The saints everlasting rest

O the cost that GOD hath been at for our sakes? The riches of sea and land, of heaven and earth, hath he poured out unto us. All our lives have been filled up with mercies: we cannot look back upon one hour of it, or one passage in it, but we may behold mercy. We feed upon mercy, we wear mercy upon our backs, we tread upon mercy; mercy within us, mercy without us for this life, and for that to come. O the rate deliverances that we have partaken of, both national and personal! How oft, how seasonably, how fully have our prayers been heard, and our fears removed? What large catalogues of particular mercies can every christian rehearse? To offer to number them would be as endless a task, as to number the stars, or the sands of the shore.

If there be any difference betwixt hell, (where we should have been) and earth, (where we now are) yea, or heaven, (which is offered to us) then certainly we have received mercy: yea, if the blood of the Son of GOD be mercy, then are we engaged to GOD by mercy; for so much did it cost him to recover us to himself. And should a people of such deep engagements be lazy in their returns? Shall GOD think nothing too much nor too good for us; and shall we think all too much that we do for him? Thou that art an observing sensible man, who knowest how much thou art beholden to GOD, I appeal to thee, is not a loitering performance of a few heartless duties, an unworthy requital of such admirable kindness? For my own part, when I compare my slow and unprofitable life, with the frequent and wonderful mercies received, it shames me, it silenceth me, and leaves me inexcusable.

7. Consider, all the relations which we stand in toward GOD, call upon us for our utmost diligence. Should not the pot be wholly at the service of the potter, and the creature at the service of his Creator? Are we his children, and do we not owe him our most tender affections, and dutiful obedience? Are we the spouse of Christ, and do we not owe him our observance, and our love? If he be our father, where is his honour? and if he be our master, where is his fear? We call him Lord and Master, and we do well: but if our industry be not answerable to our relations, we condemn ourselves in saying, we are his children, or his servants. How will the hard labour and daily toil that servants undergo to please their masters judge and condemn those men who will not labour so hard for their great master? Surely there is none have a more honourable master than we, nor can expect such fruit of their labours.