The Saints' Everlasting Rest

Therefore, Christian Reader, when thou art winding up thy affections to Heaven, do not forget to give one lift at thy Hope; remember to wind up this peg also. The object of Hope hath four qualifications; First, It must be good, secondly, Future, thirdly, Difficult, fourthly, yet Possible. For the goodness of thy Rest, there is somewhat said before, which thou mayest transfer hither as thou findest it useful; so also of the difficulty and futurity. Let Faith then show thee the truth of the Promise, and Judgment the goodness of the thing promised, and what then is wanting for the raising of thy hope? Show thy soul from the Word, and from the Mercies, and from the Nature of God, what possibility, yea, what probability, yea, what certainty thou hast of possessing the Crown. Think thus, and reason thus with thine own heart: Why should I not confidently, and comfortably hope, when my soul is in the hands of so compassionate a Saviour? and when the Kingdom is at the disposal of so bounteous a God? Did he ever manifest any backwardness to my good? or discover the least inclination to my ruin?¹ Hath he not sworn the contrary to me in his Word? that he delights not in the death of him that dieth, but rather that he should repent and live? Have not all his dealings with me witnessed the same? Did he not mind me of my danger, when I never feared it? and why was this, if he would not have me to escape it? Did he not mind me of my happiness, when I had no thoughts of it? and why was this, but that he would have me to enjoy it? How oft hath he drawn me to himself, and his Christ, when I have drawn backward, and would have broken from him? What restless importunity hath he used in his suit? how hath he followed me from place to place? and his ⟨p. 741⟩Spirit incessantly solicited my heart, with winning suggestions and persuasions for my good? And would he have done all this, if he had been willing that I should perish? If my soul were in the hands of my mortal foes, then indeed there were small hopes of my salvation; yea if it were wholly in my own hands, my flesh, and my folly would betray it to damnation. But have I as much cause to distrust God, as to distrust my foes? or to distrust my self? Sure I have not. Have I not a sure Promise to build and rest on? and the Truth of God engaged to fulfil it?

Therefore, Christian Reader, when thou art winding up thy affections to Heaven, do not forget to give one lift at thy Hope; remember to winde up this peg also. The object of Hope hath four qualifications; First, It must be good, secondly, Future, thirdly, Difficult, fourthly, yet Possible. For the goodness of thy Rest, there is somewhat said before, which thou maist transfer hither as thou findest it useful; so also of the difficulty and futurity. Let Faith then shew thee the truth of the Promise, and Judgment the goodness of the thing promised, and what then is wanting for the raising of thy hope? Shew thy soul from the Word, and from the Mercies, and from the Nature of God, what possibility, yea, what probability, yea, what certainty thou hast of possessing the Crown. Think thus, and reason thus with thine own heart: Why should I not confidently, and comfortably hope, when my soul is in the hands of so compassionate a Saviour? and when the Kingdom is at the disposal of so bounteous a God? Did he ever manifest any backwardness to my good? or discover the least inclination to my ruine?