KINGDOM OF HEAVEN TAKEN BY PRAYER 1/10 (WILLIAM HUNTINGTON)

The Kingdom of Heaven Taken by Prayer or An Account of the Author's Translation from the Kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God. 

"The kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force..." Matt. xi. 12. 

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son... "Col.1:13 

Advertisement 

I was desired by some friends, when I first sent an account of the dealings of God with my soul into the world, to be silent about the early part of my life, lest some should take liberty from it, and so presumptuously continue in a course of sin. As I found the work swell in my hand, I willingly complied with their request. But I find God's bringing me forth in a more public manner raises me many enemies, who are waiting, and watching for my halting; and, as they cannot find anything against me as a sinner saved, are obliged to dig into the old mine, and rake up what God has buried: however, I thank God that it is not in the power of man to make those wounds bleed afresh which have received a divine cure, and are kept sound by a divine physician. As these adversaries see it needful to clog the coal-hearer and bedaub and bespatter him, lest he should run away with the garland; and as they have often been put to their shifts for matter of reproach; I have, in this fourth edition, presented them with some of the most sable traits in my life, on purpose that they may be enabled to prosecute their laudable undertaking without being constrained to utter "from the heart words of falsehood." They may from this narrative call me both a fornicator and a highway robber, which I think is as black a ground for accusation as they can wish to lay; and, when they have thus filled the lines up, I shall be found to be - the" perfection of beauty" in Christ Jesus, "without fault before the throne of God," and no less than a sinner saved among the children of men. It can afford me no pleasure to relate those things, under the guilt of which I suffered so severely; yet, as "the bitterness of death is past," by the knowledge of the pardon of them, I trust my countenance will stand; and it must stand, seeing that God is "the health of it," Psalm, xlii. 11. Some, it is true, are very fond of sullying the reputation of others, lest their own glory should suffer an eclipse; but this seldom deceives a discerning Christian; especially if he be one who is expert at discerning of spirits and reading of countenances; for it is often seen that the accuser appears, like Cain, with a fallen countenance; while the accused, like Moses, shines in the face. The countenances of professors are frequently overcast or brightened from the testimony of their consciences. Blessed be God for a sanctified cross: and more blessed for a sanctified heart; but, above all, for a sanctifying Christ!  

W. H.  William Huntington 

Preface Courteous Reader.  

As my gracious God still appears at the Bank of Faith, I have come once more to pay thee a visit from the press. Whether thou wilt smile or frown at me, I know not, nor shall I make any inquiry. If thou approvest of my company, discourse with and examine me; for the wise man saith, "Wisdom in the heart is as deep waters, and a man of understanding will draw it out," Prov. xx. 5. If my company be agreeable, prepare me a lodging upon one of thy shelves; my board will be no expense, lodging will be all, and you can take me down and peruse me when you please; only take care to put me out of sight when any of my enemies visit thee, or else thou wilt be in as much danger of losing thy reputation as poor Jonah was.  

But perhaps my reader is one that loves the truth, and is valiant for it, and not awed by the fear of man; if so, thou needest not put me out of sight, for I am not ashamed of myself before men if thou art not ashamed of me. And, shouldest thou entertain me and use me till thou hast worn me out, thou mayest have me again for little more than the price of a pack of cards.  Possibly my reader is one that despises heart-work, and rests in carnal security - with a little speculative knowledge in the head, and a little decent morality in the outward show: if so, thou hast got thy lamp; there is nothing wanting but oil in thy vessel; that is, the Spirit of grace in thy heart. This thou must have before thou canst be assured that thou art a vessel of mercy. But perhaps my reader is too old to learn, and too wise (in his own conceit) to be taught by a coal-hearer; if so, I shall not stand to dispute thee out of thy wisdom - for I would sooner dispute "with a young and a wise child, than with an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished," Eccl. iv. 13. 

Of this, however, be assured, that God's word is called a lamp, Psal. cxlx. 105. A bare speculative knowledge of God's word is a lamp taken by many; that is, by half the bulk of professors. "Five were wise, and five were foolish." An external reformation under the gospel is a hypocritical "going forth to meet the bridegroom." Mark - the feet go forth out of the world, and join in communion with the righteous in external appearance, while the heart is still fixed on earthly things. But, if thy heart is destitute of the Spirit of God, thou hast no oil in thy lamp, Matt. xxv. 8; no "treasure in thy earthen vessel," 2 Cor. iv. 7; and without God's Spirit thou canst not know God, nor the things of God; "for they are spiritually discerned," 1 Cor. ii. 14. It is God's Spirit that teaches us to "know the things that are freely given us of God," 1 Cor. ii. 12. "God reveals them to his saints by his spirit," 1 Cor. ii. 10. That blessed Spirit is "the oil that anointeth us," 2 Cor. i. 21. And he is "that unction which teaches us all things, 1 John, ii. 27; and seals us up to the day of redemption.  

Therefore, "if thou hast not the Spirit of Christ, thou art none of his," Rom. viii. 9. Thou art not "made wise to salvation," 2 Tim. iii. 15. Thou art a foolish virgin, and thou wilt one day call about thee for inspiration. "Give us your oil," will be the universal request of every foolish virgin, when the midnight cry cometh to call the "laborers from the vineyard;" and this will be a "night in which no man can work."  Therefore beware of trusting to a little head knowledge; for, depend upon it, that lamp will not stand the appearance of an angry Judge, Prov. xiii. 9. "Our lamps are gone out," said the foolish virgins. How should it be otherwise, when there was no oil to feed the flame, no golden pipe of faith to bring it from the bowl of the candlestick? Zech. iv. 2, 3 Thou mayest be so reformed as to deceive many; yea, thou mayest preach and pray too, and have a deal of zeal and diligence about thee; insomuch that thou mayest almost, if not altogether, deceive the very elect. But all thy zeal, joy, diligence, and gifts, shall wither, "if the root of the matter is not in thee," Job, xix. 28. And thou wilt then fall away; for God declares that "a prating fool shall fall," Prov. x. 8. And then thou wilt go to sleep in carnal security and insensibility; as it is written, "and, while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept," Matt. xxv. 5. 

The wise, as well as the foolish, slumbered and slept. But the watchman began to sound an alarm to those in a Laodicean church-state; and to tell them that the Saviour knocked at the door, and was just ready "to come in and see the guests," Matt. xxii. 11. The watchmen then began to give them the counsel they had received from the Lord, which was, "that they should buy of Christ gold tried in the fire, that they might be rich; and white raiment, that they might be clothed, and that the shame of their nakedness might not appear; and anoint their eyes with eye-salve, that they might see" that the Judge is even at the door, Rev. iii. 18.  Being thus alarmed, and awaked out of their lethargy, they cried out, "It is the voice of my beloved that knocks," Cant. v. 2. "I sleep, but my heart waketh," Song. v. 2. The bridegroom is coming. Now they began to look about them. And the Saviour, having awakened their attention, calls to them again, "As many as I love I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore) and repent," Rev. iii. 19. And now his rebukes came on them, and his chastening hand was heavily felt. Under these rebukes and chastisements they sink into "the furnace of affliction, in which God hath chosen them," Isa. xlviii. 10; and "they come forth from the fiery trial like gold," Job, xxiii. 10; yea, they found "the trim of their faith more precious than gold that perisheth, though it was tried with fire," 1 Pet. i. 7. 

This made them "rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom of glory, that was just ready then to be revealed," 1 Pet. i. 4, 5. Having obtained faith's wealth, they now looked with a pitying eye on their much abused Lord, whom they had greatly slighted by their spiritual sloth and drowsiness; and mourned and repented, as he bid them. The finger, too, of their tried faith brought fresh healing "virtue out of Christ," Mark, v. 30. And they then felt precious" refreshings come forth from the presence" of the Lord; as it is written, "Times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you, whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things," Acts, iii. 19 - 21.  More grace being given them, they were purged and sanctified, and appeared in the "covering of God's Spirit," Isa. xxx. 1; which was their "white raiment," Rev. iii. 18. Having thus obtained the white raiment, they found they were purged and healed; they saw their interest clear, their evidence was brightened, and God's testimony was sweetly felt; and this was "the oil in their vessel," or the eye-salve of the great Physician. And thus, the reader, "their loins girt, their lamps trimmed, their lights were burning, their raiment was on them;" and "the Lamb's wife had made herself ready," Rev. xix. 7. And now behold the bridegroom knocketh again, saying, "If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him." 

And they answered, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." And immediately the door was opened, "and they that were ready went in with him into the marriage, and the door was shut." The Master was risen up from a throne of grace and sat down on the throne of judgment, and mercy's door was shut.  And now come the refined Pharisees, with a part of their church liturgy - not "Good Lord, deliver us;" nor yet, "We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord." No; business now required haste; they were obliged to cut it short, as Peter did when he was sinking in the sea. "Lord, Lord, open to us!" But the expression of "Lord, Lord," had no more success at mercy's door, in the day of judgment, than "We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord," has at a throne of grace without the Spirit. They found that the Lord was no friend to repetitions; but faithful to the word he had left upon record; namely, that "not everyone that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven," Matt. vii. 21. "And this is his will, that we believe on the name of the Son of God" for our justification.