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Heaven Taken by Storm: Showing the Holy Violence a Christian Is to Put Forth in the Pursuit After Glory
Many today believe that the Christian life is rather easy to both obtain and live. But the Puritans saw it as warfare, as wrestling, as “holy violence,” to use their term. The Apostle Paul spoke of beating his own body into subjection. And this holy violence is to be brought not only against one’s self, but against Satan, the world, and heaven too. And in this confrontation, we must use the weapons God has given us—reading the Word, hearing the Word, prayer, meditation, self-examination, and the due observance of the Lord’s Day. The writings of Thomas Watson, replete with sound doctrine, practical wisdom, and heart-searching application, need no introduction to readers of the Puritans. His profound spirituality, terse style, gripping remarks, practical illustrations, and beauty of expression make him one of the most irresistible, quotable, and devotional of all the Puritans. Heaven Taken By Storm is a precious little volume of practical Christian living.
129 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1669
91 people are currently reading
599 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Watson
664 books242 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Thomas Watson (c. 1620 - 1686) was an English, non-conformist, Puritan preacher and author. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was noted for remarkably intense study. In 1646 he commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen's, Walbrook. He showed strong Presbyterian views during the civil war, with, however, an attachment to the king, and in 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love's plot to recall Charles II of England. He was released on 30 June 1652, and was formally reinstated as vicar of St. Stephen's Walbrook. He obtained great fame and popularity as a preacher until the Restoration, when he was ejected for nonconformity. Not withstanding the rigor of the acts against dissenters, Watson continued to exercise his ministry privately as he found opportunity. Upon the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 he obtained a license to preach at the great hall in Crosby House. After preaching there for several years, his health gave way, and he retired to Barnston, Essex, where he died suddenly while praying in secret. He was buried on 28 July 1686.
(Information from wikipedia.org)
Thomas Watson (c. 1620 - 1686) was an English, non-conformist, Puritan preacher and author. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was noted for remarkably intense study. In 1646 he commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen's, Walbrook. He showed strong Presbyterian views during the civil war, with, however, an attachment to the king, and in 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love's plot to recall Charles II of England. He was released on 30 June 1652, and was formally reinstated as vicar of St. Stephen's Walbrook. He obtained great fame and popularity as a preacher until the Restoration, when he was ejected for nonconformity. Not withstanding the rigor of the acts against dissenters, Watson continued to exercise his ministry privately as he found opportunity. Upon the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 he obtained a license to preach at the great hall in Crosby House. After preaching there for several years, his health gave way, and he retired to Barnston, Essex, where he died suddenly while praying in secret. He was buried on 28 July 1686.
(Information from wikipedia.org)
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 88 reviews
April 29, 2012
Watson is by far and away my favorite Puritan writer. This book is crammed full of pithy wisdom and evangelical fervor.
September 13, 2025
Fantastic stuff.
September 20, 2021
I've been reading lots of Puritans lately, and mostly just chugging them down. This is one I'm going to open up again very soon and sip more slowly. I think there's lots here that's just basic training/discipleship that I just never learned. Not sure if trying to get it from a book will work (few things ever have), but when books are all you've got, you've gotta at least try.
September 6, 2022
One of my favorite books from Thomas Watson. Some favorite quotes:
"If you would be violent for Heaven—take heed of too much violence after the world. The world cools holy affections. The earth puts out the fire... The ship cannot go full sail to the east and west at the same time. Just so, a man cannot be violent for Heaven and earth at once: he may have Christ and the world—but cannot love Christ and the world. He who is all on fire for the world, will be all ice for Heaven. Take heed of engaging your affections too far in these earthly things. Use the world as your servant—but do not follow it as your master."
"O think how many mercies you still enjoy; yet our base hearts are more discontent at one loss, than thankful for a hundred mercies. God hath plucked one bunch of grapes from you; but how many precious clusters are left behind!”
"Indulging in sin, will spoil all effort for Heaven. The more lively the heart is in sin, the more dead it is in prayer. How can he be earnest with God for mercy, whose heart accuses him of secret sin? Guilt breeds fear, and that which strengthens fear, weakens violence...Therefore lay the axe to the root! Let sin be hewn down! Do not only abstain from sin in the act--but let the love of sin be mortified, and let every sin be put to the sword!"
"If you would be violent for Heaven—take heed of too much violence after the world. The world cools holy affections. The earth puts out the fire... The ship cannot go full sail to the east and west at the same time. Just so, a man cannot be violent for Heaven and earth at once: he may have Christ and the world—but cannot love Christ and the world. He who is all on fire for the world, will be all ice for Heaven. Take heed of engaging your affections too far in these earthly things. Use the world as your servant—but do not follow it as your master."
"O think how many mercies you still enjoy; yet our base hearts are more discontent at one loss, than thankful for a hundred mercies. God hath plucked one bunch of grapes from you; but how many precious clusters are left behind!”
"Indulging in sin, will spoil all effort for Heaven. The more lively the heart is in sin, the more dead it is in prayer. How can he be earnest with God for mercy, whose heart accuses him of secret sin? Guilt breeds fear, and that which strengthens fear, weakens violence...Therefore lay the axe to the root! Let sin be hewn down! Do not only abstain from sin in the act--but let the love of sin be mortified, and let every sin be put to the sword!"
March 6, 2024
Watson uses Matthew 11:12 “.. now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take take it by force.” Symbolically for the Christian life. The word “violent” is intended to be synonymous with language of “wrestle” and “strive” we see elsewhere in Scripture.
We offer violence not as a means of obtaining heaven but because heaven has been obtained for us. We offer violence to:
- ourselves (sin)
- Satan (enemy)
- the world (pleasures)
- to heaven (holiness)
Watson offers several great points on offering violence that are brief and powerful. He is able to ascribe much gravity to how we live as a Christian and emphasizes that this is not lackadaisical work, but a violent endeavor that requires all of our attention.
Very helpful and devotional. 4.5 stars
We offer violence not as a means of obtaining heaven but because heaven has been obtained for us. We offer violence to:
- ourselves (sin)
- Satan (enemy)
- the world (pleasures)
- to heaven (holiness)
Watson offers several great points on offering violence that are brief and powerful. He is able to ascribe much gravity to how we live as a Christian and emphasizes that this is not lackadaisical work, but a violent endeavor that requires all of our attention.
Very helpful and devotional. 4.5 stars
April 6, 2022
Just beginning to read this as part of my morning devotions with the kids.
December 31, 2021
Excelente reflexão de Watson sobre a forma como somos salvos.
June 8, 2022
Realized too late that I'd read this already under another title. Fortunately, it was worth rereading! Unfortunately, the narrator was pretty bad, and I could have relistened to the better one.
August 17, 2023
Excellent book. Very convicting. Listened on Audible.
December 12, 2016
This was really good. Thomas Watson is renowned as a particularly gifted writer, and the imagery in this book was beautiful. I found this book both convicting and encouraging. His thesis boils down to this: that the Christian is called to be strenuous in his pursuit of holiness. Refreshingly, Watson's strenuousness includes a strenuousness of the affections: against the tendency in the reformed church today to despise emotion and elevate reason, Watson encourages us to love the Lord our God with all our faculties, reason and emotion.
I had some reservations about this book. Watson seems to fall prey to that strand of Christian thinking that calls Christians to disengage themselves from the world of physical things - wealth, labour, food - in order to better fit themselves for the next. Granted, this strand has a long history in the church, but I think it's still an error. Watson uses "the world" to mean the material goods with which God has endowed his creation, but I think that "the world" as used by the apostles does not refer to material goods but to spiritual evils. When Christ said, "If ye were of the the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, therefore the world hateth you" - he could not possibly have been speaking of inanimate objects with no moral volition. He had to be speaking of the "children of disobedience", the "crooked and perverse generation" - the people ruled by the spirit of the world, not the material goods of the world. It is "the world" as a moral, responsible agent that the Scriptures warn against, and not "the world" as the physical realm.
Nevertheless, four stars, and I'll certainly be reading more of Watson.
I had some reservations about this book. Watson seems to fall prey to that strand of Christian thinking that calls Christians to disengage themselves from the world of physical things - wealth, labour, food - in order to better fit themselves for the next. Granted, this strand has a long history in the church, but I think it's still an error. Watson uses "the world" to mean the material goods with which God has endowed his creation, but I think that "the world" as used by the apostles does not refer to material goods but to spiritual evils. When Christ said, "If ye were of the the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, therefore the world hateth you" - he could not possibly have been speaking of inanimate objects with no moral volition. He had to be speaking of the "children of disobedience", the "crooked and perverse generation" - the people ruled by the spirit of the world, not the material goods of the world. It is "the world" as a moral, responsible agent that the Scriptures warn against, and not "the world" as the physical realm.
Nevertheless, four stars, and I'll certainly be reading more of Watson.
May 30, 2016
If not for the seventeenth-century writing style, I would be convinced that this book must have been written during my lifetime. That's how relevant it is to twenty-first century Christians. Just as in Watson's day, we are so zealous to follow after earthly and worldly pursuits but find it so challenging to exert this same zeal for God and eternity.
This is not a book espousing salvation by works. Watson makes it clear that Christ is the one who saves. But this truth doesn't negate the fact that the Bible places demands on believers to run the race, fight, press toward the mark, take up the cross, follow, etc. Watson sums it up well: "[O]thers say, Christ has died for sinners; and so they leave him to do all for them and they will do nothing." Today, we would call that "Let go and let God." The fact is, we as Christians are expected to strive, to work, to be holy. We do those things, with the power of the Holy Spirit (Watson makes this point explicitly clear as well!). Watson wants each of us always to be active in God's service, to be zealous, to have our affections fixed solely on eternal things.
Reading this book did not discourage me regarding how much effort the Christian life demands; rather, it impressed upon me my responsibility to serve God in the power of the Holy Spirit. My pastor has a saying he likes to remind us of often, and I think it fits perfectly with the message of this book: "Work like it all depends on you, and pray and have faith like it all depends upon God."
A great book to read at the start of another year of service for God!
This is not a book espousing salvation by works. Watson makes it clear that Christ is the one who saves. But this truth doesn't negate the fact that the Bible places demands on believers to run the race, fight, press toward the mark, take up the cross, follow, etc. Watson sums it up well: "[O]thers say, Christ has died for sinners; and so they leave him to do all for them and they will do nothing." Today, we would call that "Let go and let God." The fact is, we as Christians are expected to strive, to work, to be holy. We do those things, with the power of the Holy Spirit (Watson makes this point explicitly clear as well!). Watson wants each of us always to be active in God's service, to be zealous, to have our affections fixed solely on eternal things.
Reading this book did not discourage me regarding how much effort the Christian life demands; rather, it impressed upon me my responsibility to serve God in the power of the Holy Spirit. My pastor has a saying he likes to remind us of often, and I think it fits perfectly with the message of this book: "Work like it all depends on you, and pray and have faith like it all depends upon God."
A great book to read at the start of another year of service for God!
April 4, 2023
1st published in 1669, and until recently long out of print, this was my 1st book by Thomas Watson. He is generally considered one of the more easily accessible Puritan writers for those who are new to them. I would say that is very true. Interestingly, reading Watson I often found myself thinking I was reading a work of A.W. Tozer - their voices seem so similar to me. Heaven Taken by Storm is a wonderful and many-faceted treatise on the necessity and nature of zeal in the Christian life. As an added bonus to the primary work, there are 2 appendices (really just essays or sermons), one on how to study and read scripture, and another on drawing near to God.
Anyway, this book is excellent and gets the 5th star just as Tozer always does. I am looking forward to reading his most famous work, A Body of Divinity: Contained in Sermons upon the Westminster Assembly's Catechism.
Anyway, this book is excellent and gets the 5th star just as Tozer always does. I am looking forward to reading his most famous work, A Body of Divinity: Contained in Sermons upon the Westminster Assembly's Catechism.
August 10, 2020
Like many of the works of Thomas Watson (in my opinion a far under appreciated Puritan), this is a short and simple read. It shows that though God has providentially provided all we need, man. Is not without his own responsibility. Watson tells that humanity cannot go on in lawlessness. The language of violence talks about the seriousness that we must take our faith, but which u fortunately not many do. Each point rests on several biblical examples. Surely, Watson is an example to be emulated by today’s lackluster pastors.
July 1, 2021
I thoroughly love reading the Puritans and this book certainly didn’t disappoint. Watson has a way with analogies that really drives home his point and causes them to stick with you. This book is on the topic of “the holy violence a Christian is to Put Forth in the Pursuit After Glory”. My favorite chapters were the ones on “Prayer and Meditation” and also “Offering Violence to Satan and the World”. This is a short read but there is much to chew on. Highly recommend.
August 24, 2023
2023: Read again. Still an absolute favorite.
2017:This is probably going to be my best book of 2017. It's a must-read and should be re-read periodically. Was recommended strongly by Joel Beeke and now I understand why! It cuts and comforts, challenges and edifies.
2017:This is probably going to be my best book of 2017. It's a must-read and should be re-read periodically. Was recommended strongly by Joel Beeke and now I understand why! It cuts and comforts, challenges and edifies.
September 27, 2020
In this book Watson shares profound insights related to the Christian faith. You'll need an alert mind when reading it, because he is a deep thinker. But he shares many spiritual insights that will make you evaluate your own walk with Christ.
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May 27, 2019Not Watson's best, but that still means that it's quite good.
Watson challenges the modern concept that the journey to heaven is a lackadaisical stroll, showing that is rather a matter of holy warfare. We are to take heaven by storm by zealously using the means and following hard after Christ. We are also to use holy violence against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
The RHB edition which I read also included 2 sermons as appendices. They were 1) The Happiness of Drawing Near to God and 2) How to Read the Scriptures For the Most Spiritual Profit. Very good.
Watson challenges the modern concept that the journey to heaven is a lackadaisical stroll, showing that is rather a matter of holy warfare. We are to take heaven by storm by zealously using the means and following hard after Christ. We are also to use holy violence against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
The RHB edition which I read also included 2 sermons as appendices. They were 1) The Happiness of Drawing Near to God and 2) How to Read the Scriptures For the Most Spiritual Profit. Very good.
April 20, 2023
No wonder Thomas Watson is esteemed as one of the most quotable puritans. So many thoughts/expositions in so little a book. Worth re-reading in the future. I recommend if you want to regain the first love and find the lost zeal for God.
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April 11, 2025Excellent.
August 23, 2020
Thomas Watson is my favorite Puritan writer (at least thus far in my reading.) His books are always convicting, and this one is no exception. It is an eloquent call to a living Christianity, full of life and zeal and holy warfare.
I'll just conclude by including with the section of the book that stood out to me the most, the beginning of the chapter, "Use of Examinations":
"1. Do we strive with our hearts to get them into a holy frame? How did David awaken all the powers of his soul to serve God, Psalm 87:6. "I myself will awake early."
2. Do we set time apart to call ourselves to account, and to try our evidences for Heaven? Psalm lxxxvii. 6. "My spirit made diligent search." Do we take our hearts as a watch all in pieces, to see what is amiss and to mend it? Are we meticulously inquisitive into the state of our souls? Are we afraid of artificial grace, as of artificial happiness?
3. Do we use violence in prayer? Is there fire in our sacrifice? Does the wind of the Spirit, filling our sails, cause "groans unutterable?" Romans viii. 25. Do we pray in the morning as if we were to die at night?
4. Do we thirst for the living God? Are our souls big with holy desires? Psalm lxxiii. 25. "There is none upon earth that I desire beside you." Do were desire holiness as well as Heaven? Do we desire as much to look like Christ, as to live with Christ? Is our desire constant? Is this spiritual pulse always beating?
5. Are we skilled in self-denial? Can we deny our ease, our aims, our interest? Can we cross our own will to fulfill God's? Can we behead our beloved sin? To pluck out the right eye requires violence.
6. Are we lovers of God? It is not how much we do—but how much we love. Does love command the castle of our hearts? Does Christ's beauty and sweetness constrain us? 2 Cor. v. 14. Do we love God more than we fear hell?
7. Do we keep our spiritual watch? Do we set spies in every place, watching our thoughts, our eyes, our tongues? When we have prayed against sin, do we watch against temptation? The Jews, having sealed the stone of Christ's sepulcher, 'set a watch," Matt. xxvii. 66. After we have been at the Word, do we set a watch?
8. Do we press after further degrees of sanctity? Phil iii. 13. "Reaching forth unto those things which are before." A godly Christian is a wonder; he is the most contented yet the least satisfied: he is contented with a little of the world—but not satisfied with a little grace; he would have still more faith and be anointed with fresh oil. Paul desired to "attain unto the resurrection of the dead," Phil. iii. 11, that is, he endeavored (if possible) to arrive at such a measure of grace as the saints shall have at the resurrection.
9. Is there a holy emulation in us? Do we labor to out-shine others in piety? To be more eminent for love and good works? Do we something which is singular? Matt. v. 47. "What do you do, more than others?"
10. Are we got above the world? Though we walk on earth, do we trade in Heaven? Can we say as David? Psalm cxxxxix. 17. "I am still with you." This requires violence; for motions upward are usually violent.
11. Do we set ourselves always under God's eye? Psalm xvi. 8. "I have set the Lord always before me." Do we live soberly and godly, remembering that whatever we are doing our Judge looks on?"
I'll just conclude by including with the section of the book that stood out to me the most, the beginning of the chapter, "Use of Examinations":
"1. Do we strive with our hearts to get them into a holy frame? How did David awaken all the powers of his soul to serve God, Psalm 87:6. "I myself will awake early."
2. Do we set time apart to call ourselves to account, and to try our evidences for Heaven? Psalm lxxxvii. 6. "My spirit made diligent search." Do we take our hearts as a watch all in pieces, to see what is amiss and to mend it? Are we meticulously inquisitive into the state of our souls? Are we afraid of artificial grace, as of artificial happiness?
3. Do we use violence in prayer? Is there fire in our sacrifice? Does the wind of the Spirit, filling our sails, cause "groans unutterable?" Romans viii. 25. Do we pray in the morning as if we were to die at night?
4. Do we thirst for the living God? Are our souls big with holy desires? Psalm lxxiii. 25. "There is none upon earth that I desire beside you." Do were desire holiness as well as Heaven? Do we desire as much to look like Christ, as to live with Christ? Is our desire constant? Is this spiritual pulse always beating?
5. Are we skilled in self-denial? Can we deny our ease, our aims, our interest? Can we cross our own will to fulfill God's? Can we behead our beloved sin? To pluck out the right eye requires violence.
6. Are we lovers of God? It is not how much we do—but how much we love. Does love command the castle of our hearts? Does Christ's beauty and sweetness constrain us? 2 Cor. v. 14. Do we love God more than we fear hell?
7. Do we keep our spiritual watch? Do we set spies in every place, watching our thoughts, our eyes, our tongues? When we have prayed against sin, do we watch against temptation? The Jews, having sealed the stone of Christ's sepulcher, 'set a watch," Matt. xxvii. 66. After we have been at the Word, do we set a watch?
8. Do we press after further degrees of sanctity? Phil iii. 13. "Reaching forth unto those things which are before." A godly Christian is a wonder; he is the most contented yet the least satisfied: he is contented with a little of the world—but not satisfied with a little grace; he would have still more faith and be anointed with fresh oil. Paul desired to "attain unto the resurrection of the dead," Phil. iii. 11, that is, he endeavored (if possible) to arrive at such a measure of grace as the saints shall have at the resurrection.
9. Is there a holy emulation in us? Do we labor to out-shine others in piety? To be more eminent for love and good works? Do we something which is singular? Matt. v. 47. "What do you do, more than others?"
10. Are we got above the world? Though we walk on earth, do we trade in Heaven? Can we say as David? Psalm cxxxxix. 17. "I am still with you." This requires violence; for motions upward are usually violent.
11. Do we set ourselves always under God's eye? Psalm xvi. 8. "I have set the Lord always before me." Do we live soberly and godly, remembering that whatever we are doing our Judge looks on?"
March 8, 2023
Great and classic little book on the spiritual disciplines. Very convicting! Watson has a knack for this! It's more of an introduction though than a how to, and so not a ton of practical stuff on how to implement each discipline specifically. Extremely good introductory book to both the spiritual disciplines, and the puritans! The exhortations at the end of the book go deep and aren't for the faint of heart!
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