§ 10. (8.) Still more, this rest will be absolutely perfect. We shall then have joy without sorrow, and rest without weariness. There is no mixture of corruption with our graces, nor of suffering with our comfort. There are none of those waves in that harbor, which now so toss us up and down. To-day we are well, to-morrow sick; to-day in esteem, to-morrow in disgrace; to-day we have friends, to-morrow none; nay, we have wine and vinegar in the same cup. If _revelations_ raise us _to the third heaven_, _the messenger of Satan_ must presently _buffet_ us, and _the thorn in the flesh_ fetch us down.[159] But there is none of this inconstancy in heaven. If _perfect love casteth out fear_,[160] then perfect joy must needs cast out sorrow, and perfect happiness exclude all the reliques of misery. We shall there rest from all the evil of sin and of suffering. [Footnote 159] 2 Corinthians xii, 2, 7. [Footnote 160] 1 John iv, 18. § 11. Heaven excludes nothing more directly than sin; whether of nature, or of conversation. _There shall in no wise enter any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie._[161] What need Christ at all to have died, if heaven could have contained imperfect souls? _For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil._[162] His blood and spirit have not done all this, to leave us after all defiled. _What communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial?_[163] Christian, if thou be once in heaven, thou shalt sin no more. Is not this glad news to thee, who hast prayed, and watched against it so long? I know, if it were offered to thy choice, thou wouldst rather choose to be freed from sin, than have all the world. Thou shalt have thy desire.—That hard heart, those vile thoughts, which accompanied thee to every duty, shall now be left behind for ever. Thy understanding shall never more be troubled with darkness. All dark scriptures shall be made plain; all seeming contradictions reconciled. The poorest Christian is presently there a more perfect divine than any here. O that happy day, when error shall vanish for ever! When our understanding shall be filled with God himself, whose light will leave no darkness in us! His face shall be the scripture, where we shall read the truth. Many a godly man hath here, in his mistaken zeal, been a means to deceive and pervert his brethren, and when he sees his own error, cannot again tell how to undeceive them. But there we shall conspire in one truth, as being one in Him who is the truth. We shall also rest from all the sin of our will, affection, and conversation. We shall no more retain this rebelling principle, which is still drawing us from God: no more be oppressed with the power of our corruptions, nor vexed with their presence: no pride, passion, slothfulness, insensibility, shall enter with us; no strangeness to God, and the things of God; no coldness of