The saints everlasting rest

nor to any of our duties and labours, much less to our neglects and laziness; we know to whom the praise is due, and must be given for-ever. And indeed to this very end it was, that infinite wisdom did cast the whole design of man's salvation into the mould of PURCHASE and FREENESS, that the love and joy of man might be perfected, and the honour of grace most highly advanced: that the thought of merit might neither cloud the one, nor obstruct the other; and that on these two hinges the gates of heaven might turn. So then let [DESERVED] be written on the […] hell, but on the door of heaven and life, [THE FREE GIFT.]

nor to any of our duties and labours, much less to our neglects and laziness; we know to whom the praise is due, and must be given for-ever. And indeed to this very end it was, that infinite wisdom did cast the whole design of man's salvation into the mould of PURCHASE and FREENESS, that the love and joy of man might be perfected, and the honour of grace most highly advanced: that the thought of merit might neither cloud the one, nor obstruct the other; and that on these two hinges the gates of heaven might turn. So then let [DESERVED] be written on the 〈…〉 hell, but on the door of heaven and life, [THE FREE GIFT.]

A third comfortable adjunct of this rest is, that it is the fellowship of the blessed saints and angels of GOD. Not so singular will the christian be, as to be solitary. Though it be proper to the saints only, yet is it common to all the saints. For what is it, but an association of blessed spirits in GOD? A corporation of perfected saints, whereof Christ is the head? The communion of saints completed? For those that ⟨p. 50⟩have prayed and fasted, and wept, and watched, and waited together; now to enjoy, and praise together, methinks should much advance their pleasure. He who mentioneth the qualifications of our happiness, of purpose that our joy may be full, and maketh so oft mention of our conjunction in his praises, sure doth hereby intimate to us, that this will be some advantage to our joys. Certain I am of this, fellow-christians, that as we have been together in labour, duty, danger and distress, so shall we be in the great recompense; and as we have been scorned and despised, so shall we be crowned and honoured together; and we who have gone through the day of sadness, shall enjoy together that day of gladness. And those who have been with us in persecution and prison, shall be with us also in that place of consolation. When I look in the faces of the people of GOD, and believingly think of this day, what a refreshing thought is it? Shall we not there remember our fellowship in duty, and in sufferings? How oft our groans made as it were one sound, our tears but one stream, and our desires but one prayer? And now all our praises shall make up one melody; and all our churches one church; and all ourselves but one body: for we shall be one in Christ, even as he and the Father are one. It is true, we must be very careful that we look not for that in the saints, which is alone in Christ, and that we give them not his prerogative; nor expect too great a part of our comfort in the fruition of them: we are prone enough to this kind of idolatry. But yet he who commands us so to love them now, will give us leave in the same subordination to himself to love them then, when himself hath made them much more lovely. And if we may love them, we shall surely rejoice in them; for love cannot stand without an answerable joy. If the forethought of sitting down with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of GOD, may be our lawful joy;