Chap. 10.] is NOT ON EARTH: 155 5. It is seeking rest where it is not to be found. Your labor will be lost ; and if you proceed, your soul's eternal rest too. Our rest is only in the full obtaining of our ulti- mate end. But that is not to be expected in this life ; neither is rest, therefore, to be expected here. Is God to he enjoyed in the best church here, as he is in heaven? How little of God the saints enjoy under the best means, let theirown complainings testify. Poor comforters are the best ordinances without God. Should a traveller take up his rest in the way? No ; because his home is his journey's end. When you have all that creatures and means can af- ford, have you that you believed, prayed, suffered for ? I think you dare not say so. We are like little children strayed from home, and God is now fetching us home, and we are ready to turn into any house, stay and play with every thing in our way, and sit down on every green bank, and much ado there is to get us home. We are also in the midst of our labors and dangers; and is there any resting here ? What painful work doth lie upon our hands ! Look to our brethren, to our souls, and to God; and what a deal of work, in respect to each of these, doth lie before us ! And can we rest in the midst of all our labors ? Indeed, we may rest on earth, as the ark is said to have " rested in the midst of Jordan" a short and small rest; or as Abraham desired the " angels to turn in, and rest themselves" in his tent, where they would have been loath to have taken up their dwelling. Should Israel have fixed their rest in the wilderness, among serpents, and enemies, and weari- ness, and famine ? Should Noah have made the ark bis home, and have been loath to come forth when the waters were assuaged ? Should the mariner choose his dwelling on the sea, and settle his rest in the midst of rocks, and sands, and raging tempests ? Should a soldier rest in the thickest of his enemies ? And are not Christians such tra- vellers, such mariners, such soldiers? Have you not fears within and troubles without ? Are we not in continual clangers ? We cannot eat, drink, sleep, labor, pray, hear, converse, but in the midst of snares; and shall we sit down and rest here ? 0 Christian, follow thy work, look to thy dangers, hold on to the end, win the field, and come off the ground, before thou think of a settled rest. Whenever thou talkest of a rest on earth, it is like Peter on the mount,
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