The saints everlasting rest

Secondly, As we have not yet obtained our end, so are we in the midst of labours and dangers; and is there any resting here? What painful work doth lie upon our hands! Look to our brethren, to our souls, to GOD; and what a deal of work in respect of each of these, doth lie before us! And can we rest in our labours? Indeed we may ease ourselves sometimes in our troubles; but that is not the rest we are now speaking of; we may rest on earth, as the ark is said to rest in the midst of Jordan, Josh. iii. 13. Or as the angels of heaven are desired to turn in, and rest them on earth. Gen. xviii. 4. They would have been loth to have taken up their dwelling there. Should Israel have settled his rest in the wilderness, among serpents, and enemies, and weariness and famine? Should Noah have made the ark his home, and been loth to come forth when the waters were fallen? Should the mariner choose his dwelling on the sea. and settle his rest in the midst of rocks, and sands, and tempests? Though he may adventure through all these, for a commodity of worth: yet I think he takes it not for his rest. Should a soldier rest in the midst of fight, when he is in the very thickest of his enemies? And are not christians such travellers, such mariners, such soldiers? Have you not fears within, and troubles without? Are we not in the thickest of continual dangers? We cannot eat, drink, sleep, labour, pray, hear or confer, but in the midst of snares; and shall we sit down and rest here? O christian, follow the ⟨p. 270⟩work, look to thy danger, hold on to the end; win the field, and come off the ground, before you think of settling to rest. I read that Christ when he was on the cross, comforted the converted thief with this, This day shalt thou be with me in paradise: but if he had only comforted him with telling him, that he should rest there on the cross, would he not have taken it for a derision? Methinks it should be ill resting in the midst of sicknesses and pains, persecution and distresses; one would think it should be no contented dwelling for lambs among wolves. I say therefore to every one that thinketh of rest on earth, Arise ye, depart, this is not your rest.

Secondly, As we have not yet obtained our end, so are we in the midst of labours and dangers; and is there any resting here? What painful work doth lie upon our hands! Look to our brethren, to our souls, to GOD; and what a deal of work in respect of each of these, doth lie before us! And can we rest in our labours? Indeed we may ease ourselves sometimes in our troubles; but that is not the rest we are now speaking of; we may rest on earth, as the ark is said to rest in the midst of Jordan, Jsh. iii. 13. Or as the angels of heaven are desired to turn in, and rest them on earth.