The saints everlasting rest

THE Saints Everlasting Rest.

PART III. Containing a DIRECTORY for the getting and keeping the Heart in Heaven, by the diligent Practice of that excellent Duty of MEDITATION.

CHAP. I. Reproving our Expectations of Rest on Earth.

DOTH this rest remain? How great then is our sin and folly to seek and expect it here! Where shall we find the christian that deserves not this reproof? Surely we may all cry guilty to this. We know not how to enjoy convenient houses, goods, lands, and revenues, but we seek rest in these enjoyments. We seldom, I fear, have such sweet and contenting thoughts of GOD and glory, as we have of our earthly delights. How much rest do we seek in buildings, walks, apparel, ease, recreation, sleep, pleasing meats and drinks, company, health and strength, and long life? Nay, we can scarce enjoy the necessary means that GOD hath appointed for our spiritual good, but we are seeking rest in them. Our books, our preachers, sermons, friends, abilities for duty, do not our hearts quiet themselves in them, even more than in GOD? Indeed, in words we disclaim, ⟨p. 264⟩and GOD hath usually the pre-eminence in our tongues and professions: but do we not desire these more violently when we want them, than we do the LORD himself? Do we not cry out more sensibly, O my friend, my goods, my health! than, O my GOD! Do we not miss ministry and means more passionately than we miss our GOD? Do we not bestir ourselves more to obtain and enjoy these, than we do to recover our communion with GOD? Do we not delight more in the possession of these, than we do in the fruition of GOD himself? Nay, are not those mercies and duties more pleasant to us, wherein we stand at the greatest distance from GOD? We can read, and study, and confer, preach and hear, day after day, without much weariness; because in these we have to do with instruments and creatures: but in secret prayer and conversing with GOD immediately, where no creature interposeth, how dull, how heartless and weary are we! And if we lose creatures or means, doth it not trouble us more than our loss of GOD? If we lose but a friend, or health, all the town will hear of it: but we can miss our GOD and scarce bemoan our misery. Thus it is apparent, we make the creature our rest. It is not enough, that they are refreshing helps in our way to heaven; but they must also be made our heaven itself. Reader, I would as willingly make thee sensible of this sin, as of any sin in the world; for the LORD'S greatest quarrel with us is in this point. Therefore I most carnestly beseech thee to press upon thine own conscience these following considerations.