“The corpse is affected no more With trouble, or shaken with pain, The war in the members is o’er, And never shall vex him again. The languishing _head_ is at rest; Its _thinking_ and _aching_ are o’er: The quiet immovable _breast_ Is heav’d by affliction no more. The _heart_ is no longer the seat Of trouble and torturing pain: It ceases to flutter and beat; It never shall flutter again.” But what tongue can describe, or heart conceive, the nature of that peace, which the disembodied spirit enters upon! The instant the thread of life is cut, and the soul is disengaged from the cumbrous clod of earth in which it was imprisoned, it flies to regions above, and towers away on the wings of cherubim, to that celestial city, whither it had often fled before on the wings of _faith_, and _hope_, and strong _desire_. A convoy of angels attended till the happy spirit was released from its prison; after which the heavenly escort conducts it to the promised rest. The gates of the New Jerusalem are thrown open wide to admit the blessed stranger; whom Immanuel waits to introduce to his kingdom, and clasp to his heart. Then the righteous _enters_, amidst the congratulatory salutations of kindred spirits:—_enters_! through the infinite merit of the blood of atonement:—_enters_! like the weary traveller arriving joyful, though fatigued, at his journey’s end:—_enters_! like an exile, returning from a long captivity, to his native home:—_enters_! triumphant, as a victor loaded with spoils, and crowned with conquest, after a severe campaign:—_enters_! like some richly-laden vessel, with all its sails crowded to the wind; escaping the horrors of the deep, and making for the destined haven, where it would be.—Thus the righteous enters, while, we may suppose every golden harp is new-strung, to shout him welcome to the celestial city; and every voice is exerted in singing, “Open ye the gates, that the righteous which keepeth the truth may enter in.” Isa. xxvi. 2. He enters into _peace_. This blessing was in a degree the privilege of the believer upon earth, when, “being justified by faith,” and “having access into this grace wherein we stand,” Rom. v. 1, 2, he entered into peace passing all understanding. But, as that peace was constantly assaulted, and frequently interrupted upon earth, it is necessary that he be for ever delivered from such interruption and all the causes of it. Such “a rest remaineth for the people of God:” where Satan shall never be able to annoy, the world cannot obtrude its temptations; and sin shall no more extort that groan, “Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death!” Rom. vii. 24. “Where the righteous shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more: for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and lead them to fountains of living waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes!” Rev. vii. 16, 17.