The saints everlasting rest

1. I wonder how thou canst either think or speak of the dreadful GOD without exceeding terror and astonishment, as long as thou art uncertain whether he be thy father or thy enemy, and knowest not but all his attributes may be employed against thee. If his saints must rejoice before him with trembling, and serve him with fear: If they that are sure to receive the immovable kingdom, must yet serve GOD with reverence and godly fear, because he is a consuming fire: how terrible should the remembrance of him be to them that know, not but this fire may for-ever consume them? 2. How dost thou think without trembling, upon JESUS CHRIST? When thou knowest not whether ⟨p. 165⟩his blood hath purged thy soul, or not? And whether he will condemn thee, or acquit thee in judgment; nor whether he be the corner stone and foundation of thy happiness, or a stone of stumbling to break thee, and grind thee to powder? 3. How canst thou open the bible and read a chapter, or hear a chapter read but it should terrify thee? Methinks every leaf should be to thee as Belshazzar's writing on the wall, except only that which draws thee to try and reform: If thou read the promises, thou knowest not whether ever they shall be fulfilled to thee, because thou art uncertain of thy performance of the condition. If thou read the threatenings, for any thing thou knowest, thou dost read thy own sentence. I do not wonder if thou art an enemy to plain preaching, and if thou say of it, and of the minister and scripture itself, as Ahab of the prophet, I hate him for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. 4. What comfort canst thou find in any thing which thou possessest? Methinks, friends, and honours, and houses, and lands, should do thee little good, till thou know thou hast the love of GOD withal, and shalt have rest with him when thou leavest these. Offer to a prisoner, before he know his sentence, either music, or clothes, or lands or preferment, and what cares he for any of these, till he know how he shall escape for his life? Then he will look after these comforts of life, and not before: for he knows if he must die the next day, it will be small comfort to die rich or honourable. Even when thou liest down to take thy rest, methinks the uncertainty of thy salvation should keep thee waking, or amaze thee in thy dreams, and trouble thy sleep;