The Saints' Everlasting Rest

When we who are wont to complain to one another, and open our doubts to one another, and our fears whether ever we should come there or no; shall then rejoice with one another, and triumph over those doubts and fears! when we who were wont formerly in private to meet together for mutual edification, shall now most publicly be conjoined in the same consolation! Those same disciples who were wont to meet in a private house for fear of the Jews; are now met in the Celestial habitations without fear: and as their fear then did cause them to shut the door against their enemies, so will Gods Justice shut it now. Oh when I look in the faces of the precious people of God, and believingly think of this day, what a refreshing thought is it? shall we not there remember, think you, the pikes which we passed together here? our fellowship in duty and in sufferings? how oft our groans made as it were one sound, our conjunct tears but one stream, and our conjunct desires but one prayer? and now all our praises shall make up one melody; and all our Churches one Church; and all our selves but one body: for we shall be one in Christ, even as he and the father are one. Its true, we must be very careful in this case, that in our thoughts we look not for that in the Saints which is alone in Christ, and that we give them not his own prerogative; nor expect too great a part of our comfort in the fruition of them: we are prone enough to this kind of Idolatry. But yet he who Commands us so to love them now, will give us leave in the same subordination to himself to love them then, when himself hath made them much more lovely. And if we may love them, we shall surely rejoice in them; for love and enjoyment cannot stand without an answerable Joy. If the forethoughts of sitting down with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, may be our lawful Joy; then how much more that real ⟨p. 85⟩fight, and actual possession? It cannot choose but be comfortable to me to think of that day, when I shall join with Moses in his song, with David in his Psalms of praise; and with all the redeemed in the song of the Lamb for ever: When we shall see Enoch walking with God; Noah enjoying the end of his singularity; Joseph of his Integrity; Job of his patience, Hezekiah of his uprightness; and all the Saints the end of their faith.

When we who are wont to complain to one another, and open our doubts to one another, and our feares whether ever we should come there or no; shall then rejoyce with one another, and triumph over those doubts and feares! when we who were wont formerly in private to meet together for mutual edification, shall now most publikely be conioyned in the same consolation! Those same disciples who were wont to meet in a private house for fear of the Jews; are now met in the Celestial habitations without fear: and as their fear then did cause them to shut the door against their enemies, so will Gods Justice shut it now. Oh when I look in the faces of the pretious people of God, and believingly think of this day, what a refreshing thought is it? shall we not there remember, think you, the pikes which we passed together here? our fellowship in duty and in sufferings? how oft our groanes made as it were one sound, our conjunct teares but one stream, and our conjunct desires but one prayer? and now all our prayses shall make up one melody; and all our Churches one Church; and all our selves but one body: for we shall be one in Christ, even as he and the father are one. Its true, we must be very carefull in this case, that in our thoughts we look not for that in the Saints which is alone in Christ, and that we give them not his own prerogative; nor expect too great a part of our comfort in the fruition of them: we are prone enough to this kinde of Idolatry. But yet he who Commands us so to love them now, will give us leave in the same subordination to himself to love them then, when himself hath made them much more lovely. And if we may love them, we shall surely reioyce in them; for love and enjoyment cannot stand without an answerable Joy. If the forethoughts of sitting down with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, may be our lawful Joy; then how much more that real