The Saints' Everlasting Rest

never bewail thy suffering friends; nor lye wailing over their death-beds or their graves. Thou shalt never suffer thy old temptations, from Satan, the world, or thy own flesh: Thy body vvill no more be such a burden to thee: thy pains and sicknesses are all now cured: thou shalt be troubled with weakness and weariness no more: Thy head is not now an aching head; nor thy heart now an aching heart; Thy hunger and thirst, and cold and sleep, thy labour and study are all gone. O what a mighty change is this! From the dunghill to the throne! from persecuting sinners to praising Saints! from a body as vile as the carrion in the ditch, to a body as bright as the Sun in the firmament! from complainings under the displeasure of God, to the perfect enjoyment of him in Love! from all my doubts and fears of my condition, to this possession which hath put me out of doubt! from all my fearful thoughts of death, to this most blessed Joyful life! O what a blessed change is this! Farewell sin and suffering for ever: Farewell my hard and rocky heart, farewell my proud and unbelieving heart: farewell atheistical, idolatrous, worldly heart, farewell my sensual carnal heart; And now welcome most holy, heavenly nature; which as it must be employed in beholding the face of God, so is it full of God alone, and delighted in nothing else but him. O who can question the love which he doth so sweetly taste? or doubt of that which with such joy he feeleth? Farewell repentance, confession and supplication, farewell the most of hope and faith: and welcome love and joy and praise. I shall now have my harvest without ploughing or sowing; my wine without the labour of the vintage: my joy without a Preacher ⟨p. 794⟩or a promise: even all from the face of God himself. That's the sight that's worth the seeing: that's the book that's worth the reading: What ever mixture is in the streams, there is nothing but pure joy in the fountain. Here shall I be encircled with Eternity, and come forth no more: here shall I live and ever live; and praise my Lord, and ever, ever, ever praise him. My face will not wrinkle nor my hair be grey, but this mortal shall have put on immortality, and this corruptible incorruption; and death shall be swallowed up in victory, O death where is now thy sting! O grave where is thy victory!

never bewail thy suffering freinds; nor lye wailing over their death-beds or their graves. Thou shalt never suffer thy old temptations, from Satan, the vvorld, or thy ovvn flesh: Thy body vvill no more be such a burden to thee: thy pains and sicknesses are all novv cured: thou shalt be troubled vvith vveakness and vveariness no more: Thy head is not novv an aking head; nor thy heart novv an aking heart; Thy hunger and thirst, and cold and sleep, thy labor and study are all gone. O vvhat a mighty change is this! From the dunghill to the throne! from persecuting sinners to praising Saints! from a body as vile as the carrion in the ditch, to a body as bright as the Sun in the firmament! from complainings under the displeasure of God, to the perfect enjoyment of him in Love! from all my doubts and fears of my condition, to this possession vvhich hath put me out of doubt! from all my fearful thoughts of death, to this most blessed Joyful life! O vvhat a blessed change is this! Farevvell sin and suffering for ever: Farevvell my hard and rocky heart, farevvell my proud and unbelieving heart: farewell atheistical, idolatrous, vvorldly heart, farewell my sensual carnal heart; And novv welcome most holy, heavenly nature; vvhich as it must be imployed in beholding the face of God, so is it full of God alone, and delighted in nothing else but him. O vvho can question the love vvhich he doth so sweetly taste? or doubt of that which with such joy he seeleth? Farewell repentance, confession and supplication, farewel the most of hope and faith: and welcome love and joy and praise. I shall now have my harvest without plowing or sowing; my wine without the labor of the vintage: my joy without a Preacher