The saints everlasting rest

CHAP. V. The Second Use reprehending the general Neglect of this Rest, and exciting to Diligence in seeking it.

I COME now to the second use. If there be so certain and glorious rest, why is there no more seeking ⟨p. 126⟩after it? One would think that a man that did but once hear of such unspeakable glory, and did believe what he heareth to be true, should be transported with desire after it, should almost forget to eat or drink, and mind and care for nothing else, and speak of and enquire after nothing, but how to get this treasure! And yet people who hear it daily, and profess to believe it, do as little mind it, or care, or labour for it, as if they had never heard of any such thing, or did not believe one word that they hear.

May I not well say to these men, as Paul to the Galatians in another case, foolish sinners! who hath bewitched you? It is not for nothing that divines use to call the world a witch; for s in witchcraft, men's lives, senses, goods or cattle are destroyed by a strange, secret, seen power of the devil, of which a man can give no natural reason, so here, men will destroy their own souls in a way quie against their own knowledge. Would not a man wonder, that is in his right senses, to see what riding and running, what scrambling and catching there is for a thing of nought, while eternal rest lies by neglected! What contriving and caring, what fighting and bloodshed, to get a step higher in the world than their brethren, while they neglect the kingly dignity of the saints! What insatiable pursuit of fleshly pleasures, whilst they look upon the praises of GOD, which is the joy of angels, as a burden! What unwearied diligence is there in raising their posterity, enlarging their possessions, gathering a little silver or gold? Yea, perhaps for a poor living from hand to mouth, while in the mean time their judgment is drawing near; and yet how it shall go with them