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

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

Chapter Sixteen Outline

• 27 Motives for Offering violence
  • Consider our deplorable condition
  • It is possible to arrive at happiness
  • Violence for heaven is our grand business
  • Consider how violent the wicked are for sin
  • Holy violence is mingled with delight
  • It puts a luster upon a Christian
  • Consider how violent Christ was for our salvation
  • Holy violence brings rest
  • God will help us
  • It prevents much sin
  • Consider the folly of violence for heaven
    • Earthly things are uncertain
    • Earthly things are unsatisfactory
    • Earthly things are transient
  • The violence is for a kingdom
    • Its great immunities
      • There is freedom from sin
      • There is freedom from Satan
      • There is freedom from divisions
      • There is freedom from afflictions
    • Its great excellencies
      • It abounds in riches
      • Its delights are unmixed
      • It is durable
  • Great violence makes heaven sweeter
  • More violence means greater glory
  • God has promised mercy
    • Ask
    • Seek
    • Knock
  • Holy violence will not hinder secular employments
  • Time is short
  • A man’s personal day of grace may be short
  • There is no help after death for those who neglect offering violence
  • You will be left without defense if your neglect this violence
  • It will be a vexation to lose the kingdom for lack of violence
  • Consider the examples of saints of old
  • If violent saints wrestle for heaven, how can the non-violent obtain it?
  • Sweating for heaven does not last long
  • If you are not violent for heaven, you are contrary to your own prayers
  • Holy violence would make Christians willing to die
  • If you still remain non-violent, a time is coming when you will regret failing to do so
• One last caution

Questions for Reflection

• Which of Watson’s motives most resonated with you? Why?
• What are some motives that stir up your zeal for heaven that Watson may not have mentioned?
• Would you say that reading Heaven Taken by Storm has motivated you to be more violent for the kingdom?