it. Now all this does not put
the Christian life before us as a life of idleness, and inaction; nor
does it describe salvation as a very easy thing. Both Jesus and His
holy Apostles tell us that we must strive, climb, fight, run the race
patiently, walk circumspectly, watch, pray, arm ourselves, have on a
wedding garment; a very different doctrine this from that dangerous,
do-nothing creed, which some would have us accept. I think S. Paul had
the narrow way and the strait gate in his mind, when he told his
followers to walk circumspectly, looking around them, minding their
steps, proceeding with care and caution. It used to be said of old
that all roads led to Rome, because she was the capital of the world.
And nowadays, in the most remote country place in England, you will
find a road which leads to London. But all roads do not lead to
Heaven. Some foolish people like to believe that they can travel
anyway they please, and yet reach Heaven at last. They love to imagine
that they can hold to any doctrine, however false and extravagant, and
set up a gospel of their own, and yet find the way to Heaven. There
are some who choose to walk in a way which seems right in their eyes, a
way of selfishness, and pride, and obstinacy; they will have _their own
way_, they tell us. Yes, but it is not God's way, and it does not lead
to Heaven. There are just two roads from this life to the life to
come, no more. The narrow way of God's commandments, ending in the
strait gate which opens on Heaven; and the broad road of sin,
terminating in the wide gate of Hell.

Let us think of some of the rules by which we must walk in the narrow
way. We must walk _humbly_. It is a narrow way remember, and if we
walk with our heads lifted up by pride, we shall miss our footing, and
slip from the path. The gate, too, is strait, or narrow. It is like
one of those low-pitched, narrow entrances which you may still see in
old buildings, and which were common once in all our ancient towns. A
traveller could not get through these gates unless he bent his head,
and bowed his shoulders. So, my brothers, if we wish to enter into the
gate of life eternal we must do so with bowed head, and with an humble,
lowly, penitent, and obedient heart. Pride cast Satan out of Heaven,
pride locks the door of life against many a man now. An unbeliever
once asked, with a sneer, who made the devil. And he was answered that
God made him what he _was_, and tha