O that you did but know what a glorious Lord you worship and serve. Who makes the very place qf his feet glorious, wherever he comes. Surely He is greatly to be feared in the assembly of his saints, and to be had in reverence of all that are round about him. There is indeed a co^cr/a boldness or free liberty of speech allowed to the saints, Eph. iii. 12. But no rudeness or irreverence. We may indeed come, as the children of a king come to the father, who is both their awful sovereign, and tender father ; which double rela- tion causes a due mixture of love, and reverence in their hearts, when they come before him. You may he free, but not rude, in his presence. Though he be your Father, Brother, Friend ; yet the distance betwixt him and you is infinite.
Inference 4. If Christ be so gloriously advanced in the highest throne -f, then none need to reckon themselves dishonoured, by suffer-
f It is no disgrace for us to suffer what Christ suffered, nor is it any glory for you to do what Judas did. Hicronwn.
SERM. XLI. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 523
big the vilest things for his sake *. The very chains and sufferings of Christ have glory in them. Hence Moses " esteemed the very " reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt," Heb. xi. 26. He saw an excellency in the very worst things of Christ, his reproaches and sufferings, as made him leap out of his honours and riches, into them. He did not, (as one saith) only endure the reproaches of Christ, but counted them treasures. To be reckoned among his honours and things of value. So Thuanus reports of Ludovicus Marsacus, a noble knight of France, when he was led with other martyrs, that were bound with cords, to exe- cution ; and he for his dignity was not bound, he cried, give me my chain too, let me be a knight of the same order -f\ Disgrace itself is honourable, when it is endured for the Lord oj Glory. And surely there is (as one phraseth it) a little paradise, a young heaven, in sufferings for Christ. If there were nothing else in it, but that they are endured on his account, it would richly reward all we can endure for him ; but if we consider how exceeding kind Christ i& to them, that count it their glory to be abased for him ; that though lie be always kind to his people, (yet if we may so speak) he over- cometh himself in kindness, when they suffer for him ; it would make men in love with his reproaches.
Inf. 5. If Christ sat not down to rest in heaven, till he had fin- ished his work on earth ; then it is in vain for us to think of rest, till we have finished our wo?k, as Christ also did his.
How willing are we to find rest here ! To dream of that, which Christ never found in this world, nor any ever found before us. O think not of resting, till you have done working and done sin- ning. Your life and your labours must end together. " Write " (saith the Spirit) blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, for " they rest from their labours," Rev. xiv. 13. Here you must have the sweat, and there the sweet. It is too much to have two heavens. Here you must be content to dwell in the tents of Kedar ; hereafter you shall be within the curtains of Solomon. Heaven is the place of which it may be truly said, that there the weary be at rest. O think not of sitting down on this side heaven. There are four things will keep the saints from sitting down on earth to rest, viz. grace, corruption, devils and wicked men.
First, Grace will not suffer you to rest here. Its tendencies are beyond this world. It will be looking and longing for the bles- sed hope. A gracious person takes himself for a pilgrim, seeking a better country, and i» always suspicious of danger in every place and state. It is still beating up the sluggish heart with such lan-
* Dr. Manton on Jam. p. 228.
f Cur et non me qvoque torque dvnas f Et in$i«nis hvjus ordinis militem creas ? Thuan. I list.
524 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. XLII.
guage as that, Mic. ii. 10. " Arise, depart, this is not thy rest, " for it is polluted." Its further tendencies and continual jealousies, will keep you from sitting long still in this world.
Secondly, Your corruptions will keep you from rest here. They will continually exercise your spirits, and keep you upon your watch. Saints have their hands filled with work by their own hearts every day. Sometimes to prevent sin; and sometimes to lament it. And always to watch and fear, to mortify and kill it. Sin will not long suffer you to be quiet, Rom. vii. 21, 22, 23, 24. And if a bad heart will not break your rest here, then,
Thirdly, There is a busy devil will do it. He will find you work enough with his temptations and suggestions, and except you can sleep quietly in his arms as the wicked do, there is no rest to be expected. " Your adversary, the devil, goeth about as a roaring " lion, seeking whom he may devour ; whom resist," 1 Pet. v. 8.
Fourthly, Nor will his servants and instruments let you be quiet on this side heaven. * Their very name speaks their turbulent disposition. " My soul, (saith the holy man) is among lions, and " I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of " men, whose teeth are spears and arrows," Psal. lvii. 4. Well then, be content to enter into your rest, as Christ did into his, He sweat, then sat, and so must you.
Christ's Advent to Judgment, being the fourth and last Degree of his Exaltation, illustrated and improved.
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
VvHRIST enthroned in the highest glory in heaven is there to abide for the effectual and successful government, both of the world, and of the church, until the number given him by the Father, before the world was, and purchased by the blood of the cross, be gathered in ; and then cometh the judgment of the great day, which will perfectly separate the precious from the vile ; put the redeemed in full possession of the purchase of his blood in hea-
* yUH Inquietum esse. Turbulentus,
SERM. XLII. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 525
veil, and " then shall he deliver up the kingdom to his Father, " that God may be all in all."