We are continuing to read through Heaven Taken by Storm together.

You can find our reading plan and links to previous posts here.

Chapter Thirteen Outline

• It reproves the slothful.
• It reproves the formalist.
  • Formalism keeps up men’s credit with the world.
  • Formalism stops the mouth of the conscience.
• It reproves the violent in the bad sense.
  • In opposing good.
    • They offer violence against the Holy Spirit.
    • They offer violence against their conscience.
    • They offer violence to God’s image.
  • In pursuing evil.
    • They are violent in their opinions.
    • They are violent in their passions.
    • They are violent in their lusts.
      • Drunken lusts
      • Impure lusts
      • Oppressive lusts
      • Covetous lusts
• It reproves those who have partly left their holy strictness and violence.
  • They grow lethargic and consumptive.
  • Consider seriously:
    • The less violence for heaven, the less peace you will have.
    • You who grow more dead in God’s service, and leave your first love—give great advantage to Satan.
    • Your remissness in piety, though it may not damn you—it will damage you.
    • The more lazy a Christian’s desires are, the more lively his corruptions.
  • Why men throw off holy violence:
    • They never had a principle of spiritual life.
    • They never did duties of piety with delight.
    • They were unbelieving.
    • They love something more than piety.
    • They leave holiness out of cowardice.
    • They leave holiness for lack of patience.
    • God leaves them to themselves out of judgment.
  • The apostate’s purchase:
    • They proclaim their folly.
    • Their end is bitterness.
• It reproves those who put off violence for the kingdom until old age.
• It reproves those who deride holy violence.
• It reproves those who keep heaven away by force.
  • They are ignorant.
  • They are profane.

Questions for Reflection

• Which category of reproof resonated most with you?
• Did Watson accurately describe any reasons why you are (or have in the past) neglected offering holy violence?
• What will your repentance in response to these reproofs look like?