The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at…

Fifthly, It is an Eternal state, this is more than the former; the property that crowns all the rest. There are some in this life (and those none of the best) who meet with no changes, and that for a long time;¹ who enjoy a continued Summers day; their Sun of Prosperity goes not in and out, but shines with a constant beam; no black cloud of any great Affliction, interposing, to ⟨p. 77⟩hide their joy from them: but at last, death chops in upon them, and spoils all their mirth; in a moment they go down to the pit, and with them all their thoughts perish. What joy remains to him that is in misery, to remember the years of pleasure he hath had? A past felicity, is a present misery; and to remember the pleasure we had, doubles the sorrow we have. This made Saint Bernard interpret that place of the Psalmist, with long life will I satisfy him of Heaven; because he thought nothing was long that had an end. This, indeed, is the Emphasis of Heavens joy; those Blessed Souls shall never sin, never weep more; they shall not only be with the Lord, but ever with the Lord. This is the accent which is set on the Elogies, given to Heaven, in Scripture. 'Tis an Inheritance, and that an incorruptible one, that fadeth not away: It is a Crown of Glory, and that a weighty one; yea, an exceeding great and eternal weight of Glory. When once it is on the ⟨p. 78⟩Saints head, it can never fall, or be snatched off; it is a Feast, but such an one, that hath a sitting down to it, but no rising up from it.

Fifthly, It is an Eternal state, this is more than the former; the property that crowns all the rest. There are some in this life (and those none of the best) who meet with no changes, and that for a long time;¹ who enjoy a continued Summers day; their Sun of Prosperity goes not in and out, but shines with a constant beam; no black cloud of any great Affliction, interposing, to ⟨p. 77⟩hide their joy from them: but at last, death chops in upon them, and spoils all their mirth; in a moment they go down to the pit, and with them all their thoughts perish. What joy remains to him that is in misery, to remember the years of pleasure he hath had? A past felicity, is a present misery; and to remember the pleasure we had, doubles the sorrow we have. This made Saint Bernard interpret that place of the Psalmist, with long life will I satisfie him of Heaven; because he thought nothing was long that had an end. This, indeed, is the Emphasis of Heavens joy; those Blessed Souls shall never sin, never weep more; they shall not only be with the Lord, but ever with the Lord. This is the accent which is set on the Elogies, given to Heaven, in Scripture. 'Tis an Inheritance, and that an incorruptible one, that fadeth not away: It is a Crown of Glory, and that a weighty one; yea, an exceeding great and eternal weight of Glory. When once it is on the