The saints everlasting rest

CHAP. I.

I HAVE been hitherto presenting to your understandings, the excellency of the Rest of the Saints. Let your hearts now cheerfully embrace it, and improve it, and I shall present it to you, in its respective uses.

I will lay together all those uses that most concern the ungodly, and then those that are proper to the godly themselves.

And first, if this rest be for none but the people of GOD, what tidings is this to the ungodly world? That there is so much glory, but none for them: so great joys for the saints of GOD, while they must ⟨p. 86⟩consume in perpetual sorrows! If thou who readest these words, art a stranger to Christ, and to the holy nature and life of his people, and shalt live and die in the condition thou art now in; I am a messenger of the saddest tidings to thee, that ever yet thy ears did hear: that thou shalt never partake of the joys of heaven, nor have the least taste of the saints eternal rest. I may say to thee, as Ehud to Egln; I have a message to thee from GOD: but it is a mortal message, that as sure as the word of GOD is true, thou shalt never see the face of GOD with comfort. This sentence I am commanded to pass upon thee! Take it as thou wilt, and escape it if thou canst. I know, if thy heart and life were throughly changed, thy relation to Christ and eternity, would be changed also; he would then acknowledge thee for one of his people, and give thee a portion in the inheritance of his chosen. But if thou end thy days in thy present condition, as sure as the heavens are over thy head, and the earth under thy feet; as sure as thou livest and breathest in this air, so sure shalt thou be shut out of this rest of the saints, and receive thy portion in everlasting sire. I expect that thou shouldst in the pride of thy heart, turn upon me, and say, and when did GOD show you the book of life, or tell you who they are that shall be saved, and who shut out?