace; lex jubet, gratia
juvat [law commands, grace assists]; the Spirit helping us in our
work for heaven, makes it easy. If the loadstone draw the iron, it
is not hard for the iron to move; so, if God's Spirit draws the
heart, it moves towards heaven with facility and alacrity.
(10) The more pains we have taken for heaven, the sweeter
heaven will be when we come there. As when a husband man has been
grafting trees, or setting flowers in his garden, it is pleasant to
review and look over his labours: so, when in heaven, we shall
remember our former zeal and earnestness for the kingdom, which will
sweeten heaven, and add to the joy of it. For a Christian to think,
such a day I spent in examining my heart; such a day I was weeping
for sin; when others were at their sport, I was at prayer; and now,
have I lost any thing by my devotion? My tears are wiped away, and
the wine of paradise cheers my heart. I now enjoy him whom my soul
loves, I am possessed of a kingdom; my labour is over, but joy
remains.
(11) If you do not take pains for the kingdom of heaven now,
there will be nothing to be done for your souls after death. This is
the only fit season for working; and if this season be lost, the
kingdom is forfeited. 'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with
thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor wisdom in the grave
whither thou goest.' Eccl 9: 10. It was a saying of Charles V, 'I
have spent my treasure, but that I may recover again; I have lost my
health, but that I may have again; but I have lost a great many
brave soldiers, but them I can never have again.' So other temporal
blessings may be lost and recovered again; but if the term of life,
wherein you should work for heaven, be once lost, it is past all
recovery, you can never have another season again for your souls.
(12) There is nothing else but this kingdom of heaven of which
we can make sure. We cannot make sure of life. Quis scit an
adjiciant hodiernae crastina vitiae tempora di superi? [Who knows
whether the gods above will add a tomorrow to the life of today?].
Horace. When our breath goes out, we know not whether we shall draw
it in again. How many are taken away suddenly! We cannot make riches
sure; it is uncertain whether we shall get them. The world is like a
lottery, in which every one is not sure to draw a prize. If we get
riches, we are not sure to keep them. 'Riches make themselves wings,
they fly away.' Prov 23: 5. Experience seals the truth of this. Many
who have had plentiful estates, by fire, or losses at sea, have been
squeezed as sponges, and all their estates exhausted; but if men
should keep their estates awhile, death strips them of all. When
death's gun goes off, away flies the estate. 'It is certain we can
carry nothing out' of the world. I Tim 6: 7. So that there is no
making sure of anything here below, but we may make sure of the
kingdom of heaven. 'To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure
reward.' Prov 11: 18. He who has grace is sure of heaven, for he has
heaven begun in him. A believer has an evidence of heaven. 'Faith is
the evidence of things not seen.' Heb 11: 1. He has an earnest of
glory. 'Who has given us the earnest of the Spirit.' 2 Cor 1: 22. An
earnest is part of the whole sum. He has a sure hope. 'Which hope we
have as an anchor.' Heb 6: 19. This anchor is cast upon God's
promise. 'In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie
promised.' Tit 1: 2. So that here is great encouragement to take
pains for heaven, that we may make sure of this kingdom.
(13) The kingdom of heaven cannot be obtained without labour.
Non est ad astra mollis e terris via [The way from earth to heaven
is not easy]. A boat may as well get to land without oars, as we to
heaven without labour. We cannot have the world without labour, and
do we think to have heaven? If a man digs for gravel, much more for
gold. 'I press toward the mark.' Phil 3: 14. Heaven's gate is not
like that iron gate which opened to Peter of its own accord. Acts
12: 10. Heaven is not like those ripe figs which fall into the mouth
of the eater. Nah 3: 12. No, there must be taking pains. Two things
are requisite for a Christian, a watchful eye and a working hand. We
must, as Hannibal to Rome, force a way to the heavenly kingdom
through difficulties. We must win the garland of glory by labour,
before we wear it with triumph. God has enacted this law, 'That no
man shall eat of the tree of paradise but in the sweat of his
brows.' How, then, dare any censure Christian diligence? How dare
they say you take more pains for heaven than need? God says, 'Strive
as in an agony: fight the good fight of faith;' and they say, 'You
are too strict:' but whom shall we believe, a holy God who bids us
strive, or a profane atheist who says we strive too much?
(14) Much of our time being already misspent, we had need work
the harder for the kingdom of heaven. He who has lost his time at
school, and often played truant, had need ply it the harder, that he
may gain a stock of learning; and he who has slept and loitered in
the beginning of his journey, had need ride the faster in the
evening, lest he fall short of the place to which he is travelling.
Some are in their youth, others in the flower of their age, others
have grey hairs, the almond tree blossoms, and yet perhaps have been
very regardless of their souls and heaven. Time spent unprofitably
is not time lived, but time lost. If there be any such here who have
misspent their golden hours, they have not only been slothful, but
wasteful servants. They had need now to redeem the time, and press
forward with might and main to the heavenly kingdom. 'The time past
of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the
Gentiles.' I Pet 4: 3. It may suffice us that we have lost so much
time already, let us now work the harder. They who have crept as
snails, had need now fly as eagles to the paradise of God. If, in
the former part of your life, you have been as willows, barren in
goodness, in the latter part, be as 'an orchard of pomegranates,
with pleasant fruits.' Cant 4: 13. Recompense former remissness with
future diligence.
(15) How uncomely and sordid a slothful temper of soul is! 'I
will punish the men who are settled on their lees;' (Heb 'Curdled on
their lees.') Zeph 1: 12. Settling on the lees is an emblem of a
dull, inactive soul. The snail, by reason of its slow motion, was
reckoned among the unclean. Lev 11: 30. 'A slothful man hideth his
hand in his bosom:' he is loath to pull it out, though it be to lay
hold on a crown. Prov 19: 24. Non capit porta illa caelestis torpore
languidos [That gate of heaven does not receive those who are dull
with sloth]. Brugensis. The devil himself cannot be charged with
idleness. He 'walketh about.' I Pet 5: 8. An idle soul stands in the
world for a cipher, and God writes down no ciphers in the book of
life. Heaven is no hive for drones. An idle person is fit for a
temptation. When the bird sits still upon the bough, it is in danger
of the gun: when one sits still in sloth, the devil shoots him with
a temptation. Standing water putrifies. Heathens will rise up in
judgement against supine Christians. What pains did they take in the
Olympic games! They ran but for a garland of flowers, or olive; and
do we sit still who run for a kingdom? How can he expect a reward
who never works, or a crown who never fights? Inertia animae somnus.
Sloth is the soul's sleep. Adam, when asleep, lost his rib; and when
a person is in the deep sleep of sloth, he loses salvation.
(16) Holy activity and industry ennoble a Christian. Labor
splendore decoratur [Work is adorned with honour]. Cicero. The more
excellent anything is, the more active. The sun is a glorious
creature, it is ever in motion, going its circuit. Fire is the
purest element, and the most active, it is ever sparkling and
flaming; the angels are the most noble creatures, they are
represented by the cherubim, with wings displayed. The more active
for heaven, the more illustrious, and the more do we resemble the
angels. The phoenix flies with a coronet on its head; so the
industrious soul has his coronet, his labour is his ensign of
honour.
(17) It is a mercy that there is a possibility of happiness,
and that upon our painstaking we may have a kingdom. By our fall in
Adam we forfeited heaven. Why might not God have dealt with us as
with the lapsed angels? They had no sooner sinned than they were
expelled from heaven, never to come thither more. We may say, as the
apostle, 'Behold the goodness and severity of God. ' Rom 11: 22. The
apostate angels behold the severity of God, that he should throw
them down to hell for ever; we behold the goodness of God in that he
has put us into a possibility of mercy; so that if we do but take
pains, a kingdom stands ready for us. How should this whet and
sharpen our industry, that we are in a capacity of salvation; and
that if we do but what we are able, we shall receive an eternal
weight of glory!
(18) Our labour for the kingdom of heaven is minute and
transient. It is not to endure long; it expires with our life. It is
but awhile, and we shall leave off working; for a little labour we
shall have an eternal rest. Who would think much to wade through a
little water, if he were sure to be crowned as soon as he came on
shore? Christians, let this encourage you, you have but a little
more pains to take, a few tears more to shed, a few more Sabbaths to
keep, and, behold an eternal recompense of reward. What are a few
tears to a crown, a few minutes of time to an eternity of glory?
(19) What striving is there for earthly kingdoms, which are
corruptible, and subject to change! With what vigour and alacrity
did Hannibal's soldiers continue their march over the Alps, and
craggy rocks, and Caesar's soldiers fight with hunger and cold! Men
will break through laws and oaths, they will swim to a crown in
blood. Will they venture thus for earthly promotions, and shall not
we strive more for a heavenly kingdom? This is 'a kingdom which
cannot be moved' (Heb 12: 28); a kingdom where there is unparalleled
beauty, unstained honour, unmixed joy; a kingdom where there shall
be nothing present which we could wish were removed, and nothing
absent which we could wish were enjoyed. Surely if there be any
spark of grace, or true generosity in our breasts, we shall not
suffer ourselves to be out-striven by others; we shall not let them
take more pains for earthly honours, than we do for that excellent
glory which will crown all our desires.
(20) What pains some men take to go to hell, and shall not we
take more pains to go to heaven? 'They weary themselves to commit
iniquity.' Jer 9: 5. Sinners hackney themselves out in the devil's
service. What pains some men take to satisfy their unclean lusts!
They waste their estates, wear the shameful marks of their sin about
them, and visit the harlot's house, though it stands the next door
to hell. 'Her house is the way to hell.' Prov 7: 27. What pains do
others take in persecuting! Holiness is the mark they shoot at. It
is said of Antiochus Epiphanes, that he undertook more tedious
journeys, and went upon greater hazards, to vex and oppose the Jews,
than any of his predecessors had done in getting victories. The
devil blows the horn and men ride post to hell, as if they feared
hell would be full see they should get thither. When Satan had
entered into Judas, how active was he! He went to the high priests,
from them to the band of soldiers, and with them back again to the
garden, and never left till he had betrayed Christ! How industrious
were the idolatrous Jews! So fiercely were they bent upon their sin,
that they would sacrifice their sons and daughters to their idol-
gods. Jer 32: 35. Do men take all these pains for hell, and shall
not we take pains for the kingdom of heaven? The wicked have nothing
to encourage them in their sins, they have all the threatening of
God as a flaming sword against them. Oh, let it never be said that
the devil's servants are more active than Christ's; that they serve
him better who rewards them only with fire and brimstone, than we do
God, who rewards with a kingdom!
(21) The labour we take for heaven is a labour full of
pleasure. Prov 3: 17. A man sweats at his recreation, tires himself
with hunting, but there is a delight he takes in it which sweetens
it. 'I delight in the law of God after the inward man.' (Gr. I take
pleasure) Rom 7: 22. Not only is the kingdom of heaven delightful,
but the way thither. What a delight has a gracious soul in prayer!
'I will make them joyful in my house of prayer.' Isa 56: 7. While a
Christian weeps, joy drops with tears; while he is musing on God, he
has such quickening of the Spirit, and, as it were, such
transfigurations of soul, that he thinks himself half in heaven. 'My
soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth
shall praise thee with joyful lips, when I remember thee upon my
bed,' &c. Psa 63: 5, 6. A Christian's work for heaven is like a
bridegroom's work on the morning of the marriage-day, he puts on his
vesture and wedding-robes in which he shall be married to his bride;
so, in all the duties of religion, we are putting on those wedding
robes in which we shall be married to Christ in glory. Oh, what
solace and inward peace is there in close walking with God! 'The
work of righteousness shall be peace.' Isa 32: 17. Serving God is
like gathering spices or flowers, wherein there is some labour, but
the labour is recompensed with delight. Working for heaven is like
digging in a gold mine; the digging is labour, but getting the gold
is pleasure! O, then, let us bestir ourselves for the kingdom of
heaven; it is a labour of pleasure. A Christian would not part with
his joy for the most delicious music; he would not exchange his
anchor of hope for a crown of gold. Well might David say, 'In
keeping [thy precepts] there is great reward,' not only after
keeping thy precepts, but in keeping them. Psa 19: 11. A Christian
has both the spring-flowers and the crop; inward delight in serving
God is the spring-flowers, in the kingdom of glory at last is the
full crop.
(22) How industrious have the saints in former ages been! They
thought they could never do enough for heaven; they could never
serve God enough, love him enough. Minus te amavi Domine. Augustine.
Lord, I have loved thee too little. What pains did Paul take for the
heavenly kingdom. 'Reaching forth unto those things which are
before.' Phil 3: 13. The Greek word, to reach forth, signifies to
stretch out the neck; a metaphor from racers, who strain every limb,
and reach forward to lay hold on the prize. Anna, the prophetess,
'departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and
prayers night and day.' Luke 2: 37. Basil the Great, by much labour
and watching, exhausted his bodily strength. 'Let racks, pulleys,
and all torments come upon me,' said Ignatius, 'so I may win
Christ.' The industry and courage of former saints, who are now
crowned with glory, should provoke our diligence, that so at last we
may sit down with them in the kingdom of heaven.
(23) The more pains we take for heaven, the more welcome will
death be to us. What is it that makes men so loath to die? They are
like a tenant that will not go out of the house till the serjeant
pull him out. They love not to hear of death. Why so? Because their
conscience accuses them that they have taken little or no pains for
heaven; they have been sleeping when they should have been working,
and now they are afraid lest death should carry them prisoners to
hell; but he who has spent his time in serving God, can look death
in the face with comfort; he was wholly taken up about heaven, and
now he shall be taken up to heaven; he traded before in heaven, and
now he shall go to live there. Cupio dissolvi, I desire to be
dissolved, and to be with Christ. Phil 1: 23. Paul had wholly laid
himself out for God, and now he knew there was a crown laid up for
him, and he longed to take possession.
Thus I have given you twenty-three persuasive or arguments to
exert and put forth your utmost diligence for obtaining the kingdom
of heaven. O that they were written in all your hearts, as with the
point of a diamond! Because delays in these cases are dangerous, let
me desire you to set upon this work for heaven at once. 'I made
haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.' Psa 119: 60. Many
people are convinced of the necessity of looking after the kingdom
of glory, but they say as those in Hag 1: 2, 'The time is not come.'
They adjourn and put off till their time is slipped away, and so
they lose the kingdom of heaven. Beware of this fallacy; delay
strengthens sin, hardens the heart, and gives the devil fuller
possession of a man. 'The king's business required haste;' so the
business of salvation requires haste. I Sam 21: 8. Do not put off an
hour longer. Volat ambiguis mobilis alis hora [The fleeting hour
flies on fickle wings]. What assurance have you that you shall live
another day? Have you any lease of life granted? Why then do you not
presently arise out of the bed of sloth, and put forth all your
strength and spirits, that you may be possessed of the kingdom of
glory? Should not things of the highest importance be done first?
Settling a man's estate, and clearing the title to his land, is not
delayed, but done in the first place. What is there of such grand
importance as the saving of your souls, and the gaining a kingdom?
Therefore to-day hear God's voice; now mind eternity; now get your
title to heaven cleared before the decree of death brings forth.
What imprudence is it to lay the heaviest load upon the weakest
horse! So it is to lay the heavy load of repentance on thyself when
thou art enfeebled by sickness, the hands shake, the lips quiver,
and the heart faints. O be wise in time; prepare now for the
kingdom. If a man begins his voyage to heaven in the storm of death,
it is a thousand to one if he does not suffer an eternal shipwreck.
Use 6. For exhortation to those who have any good hope through
grace. You that are the heirs of this kingdom, let me exhort you to
six things:
(1) Often take a prospect of this heavenly kingdom. Climb up
the celestial mount; take a turn, as it were, in heaven every day by
holy meditation. 'Walk about Zion, tell the towers thereof, mark ye
well her bulwarks.' Psa 48: 12, 13. See what a glorious kingdom
heaven is; go tell the towers, view the palaces of the heavenly
Jerusalem. Christian, show thy heart the gates of pearl, the beds of
spices, the clusters of grapes which grow in the paradise of God.
Say, 'O my soul, all this glory is thine, it is thy Father's good
pleasure to give thee this kingdom.' The thoughts of heaven are very
delightful and ravishing. Can men of the world so delight in viewing
their bags of gold, and fields of corn, and shall not the heirs of
promise take more delight in contemplating the celestial kingdom?
The serious meditation of the kingdom of glory would work these
three effects:
It would put a damp and slur upon all worldly glory. To those
who stand upon the top of the Alps, the great cities of Campania
seem but small in their eye; so, could we look through the
perspective glass of faith, and take a view of heaven's glory, how
small and minute would all other things appear! Moses slighted the
honours of Pharaoh's court, having an eye to the recompense of
reward. Heb 11: 26. When Paul had a vision of glory, and John was
carried away in the Spirit, and saw the holy Jerusalem descending
out of heaven, having the glory of God in it, how did the world
after appear in an eclipse to them!
The meditation of the heavenly kingdom would much promote
holiness in us. Heaven is a holy place: 'an inheritance undefiled.'
I Pet 1: 4. It is described by transparent glass, to denote its
purity. Rev 21: 21. Contemplating heaven would put us upon the study
of holiness, because none but such are admitted to that kingdom.
Heaven is not like Noah's ark, into which came clean beasts and
unclean. Only the pure in heart shall see God. Matt 5: 8.
The meditation of the heavenly kingdom would be a spur to
diligence. Immensum gloria calcar habet [Glory possesses an
immeasurable stimulus]. 'Always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.' I
Cor 15: 58. When the mariner sees the haven, he plies harder with
his oars; so when we have a sight and prospect of glory, we should
be much in prayer, alms, and watching; it should add wings to duty,
and make the lamp of our devotion burn brighter.
(2) If you have hopes of this kingdom, be content though you
have but a little of the world! Contentment is a rare thing, it is a
jewel that but few Christians wear; but if you have a grounded hope
of heaven, it may work your heart to contentation. What though you
have but little in possession, you have a kingdom in reversion! Were
you to take an estimate of a man's estate, how would you value it?
By what he has in his house, or by his land? Perhaps he has little
money or jewels in his house, but he is a landed man - there lies
his estate. A believer has but a little oil in the cruse, and meal
in the barrel, but he is a landed man, he has a title to a kingdom,
and may not this satisfy him? If a man who lived here in England,
had a great estate befallen him beyond the seas, and perhaps had no
more money at present but just to pay for his voyage, he is content;
he knows when he comes to his estate he shall have money enough; so,
thou who art a believer hast a kingdom befallen thee; though thou
hast but little in thy purse, yet if thou hast enough to pay for thy
voyage, enough to bear thy charges to heaven, it is sufficient. God
has given thee grace, which is the fore-crop, and will give thee
glory, which is the after-crop; and may not this make thee content?
(3) If you have hope of this blessed kingdom, pray often for
its coming; say, 'Thy kingdom come.' Only believers can pray
heartily for the hastening of the kingdom of glory.
They cannot pray that Christ's kingdom of glory may come who
never had the kingdom of grace set up in their hearts. Can the
guilty prisoners pray that the as sizes may come?
They cannot pray heartily that Christ's kingdom of glory may
come who are lovers of the world. They have found paradise, they are
in their kingdom already; this is their heaven, and they desire to
hear of no other; they are of his mind who said, If he might keep
his cardinalship in Paris, he would give up his part in paradise.
They cannot pray heartily that Christ's kingdom of glory may
come who oppose his kingdom of grace, who break his laws, which are
the sceptre of his kingdom, who shoot at those who bear Christ's
name and carry his colours. Surely these cannot pray that Christ's
kingdom of glory may come, for then Christ will judge them; and if
they say this prayer, they are hypocrites, they mean not what they
speak. But you who have the kingdom of grace set up in your hearts,
pray much that the kingdom of glory may hasten; say, 'Thy kingdom
come.' When this kingdom comes, then you shall behold Christ in all
his embroidered robes of glory, shining ten thousand times brighter
than the sun in all its meridian splendour. When Christ's kingdom
comes, the bodies of the saints that sleep in the dust shall be
raised in honour, and made like Christ's glorious body; then your
souls like diamonds shall sparkle with holiness; you shall never
have a sinful thought more, you shall be as holy as the angels; you
shall be as holy as you would be, and as holy as God would have you
to be; then you shall be in a better state than in innocence. Adam
was created a glorious creature, but mutable; a bright star, but a
falling star; but in the kingdom of heaven is a fixation of
happiness. When Christ's kingdom of glory comes, you shall be rid of
all your enemies; as Moses said, 'The Egyptians whom you have seen
to day, you shall see them no more for ever.' Exod 14: 13. So those
enemies who have sloughed on the backs of God's people, and made
deep their furrows, when Christ shall come in his glory, you shall
see no more. All Christ's enemies shall be 'put under his feet.' I
Cor 15: 25. Before the wicked be destroyed, the saints shall judge
them. 'Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?' I Cor
6: 2. It will cut the wicked to the heart that those whom they have
formerly scorned and scourged, shall sit as judges upon them, and
vote with Christ in his judicial proceedings. Oh, then, well may you
pray for the hastening of the kingdom of glory, 'Thy kingdom come.'
(4) If you have any good hope of this blessed kingdom, let it
make the colour come in your faces, be of a sanguine, cheerful
temper. Have you a title to a kingdom, and are sad? 'We rejoice in
hope of the glory of God.' Rom 5: 2. Christians, the trumpet is
ready to sound, an eternal jubilee is at hand, when a freedom from
sin shall be proclaimed; your coronation-day is coming. It is but
putting off your clothes, and laying your head upon a pillow of
dust, and you shall be enthroned in a kingdom, and invested with the
embroidered robes of glory. Does not all this call for a cheerful
spirit? Cheerfulness adorns religion. It is a temper of soul that
Christ loves. 'If ye loved me, ye would rejoice.' John 14: 28. It
makes many suspect heaven is not so pleasant, when they see those
that walk thither sad. How does the heir rejoice in hope of the
inheritance? Who should rejoice if not a believer, who is heir of
the kingdom, and such a kingdom as eye has not seen? When the flesh
begins to droop, let faith lift up its head, and cause a holy
jubilation and rejoicing in the soul.
(5) Let the saints long to be in that blessed kingdom. Does not
a prince that travels in foreign parts long to be in his own nation,
that he may be crowned? The bride desires the marriage day. 'The
Spirit and the bride say, Come: even so, come, Lord Jesus.' Rev 22:
17, 20. Sure our unwillingness to go hence, shows either the
weakness of our faith in the belief of the heavenly kingdom, or the
strength of our doubts whether we have an interest in it. Were our
title to heaven more clear, we should need patience to be content to
stay here any longer.
Again, our unwillingness to go hence, declares we love the
world too much, and Christ too little. Love, as Aristotle says,
desires union. Did we love Christ as we should, we should desire to
be united to him in glory, when we might take our fill of love. Be
humbled that ye are so unwilling to go hence. Let us labour to
arrive at that divine temper of soul which Paul had: Cupio dissolvi,
'Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ.' Phil 1: 23. We
are compassed with a body of sin: should we not long to shake off
this viper? We are in Mesech, and the tents of Cedar, in a place
where we see God dishonoured. Should we not desire to have our pass
to be gone? We are in a valley of tears. Is it not better to be in a
kingdom? Here we are combating with Satan. Should we not desire to
be called out of the bloody field, where the bullets of temptation
fly so fast, that we may receive a victorious crown? O ye saints,
breathe after the heavenly kingdom. Though we should be willing to
stay to do service, yet we should ambitiously desire to be always
sunning ourselves in the light of God's countenance. Think what it
will be to be ever with the Lord! Are there any sweeter smiles or
embraces than his? Is there any bed so soft as Christ's bosom? Is
there any such joy as to have the golden banner of Christ's love
displayed over us? Is there any such honour as to sit upon the
throne with Christ? Rev 3: 21. O, then, long for the celestial
kingdom!
(6) Wait for this kingdom of glory. It is not incongruous or
improper to long for heaven, yet wait for it. Long for it because it
is a kingdom, yet wait your Father's good pleasure. God could bestow
this kingdom at once, but he sees it good that we should wait
awhile.
[1] Had we the kingdom of heaven as soon as ever grace is
infused, then God would lose much of his glory. Where would be our
living by faith, which is the grace that brings in the chief
revenues of glory to God? Rom 5: 20. Where would be our suffering
for God, which is a way of honouring him which the angels in heaven
are not capable of? Where would be the active service we are to do
for God? Would we have God give us a kingdom, and we do nothing for
him before we come there? Would we have rest before labour, a crown
before victory? This were disingenuous. Paul was content to stay out
of heaven awhile that he might be a means of bringing others
thither. Phil 1: 24.
[2] While we wait for the kingdom, our grace is increasing.
Every duty religiously performed, adds a jewel to our crown. Do we
desire to have our robes of glory shine brighter? Let us wait and
work. The longer we stay for the principal, the greater will the
interest be. As the husband man waits till the seed spring up, wait
for the harvest of glory. Some have their waiting weeks at court;
this is your waiting time. Christ says, men ought to pray, and not
to faint. Luke 18: 1. So, wait, and faint not. Be not weary, the
kingdom of heaven will make amends for waiting. 'I have waited for
thy salvation, O Lord,' said the dying patriarch. Gen 49: 18.
Use 7. For comfort to the people of God.
(1) In all their sufferings. The true saint, as Luther says, is
haeres crucis, heir to the cross. Affliction is his diet-drink, but
this keeps him from fainting, that his sufferings bring a kingdom.
The hope of the kingdom of heaven, says Basil, should indulcerate
and sweeten all our troubles. 'If we suffer, we shall also reign
with him.' 2 Tim 2: 12. It is but a short fight, but an eternal
triumph. This light suffering produces an 'eternal weight of glory.'
2 Cor 4: 17. The more weighty precious things are, the more they are
worth, as the more weight in a crown of gold, the more it is worth.
Did this glory last for awhile only, it would much abate and
embitter the joys of heaven; but it runs parallel with eternity. God
will be a deep sea of blessedness, and the glorified saints shall
for ever bathe themselves in the ocean. One day's wearing the crown
will abundantly pay for all the saints' sufferings; how much more
when 'they shall reign for ever and ever!' Rev 22: 5. O let this be
our support under all the calamities and sufferings in this life.
What a vast difference is there between a believer's sufferings and
his reward! 'The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.' Rom 8:
18. For a few tears, rivers of pleasure; for mourning, white robes.
This made the primitive Christians laugh at imprisonments, and
snatch up torments as so many crowns. Though now we drink in a
wormwood-cup, there is sugar in the bottom to sweeten it. 'It is
your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'
(2) Comfort in death. That which takes away from God's children
the terror of death, is that they are entering into the kingdom. No
wonder if wicked men be appalled and terrified at the approach of
death, for they die unpardoned. Death carries them to the jail,
where they must lie for ever, without bail or deliverance; but why
should any of God's children be scared and half dead with the
thoughts of death? What hurt can death do to them, but lead them to
a glorious kingdom? Faith gives a title to heaven, death a
possession. Let this be a gospel antidote to expel the fear of
death. Hilarion, that blessed man, cried out, Egredere, anima,
egredere, quid times? Go forth, my soul, go forth, what fearest
thou? Let them fear death who do not fear sin; but let not God's
children be over much troubled at the grim face of that messenger,
which brings them to the end of their sorrow, and the beginning of
their joy. Death is yours, it is a part of the believer's inventory.
I Cor 3: 22. Is a prince afraid to cross a narrow sea, who shall be
crowned when he comes to shore? Death to the saints shall be an
usher to bring them into the presence of the King of glory. This
thought puts lilies and roses into the ghastly face of death, and
makes it look amiable. Death brings us to a crown of glory which
fades not away. The day of death is better to a believer than the
day of his birth. Death is aditus ad gloriam, an entrance into a
blessed eternity. Fear not death, but rather let your hearts revive
when you think these rattling wheels of death's chariot are but to
carry you home to an everlasting kingdom.
The Lord's Prayer
by Thomas Watson
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