THE GLORY OF SALVATION.
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, “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 comers that 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! I might write more effectually to the happy estate of them that come to God by Christ.—Bunyan.