[Import of the words SHALL NOT BE ABLE.]
I come now to the latter part of the word, which closely shows us the reason for the rejection of these many that must be damned; “They will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”
A hypocrite, a false professor, may go a long way; they may pass through the first and second watch, to wit, may be approved of Christians and churches, but what will they do when they come to this iron gate that leads into the city? “There the workers of iniquity are fallen, they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise!” (Psa 36:12)
“And shall not be able.” The time, as I have already hinted, which my text respected, is the day of judgment, when all masks and vizards shall be taken off from all faces. It is a day wherein God “will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsel of the hearts.” (1 Cor 4:5). It is also the day of his wrath, the day in which he will pay vengeance, even a recompense to his adversaries.
On this day, those things that now these “many” count sound and goodwill then shake like a quagmire, even all their naked knowledge, their feigned faith, pretended love, glorious shows of gravity in the face, their holiday words and specious carriages, will stand them in little stead. I call them holiday ones, for some professors do with religion just as people do with their best apparel—hang it against the wall all week and put it on on Sundays. For some, it is scarce to put on a suit, but when they go to a fair or a market, so little house religion will do with some; they save religion till they go to a meeting or till they meet with a godly Chapman. O poor religion! O poor professor! What wilt thou do at this day and the day of thy trial and judgment? Cover thyself thou canst not; go for a Christian thou canst not; stand against the Judge thou canst not! What wilt thou do? “The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” “And shall not be able.” The ability here intended is not that which stands in carnal power or fleshly subtlety but in the truth and simplicity of those things for the sake of which God giveth the kingdom of heaven to his people.
There are five things for which this person will not be able to enter.
1. This kingdom belongs to the elect, to those for whom it was prepared from the foundation of the world. (Matt 25:34) Hence Christ saith, when he comes, he will send forth his angels with a great sound of trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another. (Matt 24:31) And hence he saith again, “I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains, and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.” “They shall deceive, if possible, the very elect.” “But the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” (Rom 11:7)
2. They will not be able to enter because they want their birthright. The kingdom of heaven is for the heirs—and if children, then heirs; if born again, then heirs. It is said expressly, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” By this one word, down goes all carnal privilege of being born of flesh and blood and of the will of man. Canst thou produce the birthright? But art thou sure thou canst? For it will little profit thee to think of the blessed kingdom of heaven if thou wants a birthright to give thee inheritance there. Esau did despise his birthright, saying, What good will this birthright do me? And there are many in the world of his mind to this day. “Tush,” say they, “they talk of being born again; what good shall a man get by that? They say no to going to heaven without being born again. But God is merciful; Christ died for sinners; and we will turn when we can tend it and doubt not, but all will be well at last.” But I will answer thee, thou child of Esau, that the birthright and blessing go together; miss of one, and thou shalt never have the other! Esau found this true; for, having first despised the birthright, when he would afterward “have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Gen 25, Heb 12:16,17)
3. They shall not be able to enter in those who have not believed in the faith of God’s operation, the most holy faith, even the faith of God’s elect. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abide on him.” (John 3:36). But now this faith is the effect of electing love, and of new birth. (John 1:11-13) Therefore, all the professors who have no faith, which flowed from being born of God, will seek to enter and shall not be able to do so.
4. They shall not be able to enter those without gospel holiness. Holiness is the effect of faith, which admits into the presence of God and into his kingdom, too. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death,” that is, hell and eternal damnation, “hath no power.” (Rev 20:6,14) Blessed and holy, with the holiness that flows from the faith in Christ; for to these the inheritance belongs. “That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified, by faith,” saith Christ, “that is in me.” (Acts 26:18) This holiness, which is the natural effect of faith in the Son of God, Christ Jesus the Lord will, at this day of judgment, distinguish from all other shows of holiness and sanctity, be they what they will, and will admit the soul that had this holiness into his kingdom, when the rest will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
5. They shall not be able to enter in that do not persevere in this blessed faith and holiness; not that they that have them indeed can finally fall away, and everlastingly perish; but it hath pleased Jesus Christ to bid them that have the right to hold fast that they have: to endure to the end; and then tells them they shall be saved—though it is as true that none is of power to keep himself, God worketh together with his children, and they are “kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation,” which is also laid up in heaven for them. (1 Peter 1:3-5)
“The foolish shall not stand in thy sight; thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” (Psa 5:5) The foolish are the unholy ones that neither have faith, nor holiness, nor perseverance in godliness, and yet lay claim to the kingdom of heaven; but “better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.” (Prov 16:8) What is it for me to claim a house, or a farm, without right? Or to say, all this is mine, but have nothing to show for it? This is but like the revenues of the foolish; his estate lieth in his conceit. He hath nothing by birthright and law and, therefore, shall not be able to inherit the possession. “For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able.”
Thus you see, that the non-elect shall not be able to enter, that he that is not born again shall not be able to enter, that he that hath not saving faith, with holiness and perseverance flowing therefrom, shall not be able to enter; wherefore considers of what I have said.
