The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

The conversation they had with the Shining Ones was about the
splendor of that place. They told the Pilgrims that the beauty and glory
of it was inexpressible.
"There," said they, "is Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the
innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made
perfect! You are now going to the paradise of God, wherein you shall
see the tree of life, and eat of its never-fading fruits! When you arrive
there, you shall have white robes given to you, and you shall walk and
talk with the King every day — even through all the days of eternity!
"There you shall never again see such things as you saw when you were
in the lower region of earth, namely — sorrow, sickness, affliction, and
death, for the former things have passed away! You are now going to
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and to the prophets — men whom God
has taken away from the evil to come, and who are now at rest, each one
walking in his righteousness."
The Pilgrims then asked, "What will we do in the holy City?"
The Shining Ones answered, "You will there receive the comforts of all
your toil, and have joy for all your sorrow! You will reap what you have
sown — even the fruit of all your prayers, and tears, and sufferings for
the King along the way! In that place you will wear crowns of gold, and
enjoy the perpetual sight and vision of the Holy One, for there you shall
see Him as He is!
"You shall also serve Him — whom you desired to serve while in the
world, though with much difficulty because of the infirmity of your
flesh. There you shall continually worship Him with praise, and
Page
236 of 253