The saints everlasting rest

4. Another excellent property of our rest will be, that the joys of it are immediately from GOD. We shall see GOD face to face: and stand continually in his presence; and consequently derive our life and comfort immediately from him. Whether GOD will make use of any creatures for our service then; or if any, of what creatures, and what use; is more than I yet know: but it is certain, that at least, our greatest joys will be immediate, if not all. Now we have nothing at all immediately, but at the second or third hand, or how many who knows? From the earth, from man, from the sun and moon, from the influence of the planets, from the ministration of angels, and from the spirit of Christ; and doubtless, the further the stream runs from the fountain, the more impure ⟨p. 53⟩it is. It gathers some defilement from every unclean channel it passeth through. Though it savours not in the hand of angels, of the imperfection of sinners, yet it doth of the imperfection of creatures; and as it comes from man, it savours of both. How quick and piercing is the word it itself? Yet many times it never enters, being managed by a feeble arm. O what weight and worth is there in every passage of the blessed gospel! enough, one would think, to enter and force the dullest soul, and wholly possess its thoughts and affections: and yet how oft doth it drop as water upon a stone? The things of GOD which we handle, are divine: but our manner of handling is human: and there is little or none that ever we touch, but we leave the print of our fingers behind us; but of GOD should speak this word himself, it would be a piercing melting word indeed.

If an angel from heaven should preach the gospel, yet could he not deliver it according to its glory; much less we who never saw what they have seen, and keep this treasure in earthen vessels. The comforts that flow through sermons, sacraments, reading, conference, and creatures, are but half comforts; in comparison of those which the Almighty shall speak with his own mouth, and reach forth with his own hand. The christian knows by experience now, that his most immediate joys are his sweetest joys; which have least of man, and are most directly from the spirit. That is one reason, I conceive, why christians who are much in secret prayer and meditation, are men of greatest life; because they are nearer the well-head, and have all more immediately from GOD himself. And that I conceive the only reason, why we are more indisposed to those secret duties, and can easier bring our hearts to hear and read, than to secret prayer, self-examination and meditation; because in the former is more of man, and in these we approach