The saints everlasting rest

And it is not thy joy only: it is a mutual joy, as well as mutual love: is there such joy in heaven at thy conversion, and will there be none at thy glorification? Will not the angels welcome thee thither, and congratulate thy safe arrival? Yea, it is the joy of Jesus Christ: for now he hath the end of his labour, suffering, dying, when we have our joys; when he is glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe. We are his seed, and the fruit of his soul's travail, which when he seeth, he will be satisfied: he will rejoice over his purchased inheritance, and his people shall rejoice in him.

And it is not thy joy only: it is a mutual joy, as well as mutual love: is there such joy in heaven at thy conversion, and will there be none at thy glorification? Will not the angels welcome thee thither, and congratulate thy safe arrival? Yea, it is the joy of Jesus Christ: for now he hath the end of his labour, suffering, dying, when we have our joys; when he is glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe. We are his seed, and the fruit of his soul's travail, which when he seeth, he will be satisfi•d: he will rejoice over his purchased inheritance, and his people shall rejoice in him.

Yea, the Father himself puts on joy too, in our joy: as we grieve his spirit, and weary him with our iniquities; so he is rejoiced in our good. O how quickly here doth he spy a returning prodigal, even afar off! How doth he run and meet him, fall on his neck, and kiss him! This is indeed a happy meeting; but nothing to the joy of that last and great meeting.

And now look back upon all this: I say to thee as the angel to John, What hast thou seen? Or if vet thou perceive not, draw nearer, come up higher, Come and see: dost thou fear thou hast been all this while in a dream? Why, These are the true sayings of GOD. Dost