Use 1. To fortify our choice. It is left to us whether we will have our rest and ease here or hereafter. Both we cannot have, for rest is for the weary soul. We cannot reasonably hope to leap from Delilah's lap into Abraham's bosom, if we have never laboured in duties public or secret, withheld not ourselves from any joy. Some have their good things here, Luke xvi. 25, Ps. xvii. 14, their whole portion in this world ; others choose a life of labour, patience, and self-denial. To whom think you doth God promise rest? If we will not endure the pains and be at the cost, we shall not have the rest. The flesh is importunate to be pleased, but it is better to please God and save the soul.
Two questions we should often put to ourselves —
1. Is there a motion after something better than the world can afford us ? A motion after God ; you dare not rest on anything below God. The spiritual life is nothing else but a seeking after God : Ps. xxiv. 6, ' This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O God.' We seek on earth, we find in heaven. But are we seekers or wanderers ?
2. Is this motion carried on with that industry, patience, and self- denial that such a matter of importance requireth ?
[1.] Industry: Ps. lxiii. 8, 'My soul folio we th hard after thee.' God is not to be sought carelessly and by the by , the greatest business of our lives must be for him : ' First seek the kingdom of God,' &c. Mat. vi. 33. The soul must press after him, and labour to enjoy him ; this is our primary mark.
[2.] Patience under many disappointments and sorrows. The spouse that sought after her beloved was smitten and wounded by the watch- men, Cant. v. 7. But your hearts are so set upon God and the life to come, that still you make it your chiefest care and business to seek him, and will not be put out of your way : Ps. xliv. 17, ' All this is come upon us, yet have we not departed from thee ; our heart is not turned back.'
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[3.] Self-denial of our own ease, pleasure, credit, honour in the world, still conflicting with your own lusts, that at length you may attain the blessed God : Phil. iii. 11, ' If by any means,' &c, Mat. xi. 12.
Use 2. To shame the people of God, that they are so delicate and tender of the flesh when such a rest is provided for them ; that duties are so wearisome ; that we begrudge a few sufferings ; that we so much give way to coldness and lukewarmness, and that God is over- looked and neglected in the general course and drift of our lives ; that we are so loath to be at the trouble of contradicting our lusts, and do no more oppose the interest of the flesh. 0 christians ! can we expect the rest if we will not labour and strive against sin, even to weariness ?
Secondly, ' Rest with us ; ' that is, with us apostles, and other holy ones of God.
Note 1. All christians have the same felicity for substance, though the degrees be different.
Common christians have their rest as well as the apostles. Those that have been together in the labour, in the duty, and the danger, shall be together in the rest and recompense. All the servants entered into the joy of the Lord, though some had an increase of ten talents, some five, Mat. xxv. 1. The grounds of essential happiness are the same to all.
1. The same redeemer and mediator, Exod. xxx. 15. If they had a better Christ, or another mediator to ransom their souls, they might expect another happiness ; but all is brought about by the same redeemer, Jesus Christ, theirs and ours, 1 Cor. i. 2 ; by his mediation, sacrifice, and meritorious righteousness, Rom. iii. 22.
2. The same covenant, which is the common charter of the saints, Acts ii. 39. It is a covenant which offereth the same benefits and requireth the same duties. The same benefits, pardon, life. Pardon: Rom. iv. 23, 24, ' Neither was it written for his sake alone, but for us also, if we believe.' Eternal life is the common portion of all the saints : 2 Tim. iv. 8, ' Not for me only, but for all those,' &c. It requireth the same duties, for all the saints have the same rule to walk by, Gal. vi. 16. The same gospel is the power of God to salva- tion to every one that believeth, Rom. i. 16. Well, then, if all have no other charter from God to show for pardon and life, and all are bound to the same duties, all shall have the same happiness.
Note 2. Though the essential happiness of the saints be the same, yet there are degrees in glory. (1.). From scripture. (2.) The nature of that glory and blessedness which we expect. Sicut se habet simpliciter ad simpliciter, ita mag-is ad magis. If I am to love a holy man as a holy man, I am to love those most who excel in holiness. So look what relation holiness hath to heaven, so more holiness hath more relation to heaven. (3.) From the remunerative justice of God.