The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

All that have an Apprehension of a future State of Happiness do agree in this matter, that it contains in it or is accompanied with a deliverance and freedom from all that is evil. But in what is so, they are not agreed. Many esteem only those things that are grievous, troublesome, wasting and destructive unto Nature to be so; that is, what is penal, in pain, sickness, sorrow, loss, poverty, with all kind of outward Troubles, and Death it self, are evil. Wherefore they suppose that the future state of Blessedness will free them from all these things, if they can attain unto it. This they will lay in the Balance against the Troubles of Life, and sometimes it may be against the Pleasures of it, which they must forego. Yea Persons profane and profligate will in words at least profess, that Heaven will give them rest from all their Troubles. But it is no place of Rest for such Persons.

All that have an Apprehension of a future State of Happiness do agree in this matter, that it contains in it or is accompanied with a deliverance and freedom from all that is evil. But in what is so, they are not agreed. Many esteem only those things that are grievous, troublesome, wasting and destructive unto Nature to be so; that is, what is poenal, in pain, sickness, sorrow, loss, poverty, with all kind of outward Troubles, and Death it self, are evil. Wherefore they suppose that the future state of Blessedness will free them from all these things, if they can attain unto it. This they will lay in the Ballance against the Troubles of Life, and sometimes it may be against the Pleasures of it, which they must forego. Yea Persons profane and profligate will in words at least profess, that Heaven will give them rest from all their Troubles. But it is no place of Rest for such Persons.

Unto all others also, unto Believers themselves, these things are evil, such as they expect a Deliverance from in Heaven and Glory. And there is no doubt, but it is lawful for us, and meet that we should contemplate on them, as those which will give us a Deliverance from all outward Troubles, Death it self and all that leads thereunto. Heaven is promised as Rest unto them that are troubled.