The saints everlasting rest

then ⟨p. 51⟩how much more that real sight, 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. O happy day, when I shall depart out of this crowd and sink, and go to that same council of souls! I know that Christ is All in All, and that it is the presence of GOD that maketh heaven to be heaven. But yet it much sweeteneth the thoughts of that place to me, to remember that there are such a multitude of my most dear and precious friends in Christ: with whom I took sweet counsel, and with whom I went up to the house of GOD, who walked with me in the fear of GOD, and integrity of their hearts: In the face of whose conversation there was written the name of Christ; whose sensible mention of his excellencies hath made my heart to burn within me. To think such a friend that died at such a time, and such a one at another time, and that all these are entered into rest; and we shall surely go to them. It is a question with some, Whether we shall know each other in heaven or no? Surely, there shall no knowledge cease which now we have; but only that which implieth our imperfection. And what imperfection can this imply? Nay our present knowledge shall be increased beyond belief: it shall indeed be done away, but as the light of the stars is done away by the rising of the sun; which is more properly doing away of our ignorance than our knowledge; indeed we shall not know each other after the flesh; but by the image of Christ, and spiritual relation, and former faithfulness in improving our talents, beyond doubt, we shall know and be known. Nor is it only our old acquaintance, but all the saints of all ⟨p. 52⟩ages, whose faces in the flesh, we never saw, whom we shall there both know and comfortably enjoy. Yea, and angels as well as saints will be our blessed acquaintance. These who now are willingly ministerial spirits for our good, will willingly then be our companions in joy for the perfecting of our good: and they who had such joy in heaven for our conversion, will gladly rejoice with us in our glorification.