The saints everlasting rest

Christian, this is a rest after thy own heart; it containeth all that thy heart can wish, that which thou longest for, prayest for, labourest for, there thou shalt find it all. Thou hadst rather have GOD in Christ, than all the world; why there thou shalt have him. Desire what thou canst, and ask what thou wilt, as a christian, and it shall be given thee; not only to half of the kingdom, but to the enjoyment of both kingdom and king. This is a life of desire and prayer; but that is a life of satisfaction and enjoyment.

3. This rest is suitable to the saints necessities also, as well as to their natures and desires. It contains whatsoever they truly wanted; not supplying them with gross created comforts, which, like Saul's armour on David, are more burden than benefit: but they shall there have the benefit without the burden; and the pure spirits extracted (as it were) shall make up their cordial, without the mixture of any drossy or earthly substance. It was Christ and perfect holiness, which they most needed, and with these shall they be supplied.

4. Another excellency of our rest will be this, that it will be absolutely perfect and complete; and this both in the sincerity and universality of it. We shall then have joy without sorrow, and rest without weariness: as there is no mixture of our corruption with our graces, so no mixture of sufferings with our so•ac•• there is none of those waves in that harbour, which now to• us up and down. To-day we are well, to-morrow sick; to-day in esteem, to-morrow in disgrace; to-day we have friends, to-morrow none: nay, we have wine and vinegar in the same cup. If revelation should raise us up to the third heaven, the messenger of Satan must presently buffet us: but there is none of this inconstancy in heaven. It perfect love cast out fear; then perfect joy must needs cast out sorrow, and perfect happiness exclude all the relics of misery. There will be an universal perfecting of all our parts and powers, and an universal removal of all our evils. And though the positive part be the sweetest, and that which draws the other after it, even as the rising of the sun excludes the darkness; yet is not the negative part to be slighted, even our freedom from so many and great calamities. Let us therefore look over these more punctually, and see what it is we shall there rest from. In general, it is from all evil. Particularly, First, from sin. Secondly, suffering.