What a surprise will it be to them that now have come to God by
Christ, to see themselves in heaven indeed, saved indeed, and
possessed of everlasting life indeed. For alas, what is faith to
possession?--faith that is mixed with many tears, that is opposed
with many assaults, and that seems sometimes to be quite
extinguished--I say, what is that to a seeing myself in heaven?
Hence it is said that "he shall then come to be admired in them that
now believe;" then they shall admire that it was their lot to
believe when they were in the world. They shall also admire to
think, to see, and behold what believing has brought them to; while
the rest, for refusing to come to God by Christ, drink their tears
mixed with burning brimstone.
What a joy will it be to the truly godly to think now that they are
come to God by Christ. It was their mercy to begin to come; it was
their happiness that they continued coming; but it is their glory
that they are come, that they are come to God by Christ.
To God! why, he is all in all; all that is good, essentially good,
and eternally good. To God, the infinite ocean of good. Oh that I
could imagine, Oh that I could think, that I might write more
effectually to thee of the happy estate of them that come to God by
Christ.