The Saints' Everlasting Rest

If Apollonius travelled into Ethiopia and Persia to consult with the learned there: And if Plato and Pythagoras left their country to see those wise Egyptian Priests: And if (as Hierom saith) many travelled thousand miles to see and speak with eloquent Livy: And if the queen of Sheba came from Ethiopia to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and see his glory; O how gladly should I leave this Country! how cheerfully should I pass from earth to Heaven! to see the glory of that Eternal Majesty; and to attain my self that height of wisdom, in comparison of which the most learned on earth, are but silly, brutish fools and Idiots! If Bernard were so ravished with the delights of his Monastery (where he lived in poverty, without the common pleasures of the world) because of its green banks, and shady bowers, and herbs and trees, and various objects to feed the eyes, and fragrant smells, and sweet and various tunes of Birds, together with the opportunity of devout contemplations, that he cries out in admiration, Lord, What abundance of delights dost thou provide, even for the poor? How then should I be ravished with the description of the Court of Heaven? where in stead of herbs and trees and birds and bowers, I shall enjoy God and my Redeemer, Angels, Saints, and unexpressible pleasures? and therefore should with more admiration cry out, Lord, what delights hast thou provided, for us miserable and unworthy wretches that wait for thee! If the heaven of glass which the Persian Emperor framed, were so glorious a piece: and the heaven of silver which the Emperor Ferdinand sent to the great Turk; because of their rare artificial representations and motions; What will the Heaven of Heavens then be? which is not formed by the Art of man, nor beautified like these childish toys; but is the matchless Palace of the great King, built by himself for the residence of his glory, and the perpetual entertainment of his beloved ⟨p. 809⟩Saints. Can a poor deluded Mahometan rejoice in expectation of a feigned sensual Paradise?¹ And shall not I rejoice in expectation of a certain Glory? If the honour of the ambitious, or the wealth of the covetous person do increase, his heart is lifted up with his estate, as a boat that riseth with the rising of the water: If they have but a little more lands or money then their neighbours, how easily may you see it in their countenance and carriage?

If Apollonius travelled into Aethiopia and Persia to consult with the learned there: And if Plato and Pythagoras left their country to see those wise Egyptian Priests: And if (as Hierom saith) many travelled thousand miles to see and speak with eloquent Livy: And if the queen of Sheba came from Ethiopia to hear the wisdome of Solomon, and see his glory; O how gladly should I leave this Countrey! how cheerfully should I pass from earth to Heaven! to see the glory of that Eternal Majesty; and to attain my self that height of wisdom, in comparison of which the most learned on earth, are but silly, bruitish fools and Ideots! If Bernard were so ravished with the delights of his Monastery (where he lived in poverty, without the common pleasures of the world) because of its green banks, and shady bowers, and herbes and trees, and various objects to feed the eyes, and fragrant smels, and sweet and various tunes of Birds, together with the opportunity of devout contemplations, that he cryes out in admiration, Lord, VVhat abundance of delights dost thou provide, even for the poor? How then should I be ravished with the description of the Court of Heaven? where in stead of hearbs and trees and birds and bowers, I shall enjoy God and my Redeemer, Angels, Saints, and unexpressible pleasures? and therefore should with more admiration cry out, Lord, what delights hast thou provided, for us miserable and unworthy wretches that wait for thee! If the heaven of glass which the Persian Emperor framed, were so glorious a piece: and the heaven of silver which the Emperor Ferdinand sent to the great Turk; because of their rare artificial representations and motions; VVhat will the Heaven of Heavens then be? which is not formed by the Art of man, nor beautified like these childish toyes; but is the matchless Pallace of the great King, built by himself for the residence of his glory, and the perpetual entertainment of his beloved