Heaven Taken by Storm, or, The Christian Soldier is a call to arms. In it Thomas Watson expounds and applies, in his own unique and much-loved style, the words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 11:12: 'And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.' 'Heaven,' he says, is like a 'town or castle that holds out in war, and is not taken but by storm. … Though heaven be given us freely, yet we must contend for it.' What that means for the believer forms the substance of this book.

The author shows us the nature of this 'holy violence' – 'resolution of will, vigour of affection, strength of endeavour.' His aim throughout is to awaken the reader to the urgency of the gospel's call. 'Our work is great, our time short, our master urgent; we have need therefore to summon together all the powers of our souls, and strive as in a matter of life and death, that we may arrive at the kingdom above: we must not only put forth diligence, but violence.'