Kingdom Violence (3)

(7) The excellency of something demands violence. It is appropriate that excellent things should have answerable affections. It is the kingdom of heaven, what affection is answerable but a violent, strong affection?
(8) Together with the excellency is the necessity of it; for the kingdom of heaven is a place of refuge as well as a kingdom to enrich us. There were cities of refuge among the Jews. When a man was followed by the avenger of blood, he would run as fast as he could to the city of refuge, and there he was safe. So when a guilty conscience pursues us or when God's judgments awaken us and hell is open; when a man apprehends his state and is convinced who he is and what he deserves, of necessity he will fly to the city of refuge; and where is that but in the grace found in the church? Happy is he that gets in at the gate of this kingdom. But there must be a striving ‘to enter in at the gate’ (Luke 13:24). In this respect the kingdom of heaven suffers violence. It is compared to some great, rich city, that has some great treasure and riches in it; and the city must be besieged for a long time, and those that are able to enter it are there forever. It is like the gate of a large city where there is striving and thronging, and where there are also enemies, and if men do not strive against the throng they are cut, mangled, and killed. So, it is in the state of God's kingdom. When a man's eyes are opened, he sees the devil and hell behind him, and either he must enter or be damned. He is strongly moved to offer violence on both sides. If he looks behind him there is the kingdom of Satan, darkness, misery, and damnation. Before him there is the kingdom of happiness and glory. The fear of what follows him and the hope of what is set before him, makes him strive to enter the gate of that city.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Victorious Violence, Works, vol. 6, pp. 301-02
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