What is the rest which the sanctified soul enjoys?

What is the rest which the sanctified soul enjoys?

The Saviour says,"My peace I give unto you." "The work of righteousness [holiness] shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."

1. It is not a state in which we do not sympathize with the joys and sorrows of others.

2. It is not a state of exemption from physical or mental suffering.

3. It is not a state of exemption from the Christian warfare, or a state of inglorious ease from labor and Christian duty.

4. It is a state of settled and complete satisfaction in God, he being "all in all " to the soul. 

5. It is a state of rest from the former servitude to doubts, fears, and inbred sin.

6. It is a state of rest, in which the tumult of the heart has been hushed into calmness; and fear, and discord, and doubt have given place to quietness and assurance.

7. It is a state of deep and permanent quietude and assurance in respect to all our interests, temporal and eternal.

8. It is a state of sweet rest from all conflict between the will and the conscience. "The body of sin has been destroyed," and the soul has peace with itself inward quietude. "It will feast your souls with such peace and joy in God (says Wesley) as will blot out the remembrance of everything that we called peace or joy before."

"Now rest, my long-divided heart; Fixed on this blissful center, rest; Nor ever from thy Lord depart With him of every good possessed."