The saints everlasting rest

And as we shall rest from all the sin of our understandings, so of our wills, affection and conversation. We shall no more retain this rebelling principle, which is still withdrawing us from GOD. We shall no more be oppressed with the power of our corruptions, nor vexed with their presence: no pride, passion, slothfulness, senselessness shall enter with us; no strangeness to GOD, and the things of GOD; no coldness of affections, nor imperfection in our love; no uneven walking, nor grieving of the spirit; no scandalous ⟨p. 60⟩action, or unholy conversation: we shall rest from all these for-ever. Then shall our understandings receive their light from the face of GOD, as the full moon from the open sun: then shall our wills correspond to the divine will, as face answers face in the glass; and his will shall be our law and rule, from which we shall never swerve again. I conclude therefore with the words next my text, He that is entered into his rest, hath ceased from his own works, as GOD from his. So that there is a perfect rest from sin.

Secondly, It is a perfect rest from suffering. When the cause is gone, the effect ceaseth. Our sufferings were but the consequents of our sinning, and here they both shall cease together.

1. We shall rest from all the temptations of Satan. What a grief is it to a christian, though he yield not to the temptation, yet to be still solicited to deny his LORD? That such a thought should be cast into his heart? That he can set about nothing that is good, but Satan is still dissuading him from it, distracting him in it, or discouraging him after it? What a torment, as well as a temptation is it, to have such horrid motions made to his soul? Sometime cruel thoughts of GOD; sometime undervaluing thoughts of Christ; sometime unbelieving thoughts of scripture; sometime injurious thoughts of Providence: to be tempted sometime to turn to present things; sometime to play with the baits of sin; sometime to venture on the delights of the flesh; and sometime to Atheism itself? Especially when we know the treachery of our own hearts, that they are as tinder, ready to take fire, as soon as one of these sparks shall fall upon them: but when the day of our deliverance comes, we shall fully rest from these temptations: Satan is then bound up, the time of tempting is done; the time of torment to himself, and his conquered captives,