Chap. 4.] WHOM THIS REST IS DESIGNED. 61 kingdom." " I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me ; that ye may eat and drinkat my table in mykingdom." All the means of grace, the opera- tions of the Spirit upon the soul, and gracious actings of the saints, every command to repent and believe, to fast and pray, to knock and seek, to strive and labor, to run and fight, prove that there remains a rest for the people of God. The Spirit would never kindle in us such strong desires after heaven, such love to Jesus Christ, if we should not receive what we desireand love. He that"guides our feet into the way of peace," will undoubtedly bring us to the end of peace. Hownearlyare the means and end con- joined ! " The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." They that "follow Christ in the regeneration shall sit upon thrones of glory." Scrip- ture assures us, that the saints have the "beginnings, fore- tastes, earnests, and seals" of this rest here. " The king- dom of God is within them." " Though theyhave not seen Christ, yet loving him, and believing in him, they rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; receiving the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls." They " rejoice in hope of the glory of God." And does God " seal themwith that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of their inheritance," and will he deny the full pos- session ? The Scripture also mentions, by name, those who have entered into this rest; as Enoch, Abraham, Lazarus, and the thief that was crucified with Christ. And if there be a rest for these, surely there is a rest for all believers. But it is in vain to heap up Scripture-proofs, seeing it is the very end of Scripture, to be a guide to lead us to this blessed state, and to be the charter and grant by which we hold all our title to it. Scripture not only proves that this rest remains for the people of God, but also that it remains fornone but them; so that the rest of the world shall have no part in it. " With- out holiness no man shall see the Lord. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. No whoremonger, nor unclean per- son, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inhe- ritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget
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