There are but two ways, right and wrong, good and evil; the way to heaven, and the way to hell; in the one of which we are all of us walking: no middle place hereafter, no middle way now: the distinction of the children of men into saints and sinners, godly and ungodly, will swallow up all to eternity.
That which allures multitudes into it, and keeps them in it; the gate is wide, and the way broad, and there are many travelers in that way.
First, You will have abundance of liberty in that way;.... You may go in at this gate with all your lusts about you; it gives no check to your appetites, to your passions: you may walk in the way of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; that gives room enough.
It is a broad way, for there is nothing to hedge in those that walk in it, but they wander endlessly; a broad way, for there are many paths in it; there is choice of sinful ways, contrary to each other, but all paths in this broad way.
Secondly, You will have abundance of company in that way: many there be that go in at this gate, and walk in this way.
That which allures multitudes into it, and keeps them in it; the gate is wide, and the way broad, and there are many travelers in that way.
First, You will have abundance of liberty in that way;.... You may go in at this gate with all your lusts about you; it gives no check to your appetites, to your passions: you may walk in the way of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; that gives room enough.
It is a broad way, for there is nothing to hedge in those that walk in it, but they wander endlessly; a broad way, for there are many paths in it; there is choice of sinful ways, contrary to each other, but all paths in this broad way.
Secondly, You will have abundance of company in that way: many there be that go in at this gate, and walk in this way.
7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
First, That the gate is strait. This is a strait gate, hard to find, and hard to get through; like a passage between two rocks. There must be a new heart, and a new spirit, and old things must pass away.
Secondly, That the way is narrow. We are not in heaven as soon as we have got through the strait gate, nor in Canaan as soon as we have got through the Red Sea; no, we must go through a wilderness, must travel a narrow way, hedged in by the divine law, which is exceedingly broad, and that makes the way narrow; self must be denied.
Thirdly, The gate being so strait and the way so narrow, it is not strange that there are but few that find it, and choose it. Many pass it by, through carelessness; they will not be at the pains to find it; they are well as they are, and see no need to change their way. Others look upon it, but shun it; they like not to be so limited and restrained. Those that are going to heaven are but few, compared to those that are going to hell; a remnant, a little flock, like the grape-gleanings of the vintage; as the eight that were saved in the ark.
