Rejoice Evermore
"For
I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
-Romans
8:18 [KJV]
What
is to be compared with the salvation of the soul? What are riches,
honours, health, long life? What are all the pleasures which the
world can offer, sin promise, or the flesh enjoy? What is all that
men call good or great? What is everything which the outward eye hath
seen, or natural ear heard, or hath entered into the carnal heart of
man, put side by side with being saved in the Lord Jesus Christ with
an everlasting salvation? For consider what we are saved from, as
well as what we are saved unto.
From
a burning Hell to a blissful Heaven; from endless wrath to eternal
glory; from the dreadful company of devils and damned spirits,
mutually tormenting and tormented, to the blessed companionship of
the glorified saints, all perfectly conformed in body and soul to the
image of Christ, with thousands and tens of thousands of holy angels,
and, above all, to seeing the glorious Son of God as He
is, in all the perfection of His beauty, and all the
ravishments of His presence and love.
To
have done for ever with all the sorrows, troubles, and afflictions of
this life; all the pains and aches of the present clay tabernacle;
all the darkness, bondage, and misery of the body
of sin and death; to be perfectly holy in body and soul, being in
both without spot, or blemish, or any such thing, and ever to enjoy
uninterrupted union and communion with the Father, Son, and blessed
Spirit—O what a heaven lies before the believing saints of God as
the end of their faith in the salvation of their souls!
-Gospel
report by preacher J.C. Philpot (1802–1869 A.D.)
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