The saints everlasting rest

GOD hath provided us a crown of glory, and promised to set it shortly on our heads, and we will not so much as think of it: he holdeth it out to us, and biddeth us behold and rejoice; and we will not so much as look at it. What a perverse course is this, both against GOD and our own joys!

I confess, though in fleshly things the presenting a comforting object is sufficient to produce an answerable delight, yet in spirituals we are more disabled: GOD must give the joy itself, as well as afford us matter for joy: but yet withal, it must be remembered, that GOD doth work upon us as men, and in a rational way doth raise our comforts: he enableth and exciteth us to mind these delightful objects, and from thence to gather our own comforts; therefore he that is most skilful and painful in this gathering art, is usually the fullest of the spiritual sweetness. It is by believing that we are filled with joy and peace; and no longer than we continue our believing. It is in hope that the saints rejoice, yea, in this hope of the glory of GOD; and no longer than they continue hoping. And here let me warm you of a dangerous snare, an opinion which will rob you of all your comfort: some think, if they should thus fetch in their own by believing and hoping, and work it out of scripture-promises by their own thinking and studying, then it would be a comfort only of their own hammering out (as they say) and not the genuine joy of the Holy Ghost. A desperate mistake, raised upon a ground that would overthrow almost all duty, as well as this; which is their setting the workings of GOD'S spirit and their own spirits in opposition, when their spirits must stand in subordination to GOD'S: they are conjunct causes, co-operating to the producing of one and the same effect. GOD'S spirit worketh our comforts by setting our own spirits at work upon the promises, and raising our thoughts to the ⟨p. 282⟩place of our comforts. As you would delight a covetous man by showing him money, […] a voluptuous man with fleshly delights; so GOD useth to delight his people, by taking them as it were by the hand, and leading them into heaven, and showing them himself, and their rest with him. GOD useth not to cast in our joys while we are idle, or taken up with other things. It is true, he sometimes doth it suddenly, but usually in the aforesaid order: and his sometimes sudden, extraordinary casting of comforting thoughts in our hearts, should be so far from hindering endeavours in a meditating way, that it should be a singular motive to quicken us to it; even as a taste given us of some cordial, will make us desire and seek the rest.