The saints everlasting rest

O what a mighty change is this! from the dunghill to the throne; from a body as •ile as the carrion in the ditch, ••ab•dy as bright as the s•n in the firmament! from all my doubts and fears, to this possession which hath put ••e out of dou•t! from all my fearful thoughts of death, to this most blessed joyful life! O what a change is this! farewell sin and suffering forever: now welcome most holy, heavenly nature; which as it must be employed in beholding the face of GOD, so is it full of GOD alone, delighted in nothing but him. O who can question the love which he doth so sweetly taste? or doubt of that which with such joy he feeleth? Farewell repentance, confession and supplication; farewell hope and faith; and welcome love, and joy, and praise. I shall now have my harvest without ploughing or sowing; my wine without the labour of the vintage; my joy without a preacher or a promise, even all from the face of GOD himself. Whatever mixture is in the streams, there is nothing but pure joy in the fountain. Here shall I be encircled with eternity, and come forth no more: here shall I live, and ever live; and praise my LORD, and ever, ever praise him. My face will not wrinkle, nor my hair be grey; but this mortal hath put on immortality, and this corruptible incorruption, and death is swallowed up in victory: O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? The date of my lease will no more expire, nor shall I lose my joys through fear of losing them. When millions of ages are past, my glory is but beginning; and when millions more are past, it is no nearer ending. Every day is all noontide, and every month is May or harvest, and every year is there a jubilee, and every age is full manhood; and all this but one eternity. O blessed eternity! the glory of my glory! the perfection of my perfection!

O what a mighty change is this! from the dunghill to the throne; from a body as •ile as the carrion in the ditch, ••ab•dy as bright as the s•n in the firmament! from all my doubts and fears, to this p•ssession which hath put e out of dout! from all my fearful thoughts of death, to this most blessed joyful life! O what a change is this! farewell sin and suffering forever: now welcome most holy, heavenly nature; whch as it must be mployed in beholding the face of GOD, so is it full of GOD alone, delighted in nothing but him. O who can question the love which he doth so sweetly taste? or doubt of that which with such joy he feeleth? Farewell repentance, confession and supplication; farewell hope and faith; and welcome love, and joy, and praise. I shall now have my harvest without ploughing or sowing; my wine without the labour of the vintage; my joy without a preacher or a promise, even all from the face of GOD himself. Whatever mixture is in the streams, there is nothing but pure joy in the fountain. Here shall I be incircled with eternity, and come forth no more: here shall I live, and ever live; and praise my LORD, and ever, ever praise him. My face will not wrinkle, nor my hair be grey; but this mortal hath put on immortality, and this corruptible incorruption, and death is swallowed up in victory: O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? The date of my lease will no more expire, nor shall I lose my joys through fear of losing them. When millions of ages are past, my glory is but beginning; and when millions more are past, it is no nearer ending. Every day is all noontide, and every month is May or harvest, and every year is there a jubilee, and every age is full manhood; and all this but one eternity. O blessed eternity! the glory of my glory! the perfection of my perfection!