WHO LOSE THE SAINT'S REST. 83 Is it nothing to lose all this? The employment of a king in ruling a kingdom, does not so far exceed that of the. vilest slave, as this heavenly employment ex- ceeds that of , an earthly king. God suits men's em- ployments to their natures. Your hearts, sinners, were never set upon God in your lives, never warmed with his love, never longed after the enjoyment of him ; you had no delight in speaking or hearing of him ; you would rather have continued on earth, if you bad known bow, than be interested in the glori- ous praises of God. Is it meet then that you should be members of the celestial choir ? § 6. (4) They shall be deprived of the blessed so- . ciety of angels and glorified saints. Instead of being companions of those háppy spirits, and numbered with those triumphant kings, they must be members of the corporation of hell,' where they shall have. com- panions of a far different nature and quality. Scorn- ing and abusing the saints, hating them, and rejoicing in their calamities, was not the way to obtain their blessedness. Now you are shut out of that company, from which you first shut out yourselves.; and are se- parated from them, with whom you would not be joined. You could not endure them in your houses, nor towns, nor scarce in the kingdom. You took them, as Ahab did Elijah, for the troublers of the land, and as the apostles were taken for men that turned the world upside down. If any thing fell Out amiss, you thought all was owing to them. When they were dead or banished, you were glad they were gone, and thought the country well rid of them. They molested you by faithfully reproving your sins. Thir holy conversation troubled your consciences, to see them so far excel you. It was a vexation to you to hear them pray, or sing praises in their fami- lies, And is it any wonder if you be separated from them hereafter ? The day is near when they will trouble you no more. Betwixt them and you will be a great gulph fixed. Even in this life, while the saints were mocked, destitute, celicted, tormented, and while they had their personal imperfections; yet,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=