Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

I know not in all the Book of God a soul more depressed with sorrow, and lifted up with joy: O meditate on this! if Christ be absent, all is night; but if Christ appear, he turns all again into a lightsome day; there is no sorrow like that which apprehends Christ's loss, and therefore in hell it is looked upon as the greatest pain; of the two (say Divines) it is a greater torment to lose God, and to lose Jesus Christ, than to endure all those flaming whips, unquenchable fires, intolerable cold, abominable stench; and on the other side, there is no joy in heaven like to that which apprehends Christ's presence: In thy presence there is fullness of joy, ¹and at thy right hand there are pleasures evermore. I had rather be in hell with Christ (said one) than in heaven without Christ. This is the very top of heavens joy, the quintessence of glory, the highest happiness of the Saints; O my soul, seek with Mary, yea seek and weep, and weep and seek, and never rest satisfied till Christ appear. If thou art but in the use of means, he will appear sooner or later; or what if thou never sawest a good day on earth, one sight of Christ in heaven will make amends. Surely if thou knewest the joy of Christ's presence, thou wouldst run through death and hell to come to Christ: it was Paul's saying, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ which is far better; ²he cared not for death so he might go to Christ, for that was better than very life it self.

I know not in all the Book of God a soul more depressed with sorrow, and lifted up with joy: O meditate on this! if Christ be absent, all is night; but if Christ appear, he turns all again into a lightsome day; there is no sorrow like that which apprehends Christ's loss, and therefore in hell it is looked upon as the greatest pain; of the two (say Divines) it is a greater torment to lose God, and to lose Jesus Christ, than to endure all those flaming whips, unquenchable fires, intollerable cold, abominable stench; and on the other side, there is no joy in heaven like to that which apprehends Christ's presence: In thy presence there is fulness of joy, ¹and at thy right hand there are pleasures evermore. I had rather be in hell with Christ (said one) than in heaven without Christ. This is the very top of heavens joy, the quintessence of glory, the highest happiness of the Saints; O my soul, seek with Mary, yea seek and weep, and weep and seek, and never rest satisfied till Christ appear. If thou art but in the use of means, he will appear sooner or later; or what if thou never sawest a good day on earth, one sight of Christ in heaven will make amends. Surely if thou knewest the joy of Christ's presence, thou wouldst run through death and hell to come to Christ: it was Paul's saying, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ which is far better;