'V 26 NATURE OF [Chap. 1. thou canst challenge tribulation, distress, persecution, fa- mine, nakedness, peril, or sword, to separate thy love fromChrist, how muchmore will himself be constant ! In- deed thou mayest be persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things pre-' sent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And now, are we not left in the apostle's admiration ? What shall we say to these things ? Infinite love must needs be a mys- tery to a finite capacity. No wonder angels desire to look into this mystery. And if it be the study of saints here to know the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ, which passethknowledge; the saints' ever- lasting rest must consist in the enjoyment of God by love. Nor hath joy the least share in this fruition. It is that which all the former lead to, and conclude in; even the inconceivable complacency which the blessed feel in their seeing, knowing, loving, and being beloved of God. This is the white stone which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it. Surely this is the joy which a stranger doth not intermeddle with. All Christ's ways of mercy tend to an end in the saints' joys. He wept, sorrowed, suffered, that they might rejoice; he sendeth the Spirit to be their comforter; he multiplies promises; he discovers their fu- ture happiness, that their joy may be full. He opens to them the fountain of living waters, that theymay thirst no more, and that it may spring up in them to everlasting life. He chastens them that he may give them rest. He makes it their duty to rejoice in him always, and again commands them to rejoice. He never brings them into so low a con- dition, wherein he does not leave them more cause ofjoy than sorrow. And hath the Lord such a care of our com- fort here ? O what will that joy be, where the soul, being perfectly prepared for joy, and joy prepared by Christ for the soul, it shall be our work, our business, eternally to rejoice ! It seems the saints' joy shall be greater than the damned's torment; for their torment is the torment of creatures, prepared for the devil and his angels; but our joy is the joy of our Lord. The same glory which the Father gave the Son, the Son bath given them, to sit with him in his throne, even as he is set down with his Father
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