The saints everlasting rest

Marvel not, therefore, how it can be life eternal to know God and his Son Jesus Christ: to enjoy GOD and his Christ is eternal life, and the soul's enjoying is in knowing. They that savour only of earth, and have no way to judge but by sense, and never were acquainted with this knowledge of GOD, think it a poor happiness to know GOD. Let them have health and wealth, and worldly delights, and take you the other. Alas, poor men! they that have made trial of both, do not envy your happiness: O that you would come near, and taste and try as they have done; and then judge; then continue in your former mind, if you can. For our parts we say with that knowing apostle, (though the speech may seem presumptuous) 1 John v. 19, 20. We know that we are of GOD, and the whole world lieth in wickedness: and we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, in his Son Jesus Christ: this is the true God and eternal life. The Son of GOD is come to be our head and fountain of life, and hath given us an understanding, that the soul may be made capable to know him (GOD) that is true, the prime truth; and we are brought so near to this enjoyment, that we ⟨p. 23⟩are in him that is true; we are in him, by being in his Son Jesus Christ: this is the true God, and so the fittest object for our understanding, and this knowing of him, and being in him, in Christ, is eternal life.

And doubtless the memory will not be idle in this blessed work. If it be but by looking back, to help the soul to value its enjoyment. Our knowledge will be enlarged, not diminished; therefore the knowledge of things past shall not be taken away. From that height the saint can look behind him and before him: and to compare past with present things, must needs raise in the blessed soul an unconceivable sense of its condition. To stand on that mount, whence we can see the wilderness and Cancan both at once; to stand in heaven, and look back on earth, and weigh them together in the balance, how must it transport the soul, and make it cry out, Is this the purchase that cost so dear as the blood of God? O blessed price, and thrice blessed love! Is this the end of believing? is this the end of the Spirit's workings? have the gales of grace blown me into such an harbour? is it hither that Christ hath enticed my soul? O blessed way, and thrice blessed end! Is this the glory which the scriptures spoke of, and ministers preached of so much? Now I see the gospel indeed is good tidings, even tidings of great joy to all nations! Is my mourning, my fasting, my heavy walking, groanings, complainings, come to this? Are all my afflictions and fears, all Satan's temptations and the world's scorns, come to this? O vile nature, that resisted such a blessing! Unworthy soul! is this the place thou camest so unwilling to? was the world too good to lose? didst thou stick at leaving all, denying all, and suffering any thing for this? O false heart! that had almost betrayed me to eternal flames, and lost me this glory! O base flesh! that would needs have been pleased, though to the loss of this felicity! didst thou