§ 3. There are some things necessarily presupposed in the nature of this rest; as, for instance,—that mortal men are the persons seeking it. For angels and glorified spirits have it already, and the devils and damned are past hope.—That they choose God only for their end and happiness. He that takes any thing else for his happiness, is out of the way the first step.—That they are distant from this end. This is the woeful case of all mankind since the fall. When Christ comes with regenerating grace, he finds no man sitting still, but all posting to eternal ruin, and making haste towards hell; till, by conviction, he first brings them to a stand, and then by conversion, turns their hearts and lives sincerely to himself.—This end, and its excellency, is supposed to be known, and seriously intended. An unknown good moves not to desire or endeavor. And not only a distance from this rest, but the true knowledge of this distance, is also supposed. They that never yet knew they were without God, and in the way to hell, did never yet know the way to heaven. Can a man find he hath lost his God, and his soul, and not cry out, _I am undone_? The reason why so few obtain this rest, is, they will not be convinced, that they are, in point of title, distant from it; and, in point of practice, contrary to it. Who ever sought for that, which he knew not he had lost? _They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick._[2]—The influence of a superior moving cause is also supposed; else we shall all stand still, and not move toward our rest. If God move us not, we cannot move. It is a most necessary part of our Christian wisdom, to keep our subordination to God and dependence on him. _We are not sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God._[3] _Without me_, says Christ, _ye can do nothing_.[4]—It is next supposed, that they who seek this rest, have an inward principle of spiritual life. God does not move men like stones, but he endows them with life, not to enable them to move without him, but in subordination to himself the first mover. And farther, this rest supposes such an actual tendency of soul towards it, as is regular and constant, earnest and laborious. He that hides his talent shall receive the wages of a slothful servant. Christ is the door, the only way to this rest. But _strait is the gate, and narrow is the way_;[5] and we must _strive_, if we will _enter, for many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able_;[6] which implies that _the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence_.[7] Nor will it bring us to the end of the saints, if we _begin in the spirit, and end in the flesh_.[8] _He_ only _that endureth to the end shall be saved_.[9] And never did a soul obtain rest with God, whose desire was not set upon him above all things else in the world. _Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also._[10] The remainder of our old nature will much weaken and