The saints everlasting rest

1. Consider then, That labour and trouble are the common way to rest, both in the course of nature and of grace. Can there possibly be rest without motion and weariness? Do you not travel and toil first, and then rest afterwards? The day for labour goes first, and then the night for rest doth follow. Why should we desire the course of grace to be perverted, any more than we would do the course of nature? GOD did once dry up the sea to make a passage for his people; and once made the sun in the firmament to stand still: but must he do so always? Or as oft as we would have him? It is his established decree, That through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of heaven, Acts xiv. 22. And that if we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him, 2 Tim. ii. 12. And what are we, that GOD'S statutes should be reversed for our pleasure? As Bildad said to Job, Chap. xviii. 4. Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? or the rock be removed out of his place? So, must God pervert his established order for thee?

2. Consider also, That afflictions are exceeding useful to us, to keep us from mistaking our resting place, and so taking up short of it. A christian's motion heaven-wards is voluntary, and not constrained. Those means therefore are most profitable to him, which help his understanding and will in this prosecution. The most dangerous mistake that our souls are capable of, is, to take the creature for GOD, and earth for heaven. And yet, alas, how common is this! Though we are ashamed to speak so much with our tongues, yet how oft do our hearts say, It is best being here! And how ⟨p. 187⟩contented are we with an earthly portion! So that I fear, GOD would displease most of us more to afflict us here, and promise us rest hereafter, than to give us our hearts desire on earth, though he had never made us a promise of heaven. As if the creature without GOD, were better than GOD without the creature. Alas, how apt are we, like foolish children, when we are busy at our sports and worldly employments, to forget both our father and our home! Therefore it is a hard thing for a rich man to enter into heaven, because it is hard for him to value it more than earth, and not think he is well already. Come to a man that hath the world at will, and tell him, This is not your happiness, you have higher things to look after; and how little will he regard you? But when affliction comes, it speaks convincingly, and will be heard when preachers cannot.