The saints everlasting rest

When the poor wretch shall look back upon these easy terms which he refused, and compare the labour of them with the pains and loss which he there sustaineth, it cannot be now conceived how it will rent his very heart! Ah, thinks he, how justly do I suffer all this, who would not be at so small pains to avoid it? Where was my understanding when I neglected thy gracious offer; when I called the LORD a hard master? and thought his pleasant service to be a bondage, and the service of the devil and my flesh to be the only freedom? Was I not a thousand times worse than mad, when I censured the holy way of GOD, as needless preciseness? And cried out on it, as an intolerable burden? When I thought the laws of Christ too strict; and all too much, that I did for the life to come? O, what had all the trouble of duty been, in comparison of the trouble I now sustain? Or all the sufferings for Christ and well-doing, in comparison of these sufferings that I must undergo for-ever? What if I had spent my days in the strictest life? What if I had lived still upon my knees? What if I had lost my credit with men? and been hated of all men for the sake of Christ? and borne the reproach of the foolish? What if I had been imprisoned, or banished, or put to death? O, what had all this been to the miseries that I now suffer! Would not the heaven which I have lost, have recompensed all my losses? and should not all my sufferings have been there forgotten? What if Christ had bid me do some great matter? as to live in continual tears and sorrow, to suffer death a hundred ⟨p. 102⟩times over? (which yet he did not) should I not have done it? How much more, when he said but, beli••ce, and be saved: seek my f••e, and thy soul shall live: love me above all, walk in my sweet and holy way, take up thy cross and follow me, and I will save thee from the wrath of God, and I will give thee everlasting life. O gracious offer! O easy terms! O cursed wretch, that would not be persuaded to accept them.

6. This also will be a most tormenting consideration, to remember what they sold their eternal welfare for. When they compare the value of the pleasures of sin, with the value of the recompense of reward, how will the vast disproportion astonish them! To think of a few pleasant cups, or sweet morsels, a little case, or low delight to the flesh; and then to think of everlasting glory! What a vast difference between them will then appear? To think, this is all I had for my soul, my GOD, my hopes of blessedness! It cannot possibly be expressed how these thoughts will tear his heart. Then will he exclaim against his folly. O miserable wretch! Did I set my soul to sale for so base a price? Did I part with my GOD for a little dirt and dross? and sell my Saviour, as Judas, for a little silver? O for how small a matter have I parted with my happiness! I had but a dream of delight, for my hopes of heaven: and now I am awaked, it is all vanished: where are now my honours and attendance? My morsels are now turned to gall, and my cups to wormwood. They delighted me no longer than while they were passing down; and is this all that I have had for the inestimable treasure? O what a mad exchange did I make? What if I had gained all the world, and lost my soul? But alas, how small a part of the world was it, for which I gave up my part of glory!—O tha sinners would think of this, when they are swimming in delights, and studying to be rich and honourable! When they are desperately venturing upon known transgression, and sinning against the checks of conscience!