The Saints' Everlasting Rest - Richard Baxter

Chapter 3
The excellencies of the Saints' Rest
Let us draw a little nearer, and see what further excellencies this rest
affordeth. The Lord hide us in the clefts of the rock, and cover us with the
hands of indulgent grace, while we approach to take this view.
1. It is a most singular honor of the saints' rest, to be called the
purchased possession; that is, the fruit of the blood of the Son of God; yea,
the chief fruit, the end and perfection of all the fruits and efficacy of that
blood. Greater love than this there is not, to lay down the life of the lover.
And to have this our Redeemer ever before our eyes, and the liveliest sense
and freshest remembrance of that dying, bleeding love, still upon our souls!
How will it fill our souls with perpetual joy, to think that in the streams of
this blood we have swum through the violence of the world, the snares of
Satan, the seductions of flesh, the curse of the law, the wrath of an offended
God, the accusations of a guilty conscience, and the vexing doubts and fears
of an unbelieving heart, and are arrived safely at the presence of God! Now
he cries to us, "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if
there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow!" And we scarce regard the
mournful voice,--scarce turn aside to view the wounds. But then our
perfected souls will feel, and flame in love for love. With what astonishing
apprehensions will redeemed saints everlastingly behold their blessed
Redeemer! the purchaser, and the price, together with the possession!
Neither will the view of his wounds of love renew our wounds of sorrow.
He, whose first words after his resurrection were to a great sinner, "Woman,
why weepest thou?" knows how to raise love and joy, without any cloud of
sorrow or storm of tears. If any thing we enjoy was purchased with the life of
our dearest friend, how highly should we value it! If a dying friend deliver us
but a token of his love, how carefully do we preserve it, and still remember
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