(3.) If when they are with the Lord they are in a better state than now, surely then they are not only in manu Dei, in the hand of God ; but admitted in conspectum Dei, into the presence of God. It were also absurd to long for a dissolution of that estate wherein we feel the love of God and Christ, sometimes with us, unspeakable and glorious, for an estate wherein there is no sight and sense of God and Christ, and celestial and heavenly things. But so it is that they account this more eligible, Phil. i. 23.
(4.) If the wicked and the righteous be in their final estate as soon as they die, surely then the rest of the saints beginneth presently upon their dissolution ; for as the trouble of the wicked is, so is the rest of the saints. But this we find in the scriptures, that the spirits of the
VER. 6, 7.] SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 231
disobedient are now in hell as in a prison, 1 Peter iii. 19. The souls of men and women do not vanish into nothing, are not extinguished in their bodies, nor are detained by the way in some third place ; but as soon as they depart out of the body, go to the place and state of torment. On the other side, the spirits of just men are said to be made perfect, Heb. xii. 23. When they are clothed and divested of their bodies, they are perfected in heaven ; which cannot be said if they did lie in a dull sleep, without any life, light, joy, or act of love to God.
(5.) What is said to one convert belongeth to all in the same cir- cumstances, and to them in like cases : Luke xxiii. 45, ' This day shalt thou be with me in paradise.' By * paradise ' is meant heaven, as Paul calleth the third heaven paradise, 2 Cor. xii. 4, in allusion to Eden, or the garden out of which Adam was driven ; not in regard of his body (for that was disposed of as men pleased), but his soul. But when the soul was in paradise, was it deprived of all sense, yea or no ? Certainly no, for it was with Christ. And ' this day ; ' this comfort was not adjourned to commence some fifteen hundred or two thousand years afterward ; as this is a great comfort to those that are hard at work for God ; the time of your ease and refreshing is at hand ; if suffering, it will be soon over, and then your joys begin ; to the sick, it is but a little longer pain ; to the dying, in a moment, in the twinkling of an •eye you will be with God.
(6.) If those already departed be living with God in heaven, those that follow after may upon the same terms expect it. Now it is so ; the patriarchs are already with God, they all live to God : Luke xx. 37, 38, 'For God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.' Then all the elect that are already departed are glorified : Col. i. 20, ' By the blood of his cross he hath reconciled all things to God, both in heaven and in earth.' He meaneth the universality of the elect, whether triumphant or militant. It cannot be meant of the angels ; there was never a breach between God and them, and therefore they cannot be said to be reconciled to him. If things in heaven be reconciled, it is meant of the glorified saints.
Two reasons why our reward is represented under the notion of rest.
(1st.) Because it suiteth with the aim of the saints. It is the end of motion. None have it but those that seek after it. We are all travel- ling into the other world. Some are posting to eternal torment ; they choose a broad way and have much company, and go on pleasantly for the time, but this course endeth sadly ; this is the path that leadeth down to the chambers of death. But others are going to life and rest ; they enter into it by a strait gate, walk in a narrow way, — the strait gate of repentance, the narrow way of new obedience ; but the end is blessed and glorious, Mat. vii. 13, 14. This life is a walk and a journey; we are now in motion and in passage. Adepto fine, cessat motus. When we come to the place we intend, there we take our rest. Every day a christian cometh nearer the shore : Rom. xiii. 11, ' Your salvation is nearer than it was when you first believed/ Only it standeth us upon to consider whether we go right. Every journey hath a period, and every motion its end and rest.
(2d) This term suiteth best with the goodness of God, who delighteth
232 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS T. [SeR. IV.
to recompense his people for all their pain and weariness ; he hath a care of his weary servants now. Many times the pangs of the new birth are sharp and tedious, therefore he giveth some the tongue of the learned, that they may refresh the weary soul, Isa. 1. 4. And Christ saith, Mat. xi. 28, ' Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, I will give you rest.' It is our rest by the way ; so at the end of the journey. A constant course of holiness puts upon many labours, and sorrows, and conflicts. (1.) Labours. The Lord taketh notice of them, Heb. vi. 10, 1 Cor. xv. 28 ; therefore the Lord telleth the laborious soul of a rest. (2.) Sorrows, through our manifold cala- mities and afflictions : John xvi. 20, ' The world shall rejoice, and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.' They shall have much comfort and refreshing for their sad hours. The world rejoiceth when Christ is removed, and gone out of the world ; but the saints rejoice when Christ cometh ; then is their complete rest. (3.) Conflicts with the devil, the world, and the flesh. Through many wrestlings we get to heaven, we make our way thither every step by conflict and contest. Now those that fight the good fight of faith, God will crown them, 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8.