1. 6634H. 257P. 2. 673H. 132P. 3. 675H. 191P. 80807 There remaineth therefore a Rest for the people of  God. Heb. 4:9. In this Chapter we have a brief but conclusive argument  for the doctrine of a future Retribution, in  another world. There was this reason for Pauls  making an argm. on this subject at that time. The people to whom he was writing and  whom he calls Hebrews, were divided mainly into two religious Sects or Denominations, The Pharisees and the Saddueces. These latter religionists openly professed their disbelief in the doctrine of a future. State, and were the Professional Skeptics of that age. Now as Paul earnestly desired the conversion  of his own countrymen, and sought to convince them of the identity of the New, or Christian Dispensation with the Mosaic,  2 he drew his reasonings and argts. [arguments] from the Old Testament  in which the Saddueces professed to believe, although they recd. [received] the writings of the Old Testament  under a false interpretation. That point of doctrine to which Paul is addressing himself is this fourth Chapter, there, is the doctrine of a Blessed futurity which is taught in the O.T. and held out to all Gods children as their gracious reward after this life of toil, and which he calls, Rest. These Sadducees (as the  materialist of our day do,) held that all the recompense that is granted, or that we have any right to expect is merely Temporal prosperity & the Jews generally were prone to lose sight of the spiritual blessings which were included in the promises made by God to the Patriarchs, and to  3 confine themselves to an interpretation of Gods covenant which held out only temporal good. The idea of both was that the promised land of Canaan was the real rest offered; that it  was no emblem of any other good thing. But Pauls argument is this: that if Joshua who led them into Canaan had given them the final rest, and no other was ever to succeed that, then no allusion would ever after have been made in the Old Testament to another rest. But he proceeds to show that in a subsequent  part of the Old Test. Scriptures, reference was made by David the inspired Psalmist in the 16th verse of the ninety-fifth Psalm, to another rest, and this reference was made, and this other rest spoken of four hundred years after Joshua had settled them  4 in the Canaan which was but the emblem of the better rest that was promised. Having thus drawn his proofs from the O. T.  whose authority they all acknowledged, he closes the argument in the  words of our text; There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God. The forty years Pilgrimage of Gods anct. chosen people through the wilderness, and the entrance of but two into Canaan of the enter 3,000,000 who left Egypt was a  striking emblem of the state &  condition of Gods  chosen people in these latter days. They are now on their pilgrim march through this earthly wilderness of human life, and have not as yet entered into their rest. But it remains stored up for them above, and while it may still be true that many shall seek to enter in but  5 shall not be able it will be a failure for the same reason that excluded the Israelites of old, viz. unbelief; And it is still true that all who like Caleb and Josha, believe in the word, &  promise of God, shall share in that rest. What then is that rest here spoken of? It is well for us to entertain suitable views of this rest so as to ascertain our own fitness for it. 1. I remark then that there is to every child of God a double experience of this rest; as he realizes it in time and in Eternity; on  earth and in Heaven. There are some elements which are identical in this rest in both periods and in both states of Being. There is  a present enjoyment of this rest, and this is  a foretaste of that which is to be enjoyed in  6 the endless future; there is a rest into which Gods people enter here on this earth, and although greatly interrupted and much curtailed  by the surroundings of sin & sorrow, still it derives its origin from the same Divine source which produces the Rest of Heaven. The Apostle in this Chapter says We who believe do enter into rest. John the Baptist said to the multitude He that believes  on the Son hath everlasting Life. So that the one identical element common to the spiritual Rest of earth and of Heaven, of Time and of Eternity, is that which can only be found in God, Himself in His Love and favor through Jesus Christ in His favor which in Life, and in His loving kindness which is  7 better than life. If therefore any one supposes that the Rest that remaineth for the people of God, is something that is to burst upon their enraptured vision, and to develope [develop] itself in a sudden burst of joy never before dreamed of; something in reserve for any one who wishes it, but who lives in this world without any experience of its inspiring influence, or its blessed & peaceful manifestations, it is much to be feared that in most, if not in all such cases, there is fatal delusion. It is certain that until [the man] the soul has been drawn by the Spirit to repose the heavy burden of its guilt upon the only Savior Jesus Xr., and thus through Xr. to behold God as its reconciled Father, and  8 to feel that its choice is irrevocably made of God as the supreme object of its affections, that God is its exceeding joy, it cannot know anything whatever of the soul rest which is in reserve for every child of God. When this process of Heavenly influence  has been experienced; when these  powerful and radical operations have  been wrought in the soul, then there is infused through all the departments of his being the sweet tranquillity [tranquility] that arises from a sense of Pardon, Peace, and reconciliation with God; then he knows of the existence within him, of that peace that passeth understanding. This then is the beginning of an endless Rest; the earnest of that inheritance that is incorruptible,   9 incorruptible, undefiled, and that cannot fade away; a foretaste of that rest that remaineth  for the people of God in Heaven. 2. Yet though the same in kind, derived from the same source, it is greatly inferior in degree. It is far from perfection;  far from being complete. Mercifully  granted to His children to cheer them, to strengthen them, to sustain them, in the toilsome march through this world, it is still only a faint shadow of that rest of immortality above. For though eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of many, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him, yet  10 these things are modified greatly b what is  seen [and] felt from the unavoidable mingling with a sinful world around him; in the sweetest draught of his heavenly joy there are drops of bitterness mixed; the brightest sky of his heavenly prospects is often over cash; the most profound peace he ever enjoys in subject to be disturbed; the most exqui- site joy that ever thrills his soul, is in- complete. May are the interrupting causes of Christian joy [and] rest in this world; is much of this disturbance arises from ourselves; we are not well balanced, easily disturbed;  not fully on our guard; often slumbering  [and] at ease in Zion. there are also many causes of interruption to our peace in the  11 world around us; we are passing through an enemys country; the atmosphere is unfriendly to spiritual peace; the inhabitants of this land through which we are traveling on to our home above are hostile & [and] uncongenial;  and while there is sweetness; and peace; and many friends with us; and brightness beaming down upon our gloom from the throne of our Father; and sweet sympathy & [and] tender Christian love shown us; yet amidst all these mingled joys & [and] sorrows, these rests & [and] toils, we can feel enough of the imperfectness of our state to teach us that this is not our abiding city; that  we are strangers and pilgrims, seeking a better city even an heavenly; whose builder and maker is God.  12 3. But now in the midst of the deepest  depression of the Christians soul, when he finds his sweetest experience of the rest of Gods  people so much marred by opposing disturbances  comes the voice of the Spirit, the Comforter, in the words, there remaineth a rest for the people of God which is complete, uninterrupted and  endless. Let us look into its nature, and we find that it is to be understood as something negative as well as something positive rest from something, rest in Something. So that we may  best gather its significance by considering those matters now marring it from which we shall then be forever free. 1. I remark then that the rest that remaineth is entire absence [and] freedom from all toil & labor such as is necessary here below.   13 Labor is [nothing] far from being wrong or disreputable; it is noble & honorable. But many a child of God is worn & wearied by toils for which they have no strength, and hard and thankless, and ill requited labor has sunk many poor & feeble into the grave. 2. This rest is freedom from care & perplexity. There will be no cause for it; no painful & harassing anxiety about what shd be our course [in life] to meet the responsibilities of life. 3.There will be none of the diseases & infirmities that sap the vitality of our perishing bodies here, the inhabitants of that blest land of immortal rest, shall no more say I am sick. 4. No fears, no doubts, no sorrows, no bereavements, shall be found there. 5. The rest that remaineth & is freedom from all  14 those temptations, those fiery darts of the wicked. One which so often & so fiercely assault us here. 6. We rest there from the convictions of an awakened Conscience; which so often sting us here; from the dread forebodings of our guilt which arise in us here. 7. There we shall be no more conscious of rebellious  thoughts of God; all insatiate passions and clamorous desires for unlawful gratifications  will be excluded. 8.There will be no heart burnings, & jealousies; no misunderstandings and coldness of friendships, none of those alienations which here so often separate Chief friends. 9.There too we shall be forever free from all apprehension of Death. Many true children  15 of God are all their lifetime subject unto bondage  through the fear of death. But in that land of immortal Rest, Death shall never  cast his gloomy shadow over the bright plains of Glory. [But positively it may be defined to consist] In brief: there will be this perfect Rest in Heaven from everything that is evil or troublesome, or disastrous, just because there will be an everlasting and complete rest from Sin, which is the cause of all that mars the Christians Rest even in this world. But it is something more than this mere freedom  from evil; it is a positive enjoyment of all that is good and blissful. (1) To see God; 2 to repose over souls in Him; 3 to be for  16 ever present with Him; 4 no intervening cloud to hide from us the Sight of Gods countenance as He smiles upon us; 5 no glass through which to  look darkly, but face to face, knowing as we are known; 6 filled with the fulness of Gods knowledge, Righteousness and true Holiness; 7 to find our society to be the elite of the whole world. Prophets & apostles, and saints of all ages; 8 and this rest, is not indolent repose, but the most active engagement of all our powers & faculties in doing Gods Will; Singing the new song of Moses & the Lamb the Law the Gospel, 9. and then what intensifies this glorious Rest is that it is endless. From those heavenly mansions, the child of God shall go no more out forever!  17(a) + But how shall we test the question as to our selves? How decide that we shall be of the class for whom this Rest remaineth? It is by attending to the question what constitutes this rest or Bliss in our present conception?  Every one possessed some tasks and feelings to which he conceives that Heaven will correspond.  Do you anticipate a Heaven, because it is a place of Repose? Do you love to dwell upon the idea because of the simple hope that you shall there meet the dear Departed whom you once loved here, and for whose society you have still been yearning through all the long years of darkened sorrow? Or do you prize Heaven because you conceive it to be a place where you shall with perfected powers and  17(a) and a cloudless medium understand all things connected  with the [mysteries] secrets of Nature, the [secrets] mysteries of Providence, and the blessed but still unfolded  treasures of Gods plan of Grace? If these be your thoughts and anticipations you need to  be told that you have none of that desire that  proves a title to possession. We do not ignore  these elements, but we hold them to be entirely subordinate  to the grand, essential [material substantial] substance of that bliss which constitutes Heaven. Let us ask ourselves whether we desire Heaven because God is there, because Christ is there in  short whether it would be the Heaven of our desires, if God & Xr. were the only objects there to be enjoyed. We should remember that John tells us that the Lord God Almighty & the Lamb are the Temple of it that the Glory of God did lighten it & the Lamb is  17 4. It remains to inquire for whom is this rest provided? We answer it is provided for all the true people of God; for all who love our Lord Jesus Xr. Here introduce 17(a) X the Light thereof. If these be our anticipations then it matters not how lowly, however obscure or unknown. Gods people are often hidden. It matters not how lofty, how great, how eminent. This rest is for [all] men of every class  and condition. There is not among Earths loftiest one who is worthy in himself considered of the least share in this glory; there is not among Earths lowliest one who is, in himself considered, beneath the possibility of being admitted to this Blissful rest. But it is not station, or power or wealth, that can entitle one to this rest. Nor is it merely poverty, sickness or misery that   18 can move the Divine Sympathies to admit us to this Rest. But it is a gift purchased by the blood  of Xr. Free, unmerited, and bestowed by God. It is a rest in one of those mansions prepared  by the Son of God of which He told his disciples there were many in his Fathers house, tc. It is a rest promised to every child of God. We who believe do not only enter into, but we abide in, this rest forever & ever. The seal of Gods promise & His oath is upon the Covenant of Peace made with us, & the sanction is the precious blood of Jesus Christ shed for the sins of all Gods people to the end of time,  19 and through the roll of Eternitys years! Application. 1. This subject has a very bright side for the dear people of God. To derive the benefit it holds forth, it must be dwelt upon more. The anct. [ancient] racer in Olympic games, might sometimes grow weary, and almost despair of victory; but as he would falter the crown, that was to reward his toil, was hung out before his view, and the very sight of it stirred his waning ambition and infused tenfold vigor into his frame, and he rushed forward & seized the prize. Let us then turn our languid eye upon the great prize of Heavenly Rest, the crown of Glory that fadeth not away. It will  20 cheer and comfort us, and send us on our way rejoicing in our prospects, and stimulate us to redouble our efforts to win the prize. It has also a dark side for any who love not the Lord J Xr. For in this chapter we learn that there were some of whom God says they could not enter in because of unbelief and in 95 Ps. & n verse, He declares, that unto them He swore they should never enter into His Rest. Dreadful fate; when you shall see one and another & another of yr frds entering in and you yourselves thrust out, when you shall see the door shut and when you knock for admittance to be told Depart from me all ye workers of indignity I never knew you!