The saints everlasting rest

4. Compare also the delights above, with the delights of morality, and of the natural affections. What delight had many sober heathens in the practice of moral duties; so that they took him only for an honest man who did well through the love of virtue, and not only for fear of punishment: yea, so highly did they value virtue, that they thought the chief happiness of man consisted in it. Think then what excellency there will be in that rare perfection which we shall be raised to in heaven; and in that uncreated perfection of GOD which we shall behold! What sweetness is there in the exercise of natural love; whether to children, to parents, to yoke-fellows or to friends! The delight which special, faithful friends find in loving and enjoying one another, is a most pleasing, sweet delight: even Christ himself, as it seemeth, had some of this kind of love; for he had one disciple whom he especially loved. Think then, if the delights of cordial friendship be so great, what delights shall we have in the friendship of the MOST HIGH? and in our mutual amity with Jesus Christ? and in the dearest love and comfort with the saints? Surely this will be a closer and stricter friendship than ever was betwixt any friends on earth; and these will be more lovely and desirable friends than any that ever the sun beheld; and both our affections to our Father, and our Saviour, but especially his affection to us, will be such as here we never knew; as spirits are so far more powerful than flesh, that one angel can destroy an host, so also are their affections more strong and powerful; we shall then love a thousand times more strongly and sweetly than now we can; and as all the attributes and works of GOD are incomprehensible, so is the attribute and work of love: he will love •s many thousand times more, than we even at the perfectest, are able to love him: what joy then will there be in this mutual love!

5. Compare also the excellencies of heaven with those glorious works of the creation which our eyes now behold. What a deal of wisdom, and power, and goodness appeareth in and through them to a wise observer! What a deal of the majesty of the great Creator doth shine in the face of this fabric of the world! Surely his works are great and admirable, sought out of them that have pleasure therein. This makes the study of natural philosophy so pleasant, because the works of GOD are so excellent: what rare workmanship is in the body of a man! yea, in the body of every beast! which makes the anatomical studies so delightful. What excellency in every plant we see! in the beauty of flowers! in the nature, diversity and use of herbs! in fruits, in roots, in minerals, and what not! But especially if we look to the greater works; if we consider the whole body of this earth, and its creatures, and inhabitants; the ocean of waters, with its motions and dimensions, the variation of the seasons, and of the face of the earth; the intercourse of spring and fall, of summer and winter; what wonderful excellency do these contain! Why, then think if these things which are but servants to sinful man, are yet so full of mysterious worth; what is that place where GOD himself doth dwell, prepared for the just who are perfected with Christ!