The saints everlasting rest

5. We shall then rest from all which we now undergo, by participating with our brethren in their calamities. Alas, if we had nothing upon ourselves to trouble us, yet what heart could lay aside sorrows, that lives in the sound of the church's sufferings? If Job had nothing upon his body to disquiet him, yet the message of his children's overthrow must needs grieve the most patient soul. Except we are turned into steel or stone, and have loft both christian and human affection, there needs no more than the miseries of our brethren to fill our hearts with sorrows. The church on earth is a mere hospital; which way soever we go, we hear complaining; and into what corner soever we cast our eyes, we behold objects of pity: some groaning under a dark understanding, some under a senseless heart, some languishing under unfruitful weakness, and some bleeding for miscarriages and wilfulness, and some in a lethargy, that they are past complaining; some crying out of their pining poverty; some groaning under pains and infirmities, and some bewailing a whole catalogue of calamities, especially in days of common sufferings: but our day of rest will free us and them from all this. Now we may enter many a poor christian's cottage, and see poverty possessing and filling all: how much better is that day, when we shall see them filled with Christ, clothed with glory, and equal with the greatest princes?

5. We shall then rest from all which we now undergo, by participating with our brethren in their calamities. Alas, if we had nothing upon ourselves to trouble us, yet what heart could lay aside sorrows, that lives in the sound of the church's sufferings? If Job had nothing upon his body to disquiet him, yet the message of his children's overthrow must needs grieve the most patient soul. Except we are turned into steel or stone, and have loft both christian and human affection, there needs no more than the miseries of our brethren to fill our hearts with sorrows. The church on earth is a mere hospital; which way soever we go, we hear complaining; and into what corner soever we cast our eyes, we behold objects of pity: some groaning under a dark understanding, some under a senseless heart, some languishing under unfruitful weakness, and some bleeding for miscarriages and wilfulness, and some in a lethargy, that they are past complaining; some crying out of their pining poverty; some groaning under pains and infirmities, and some bewailing a whole catalogue of calamities, especially in days of common sufferings: but our day of rest will free us and them from all this. Now we may enter many a poor christian's cottage, and see poverty possessing and filling all: how much better is that day, when we shall see them filled with Christ, cloathed with glory, and equal with the greatest princes?