The Saints' Everlasting Rest - Richard Baxter

We shall then rest from all our sad divisions and unChristian quarrels
with one another. How lovingly do thousands live together in heaven, who
lived at variance upon earth! There is no contention, because none of this
pride, ignorance, or other corruption. There is no plotting to strengthen our
party, nor deep designing against our brethren. If there be sorrow or shame in
heaven, we shall then be both sorry and ashamed to remember all this
conduct on earth; as Joseph's brethren were to behold him, when they
remembered their former unkind usage. Is it not enough that all the world is
against us, but we must also be against one another? O happy days of
persecution, which drove us together in love, whom the sunshine of liberty
and prosperity crumbles into dust by our contentions! O happy day of the
saints' rest in glory, when, as there is one God, one Christ, one Spirit, so we
shall have one heart, one church, one employment for ever.
We shall then rest from our participation of our brethren's sufferings.
The church on earth is a mere hospital! Some groaning under a dark
understanding, some under an insensible heart, some anguishing under
unfruitful weakness, and some bleeding for miscarriages and wilfulness;
some crying out of their poverty, some groaning under pains and infirmities,
and some bewailing a whole catalogue of calamities. But a far greater grief it
is, to see our dearest and most intimate friends turned aside from the truth of
Christ, continuing their neglect of Christ and their souls, and nothing will
awaken them out of their security: to look on an ungodly father or mother,
brother or sister, wife or husband, child or friend, and think how certainly
they shall be in hell for ever, if they die in their present unregenerated state;
to think of the Gospel departing, the glory taken from our Israel, poor souls
left willingly dark and destitute, and blowing out the light that should guide
them to salvation! Our day of rest will free us from all this, and the days of
mourning shall be ended. Then thy people, O Lord, shall be all righteous;
they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of thy planting, the work of
thy hands; that thou mayest be glorified.
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