182 THE SAINT'S REST IS NOT § 11.` (1) It is gross idolatry to make any creature, or means, our rest. 'To be the rest of the soul, is God's own prerogative. As it is apparent idolatry to place our rest in riches, or honours ; so it is but a more refined idolatry to take up our rest in excellent means of grace. How ill must our dear Lord take it, when we give him cause to complain, as he did of our fellow idolaters, My people have been lost sheep, they have _forgotten their resting place." (z) And to say, " My people can find rest in any thing, rather than in me. They caldelight in one another, but not in -me. They can rejoice in my creatures and ordinances, but not in me. Yea, in their very labours and duties they seek for rest, but not in me. They had rather be any where, than be with me. Are these their gods? Flave these redeemed them ? ill these be better to them than I have been, or than I would be ?" If yourselves have a wife, a hus- band, a son, that had rather be anywhere than in your company, and be never so merry as when fur- thest from you, would you not take it ill. So must our God needs do. § 12. (2) You contradict the end of God in giving these enjoyments. He gave them to help thee to him ; and dost thou take up with them in his stead? He gave them to be refreshments in thy journey ; and wouldst thou dwell in thy inn, and' go no further? It may be said of all our comforts and ordinances, as i is said of the Israelites,, " The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them,: to search out a resting - place for them. "(á) So do all God's mercies here. They are not that rest ; as John professed he was not the Christ; but they are voices crying in the wilder- ness, to bid us prepare, for thekingdorn of God, our true rest, is at hand. Therefore to rest here, were to turn all mercies contrary to their own ends, and to our own advantages, and to destroy ourselves with that which should help us. (z) Jer. 1. 6. (a) Numb. x. 33.
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