Heavenly contemplation exemplified, and the whole Work concluded.
§ 1. The reader's attention excited to the following example of meditation. § 2. "The excellencies of heavenly rest. § 3. Its nearness, § 4. Dreadful to sinners § 5. And joyful to saints; § 6. Its dear purchase; § 7. Its difference from earth. § 8. The heart pleaded with. § 9. Unbelief banished. § 10. A careless world pitied. § 11-13. Heavenly rest the object of love, § 14-21. And joy. § 22. The heart's backwardness to heavenly joy lamented. § 23-27. Heavenly rest the object of desire." § 28. Such meditations as this urged upon the reader: § 29. The mischief of neglecting it: § 30. The happiness of pursuing it. § 31. The Author's concluding prayer for the success of his work.
§ 1. And now reader, according to the above directions, make conscience of daily exercising thy graces in meditation, as well as prayer: Retire into some secret place, at a time the most convenient to thyself, and laying aside all worldly thoughts, with all possible seriousness and reverence, look up toward heaven, remember there is thine everlasting rest, study its excellency and reality, and rise from sense to faith, by comparing heavenly with earthly joys: Then mix ejaculations with thy soliloquies; till having pleaded the case reverently with God, and seriously with thy own heart, thou hast pleaded thyself from a clod to a flame, from a forgetful sinner, and a lover of the world, to an ardent lover of God, from a fearful coward, to a resolved Christian, from an unfruitful sadness, to a joyful life: In a word, till thou hast pleaded thy heart from earth to heaven, from conversing below to walking with God; and till thou canst lay thy heart to rest, as in the bosom of Christ, by some such meditation of thy everlasting rest as is here added for thy assistance.
§ 2. "Rest! How sweet the sound! It is melody to my ears! It lies as a reviving cordial at my heart, and from thence sends forth lively spirits, which beat through all the pulses of my soul! Rest,—not as the stone that rests on the earth, nor as the flesh shall rest in the grave, nor such a rest as the carnal world desires. O blessed rest! When we _rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty_! When we shall rest from sin, but not from worship; from suffering and sorrow, but not from joy! O blessed day! When I shall rest with God! When I shall rest in the bosom of my Lord! When I shall rest in knowing, loving, rejoicing, and praising! When my perfect soul and body shall together perfectly enjoy the most perfect God! When God, _who is love_ itself, shall perfectly love me, and _rest in his love_ to me, as I shall rest in my love to him; and _rejoice over me with joy_, and _joy over me with singing_, as I shall rejoice in him!
§ 3. "How near is that most blessed, joyful day! It comes apace. _He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry._ Though _my Lord_ seems to _delay his coming_, yet _a little while_ and he will be here. What is a few hundred years, when they are over? How surely will _his sign appear_? How suddenly will he seize upon the careless world, even _as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth unto the west_? He who is gone hence _shall so come_. Methinks I hear his _trumpet sound_! Methinks I _see him coming with clouds_; with his attending angels in majesty and glory!
§ 4. "O secure sinners! What now will you do? Where will you _hide yourselves_? What shall _cover_ you? _mountains_ are gone; _the heavens and the earth, which were_, are _passed away_; the devouring fire hath consumed all, except yourselves, who must be the fuel for ever. O that all could consume as soon as the earth; and _melt_ away as did _the heavens_! Ah, these wishes are now but vain! The Lamb himself would have been your friend; he would have loved you, and ruled you, and now have saved you; but you would not _then_, and _now_ it is too late. Never cry _Lord, Lord_; too late, too late, man. Why dost thou look about? Can any save thee? Whither dost thou run? Can any hide thee? O wretch, that hast brought thyself to this!