The saints everlasting rest

his godhead, his manhood, his fullness, his freeness, his willingness, his constancy; do all proclaim him thy most suitable friend. ⟨p. 383⟩What state more suitable to thy mercy, than that of mercy? Or to thy sinfulness and baseness, than that of honour and perfection? What place more suitable to thee than heaven? Thou hast had a sufficient trial of this world: dost thou find it agree with thy nature or desires? Are these common abominations, these heavy sufferings, these unsatisfying vanities, suitable to thee? Or dost thou love for interest and near relation? Where hast thou better interest than in heaven? or where hast thou nearer relation than there? Dost thou love for acquaintance and familiarity? Why though thine eyes have never seen the LORD, yet he is never the further from thee. If thy son were blind, yet he would love thee his father, though he never saw thee. Thou hast heard the voice of Christ to thy very heart, thou hast received his benefits: thou hast lived in his bosom, and art thou not ye acquainted with him? It is he that brought thee seasonably and safely into the world: it is he that nursed thee in thy tender infancy, and helped thee when thou couldst not help thyself: he taught thee to go, to speak, to read, to understand: he taught thee to know thyself and him: he opened thee that first window whereby thou sawest into heaven: hast thou forgotten since thy heart was careless, and he did quicken it, and make it yield? When it was at peace, and he did trouble it? And broken, till he did heal it again? Hast thou forgotten the time, nay, the many times when he found thee in secret, all in tears; when he heard thy sighs and groans, and left all to come and comfort thee? When he came in upon thee, and took thee up, as it were in his arms, and asked thee, poor soul, what aileth thee? Dost thou weep, when I have wept so much? Be of good cheer: thy wounds are saving, and not deadly. It is I that have made them, who mean thee no hurt: though I let out thy blood, I will not let out thy life.

his godhead, his manhood, his fulness, his freeness, his willingness, his constancy; do all proclaim him thy most suitable friend. ⟨p. 383⟩What state more suitable to thy mercy, than that of mercy? Or to thy sinfulness and baseness, than that of honour and persection? What place more suitable to thee than heaven? Thou hast had a sufficient trial of this world: dost thou find it agree with thy nature or desires? Are these common abominations, these heavy sufferings, these unsatisfying vanities, suitable to thee? Or dost thou love for interest and near relation? Where hast thou better interest than in heaven? or where hast thou nearer relation than there? Dost thou love for acquaintance and familiarity? Why though thine eyes have never seen the LORD, yet he is never the further from thee. If thy son were blind, yet he would love thee his father, though he never saw thee. Thou hast heard the voice of Christ to thy very heart, thou hast received his benefits: thou hast lived in his bosom, and art thou not ye acquainted with him? It is he that brought thee seasonably and safely into the world: it is he that nursed thee in thy tender infancy, and helped thee when thou couldst not help thyself: he taught thee to go, to speak, to read, to understand: he taught thee to know thyself and him: he opened thee that first window whereby thou sawest into heaven: hast thou forgotten since thy heart was careless, and he did quicken it, and make it yield? When it was at peace, and he did trouble it? And broken, till he did heal it again? Hast thou forgotten the time, nay, the many times when he found thee in secret, all in tears; when he heard thy sighs and groans, and left all to come and comfort thee? When he came in upon thee, and took thee up, as it were in his arms, and asked thee, poor soul, what aileth thee? Dost thou weep, when I have wept so much? Be of good cheer: thy wounds are saving, and not deadly. It is I that have made them, who mean thee no hurt: though I let out thy blood, I will not let out thy life.