The Saints' Everlasting Rest - Richard Baxter

Compare, also, the delights above with the delights of morality and of
the natural affections. What delight had many sober heathen in the rules and
practice of moral duty, so that they took him alone for an honest man who
did well through the love of virtue, and not merely for fear of punishment;
yea, so much valued was this moral virtue, that they thought a man's chief
happiness consisted in it! Think, then, "What excellency will there be in our
heavenly perfection, and in that uncreated perfection of God which we shall
behold! what sweetness is there in the exercise of natural love, whether to
children, parents, yoke-fellows, or intimate friends! Does David say of
Jonathan, ‘Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women!' Did
the ‘soul of Jonathan cleave to David?' Had Christ himself one ‘disciple
whom he especially loved, and who was wont to lean on his breast?' If, then,
the delights of close and cordial friendship be so great, what delight shall we
have in the friendship of the Most High, and in the dearest love of the saints!
Surely this will be a stricter friendship than these, more lovely and desirable
friends than ever the sun beheld; and both our affections to our Father and
Savior, and especially theirs to us, will be such as we never knew here. If one
angel could destroy a host, the affections of spirits must also be
proportionably stronger, so that we shall then love a thousand times more
ardently than we can now. As all the attributes and works of God are
incomprehensible, so is this of love: he will love us infinitely beyond our
most perfect love to Him. What, then, will there be in this mutual love!"
Compare also the excellencies of heaven with those glorious works of
creation which our eyes now behold. What wisdom, power and goodness are
manifested therein! How does the majesty of the Creator shine in this fabric
of the world! "His works are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure
therein." What divine skill in forming the bodies of men or beasts! What
excellency in every plant! What beauty in flowers! What variety and
usefulness in herbs, plants, fruits and minerals! What wonders are contained
in the earth and its inhabitants; the ocean of waters, with its motions and
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