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{Sermons on Ephesians 5:15
The Doctrine Explained
Precisians Are the Sort Who Walk in the Right Way
The Right Way Proved Most Excellent
It Is the Way of the Kingdom}
The distinctive excellency of a means to an end is in this: that it will certainly bring about its purpose. That way is best that will bring us safely home. This way is called “the way of life.” “You will show me the path of life” (Psalm 16:11). Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, patience, godliness, etc. … For so an entrance will be abundantly supplied to you into the everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:5, 11). Even if there were no other excellency in this way, this is enough to commend it and exalt it above all other ways: it is the way to Heaven. If the way of holiness and righteousness were in all other respects as despicable and uncomfortable a way as the world imagines it; if godliness were in itself as great a burden and bondage as carnal people deem it; if all the reproaches, slanders, false accusations, and lying reports that ungodly people cast upon the way of the Lord were true—the fact that it is the way to everlasting blessedness would answer all that is spoken against it. If you were to go to London on some business about which your life and all your assets were at stake, you would not stand reasoning thus: “Is not the way to York a better and more pleasant way?” Whatever the way to London is like, however long, however dirty, however dangerous, or however hard to find it may be, your life and assets depend on your going to London. Thus, you will take the way that leads to London, leaving all other ways and disputes about them behind. Whatever might be said against it to discourage you or make you unwilling to travel it, the way of the Lord is the only way you have to save your souls and the only way to eternal blessedness. When you have made all your objections and all your excuses, you must take up this holy course of life; otherwise you can never come into the kingdom of God. You think that the way of carnal jollity and merriment is a more pleasant and delightful way. But is that your way to Heaven? You count the way of covetousness and worldliness to be a more gainful and profitable way. But is that the way of life? You think that the way of slothfulness and idleness is an easy way. But is that the way of the kingdom? The strict and severe way of holiness has little carnal delight, ease, and worldly profit in it, but it is the way to everlasting life. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man will see God” (Hebrews 12:14). Now if this is so—search, you sinners, search and consider if it is not so. Consult the Scriptures; consult your reasoning and consciences; see if you do not find them all bearing witness to this truth. And if these things be the case as has been said, then come, all you foolish and vain-hearted people, and judge concerning the unreasonableness of these scoffing demands of the morally looser sort to the people of God. In scorn and derision, they will often be asking the people of God, why must you be so particular? Why so precise? Why so strict and making so much ado about every small matter? Why can you not be content to do as others and take the same liberty as others? Indeed, it is the same as if the scoffers should demand of God’s people, “Why will you keep your way, the way of life? Why will you be saved? Why will you not be content to be damned58 as well as others?” Is there any wisdom and reason in such questionings and scoffing demands? Suppose you stood by a dangerous large bog59 through which there was one narrow tract of firm ground, and you should see a company of unfortunate people sunk and even almost swallowed up and drowned in the mud and mire on either side of the firm tract. And suppose also you saw them laughing, mocking, and jeering at those who kept to the narrow tract of firm ground that would bring them safely over. Would you not say they were all insane or bewitched? This is the case of all foolish worldlings; they are sunk in the mud, swallowed up and drowned in their lusts, and ready to perish. Yet they fall into laughing at and deriding those who keep the sure way. Sinners, what is the matter with you? You are sinking. You are sinking. A few steps further and you will be swallowed up. Why will you not come back and get into this safe way? Leave your scoffing against the saints and learn from them. Leave your judging and censuring, and follow them in the same holy steps that they are taking ahead of you.
58damn: synonym of condemn, but much stronger. When used without another context, it refers by default to eternal condemnation to Hell. Although it can be used profanely, the editor chose to retain the word since it indicates the horror of eternal death in the fires of Hell.
59A bog is a type of wetland with plants on top. The surface is composed of plants and organic material in varying depths on top of water, slime or mud. Thus, apparently solid ground can be deceptive and treacherous, leading to entrapment and even drowning.
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