The Saints' Everlasting Rest

And is this Rest so sweet, and so sure? O then, what means the ⟨p. 797⟩careless world? Do they know what it is they so neglect? did they ever hear of it? or are they yet asleep? or are they dead? Do they know for certain that the Crown's before them, while they thus sit still, or follow trifles? undoubtedly they are quite beside themselves, to mind so much their provision in the way, and strive, and care, and labour for trifles, when they are hasting so fast to another world, and their eternal happiness lies at stake Were there left one spark of Wit or Reason, they would never sell their Rest for toil, nor sell their Glory for worldly vanities, nor venture Heaven for the pleasure of a sin. Ah poor men! That you would once consider what you hazard, and then you would scorn these tempting baits. O blessed for ever be that love, that hath rescued me from this mad bewitching darkness!

And is this Rest so sweet, and so sure? O then, what means the ⟨p. 797⟩careless world? Do they know what it is they so neglect? did they ever hear of it? or are they yet asleep? or are they dead? Do they know for certain that the Crown's before them, while they thus sit still, or follow trifles? undoubtedly they are quite beside themselves, to minde so much their provision in the way, and strive, and care, and labor for trifles, when they are hasting so fast to another world, and their eternal happiness lies at stake Were there left one spark of VVit or Reason, they would never sell their Rest for toil, nor sell their Glory for worldly vanities, nor venture Heaven for the pleasure of a sin. Ah poor men! That you would once consider what you hazard, and then you would scorn these tempting baits. O blessed for ever be that love, that hath rescued me from this mad bewitching darkness!

Draw nearer yet then,¹ O my soul; bring forth thy strongest burning Love; here's matter for it to work upon; here's something truly worth thy loving. O see what beauty presents it self: Is it not exceeding lovely? is not all the beauty in the world contracted here? is not all other beauty deformity to it? Dost thou need to be persuaded now to love? Here's a feast for thine eyes; a feast for all the powers of thy soul: dost thou need to be entreated to feed upon it? Canst thou love a little shining Earth? canst thou love a walking piece of clay? and canst thou not love that God, that Christ, that Glory, which is so truly and unmeasurably lovely? Thou canst love thy friend, because he loves thee: And is the love of thy friend, like the love of Christ? Their weeping or bleeding for thee, doth not ease thee, nor stay the course of thy tears or blood: But the tears and blood that fell from thy Lord, have all a sovereign healing virtue, and are waters of Life, and Balsam to thy faintings, and thy sores. O my soul! If love deserve, and should procure love, what incomprehensible love is here before thee? Pour out all the store of thy affections here; and all is too little. O that it were more! O that it were many thousand times more! Let him be first served, that served thee first; let him have the first born, and strength of thy love, who parted with strength and life in love to thee: If thou hast any to spare when he hath his part, let it be imparted then to standers-by. See what a Sea of love is here before thee; cast thy self in, and swim with the arms of thy love in this Ocean of his