HEAVEN TAKEN BY STORM

Description

THOMAS WATSON

Showing the Holy Violence a Christian is to put Forth in the Pursuit After Glory

Building on Jesus’s words that “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matt. 11:12), Heaven Taken by Storm reminds us that Christians are spiritual warriors and the kingdom advances through warfare. As Watson puts it, “Our life is military. Christ is our Captain, the gospel is the banner, the graces are our spiritual artillery, and heaven is only taken in a forcible way.”

In his typically heart-searching style, replete with practical illustrations and gripping remarks, Watson describes how the Christian is to take the kingdom of heaven by holy violence through the reading and exposition of Scripture, prayer, meditation, self-examination, conversation, and the sanctification of the Lord’s Day. Moreover, he poignantly calls the believer to be vigilant against the flesh, Satan, and the world. Soldiers of Christ will find this a practical handbook on Christian living.

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Contents

1. Taking the Kingdom of Heaven by Holy Violence
2. The Christian Offering Violence to Himself
3. Offering Violence by the Reading of the Word
4. Offering Violence by the Hearing of the Word
5. Offering Violence by Prayer
6. Offering Violence by Meditation
7. Offering Violence by Self-Examination
8. Offering Violence by Sanctifying the Lord’s Day
9. Offering Violence by Holy Conversation
10. The Christian Offering Violence to Satan
11. The Christian Offering Violence to the World
12. The Christian Offering Violence to Heaven
13. Arrows of Reproof to Those Not Offering Violence
14. Examining Whether We Are Offering Violence
15. Objections against Offering Violence
16. Motives for Exhorting All Christians to Offer Violence
17. Take Heed of Hindrances to Offering Violence
18. Directions on How to Promote Offering Violence
19. Conclusion: What Shall We Do?

Appendix 1: The Happiness of Drawing Near to God

Appendix 2: How We May Read the Scriptures with Most Spiritual Profit

Endorsement

“Watson’s profound spirituality, terse style, and beauty of expression make him one of the most irresistible, quotable, and devotional of all the Puritans.” — Joel R. Beeke, president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

About the Author

Thomas Watson (ca. 1620–1686) graduated from Cambridge University and became one of the leading Puritan minsters of London.