This is that blessed Rest that you shall shortly possess if you will but now Work. And what is it that comforts the painful Labourer but this, that tho' his Work be hard and difficult, yet the Evening will soon shut in, and he shall then betake himself to quiet Rest and Repose? What is it that comforts the wearisome Traveller, but this? Every Step of his long Way brings him nearer to his Home, where he shall enjoy a longer Rest: And shall not the same encourage and support you in your Way and Work? What though the Work be painful and laborious? yet it will not be long before you shall lie down in the Bed of the Grave, and sweetly sleep ⟨p. 137⟩away a short Night of Oblivion that is between this and the Resurrection, and your tired weary Souls shall then repose and nestle themselves in the warm Bosom of God himself. What though the Way be long and tedious to the Flesh? yet you are Travelling to your Father's House, where you are sure to be welcome, and where you shall enjoy an Eternity of Rest and Repose, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the whole Ring of glorious Saints, discoursing to them of the Dangers and Difficulties that you have passed through in getting to them. Doth it not sweeten the Toil and Pains that you take in your Youth, to think that thereby you are laying up that whereupon you may live at Ease hereafter, and spare the weakness of old Age? And is it not much more Rational that while you are in this World, which may be called the Youth of Eternity, you should lay up a good Foundation and treasure up a large, rich Stock, upon which you might live at Ease for ever? Why should you not be as wise and politic for Heaven, as for a little of the perishing Things of this World? Will you Labour that you may Rest here, where ⟨p. 138⟩your Rest shall certainly be disquieted and you shook out of it; and will you not labour that you may Rest in Heaven, where alone you can enjoy an everlasting Rest? I know it is that inveterate prejudice that Men have taken up against the Ways of God, that they are painful and laborious, and this invalidates all Reasons and Arguments that we bring them to persuade them to work. Rest, that is it they would have; and though God tells them they shall have an Eternal Rest if they will but work a while;
This is that blessed Rest that you shall shortly possess if you will but now Work. And what is it that comforts the painful Labourer but this, that tho' his Work be hard and difficult, yet the Evening will soon shut in, and he shall then betake himself to quiet Rest and Repose? What is it that comforts the wearisome Traveller, but this? Every Step of his long Way brings him nearer to his Home, where he shall enjoy a longer Rest: And shall not the same incourage and support you in your Way and Work? What though the Work be painful and laborious? yet it will not be long before you shall lie down in the Bed of the Grave, and sweetly sleep ⟨p. 137⟩away a short Night of Oblivion that is between this and the Resurrection, and your tired weary Souls shall then repose and nestle themselves in the warm Bosom of God himself. What though the Way be long and tedious to the Flesh? yet you are Travelling to your Father's House, where you are sure to be welcome, and where you shall enjoy an Eternity of Rest and Repose, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the whole Ring of glorious Saints, discoursing to them of the Dangers and Difficulties that you have passed through in getting to them. Doth it not sweeten the Toil and Pains that you take in your Youth, to think that thereby you are laying up that whereupon you may live at Ease hereafter, and spare the weakness of old Age? And is it not much more Rational that while you are in this World, which may be called the Youth of Eternity, you should lay up a good Foundation and treasure up a large, rich Stock, upon which you might live at Ease for ever? Why should you not be as wise and politick for Heaven, as for a little of the perishing Things of this World? Will you Labour that you may Rest here, where ⟨p. 138⟩your Rest shall certainly be disquieted and you shook out of it; and will you not labour that you may Rest in Heaven, where alone you can enjoy an everlasting Rest? I know it is that inveterate prejudice that Men have taken up against the Ways of God, that they are painful and laborious, and this invalidates all Reasons and Arguments that we bring them to persuade them to work. Rest, that is it they would have; and though God tells them they shall have an Eternal Rest if they will but work a while;
