A27017:1016
The Saints' Everlasting Rest
The saints everlasting rest, or, A treatise of the blessed state of the saints in their enjoyment of God in glory wherein is showed its excellency and certainty, the misery of those that lose it, the way to attain it, and assurance of it, and how to live in the continual delightful forecasts of it and now published by Richard Baxter ...The saints everlasting rest, or, A treatise of the blessed state of the saints in their enjoyment of God in glory wherein is shewed its excellency and certainty, the misery of those that lose it, the way to attain it, and assurance of it, and how to live in the continual delightful forecasts of it and now published by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed by Rob. White for Thomas Underhil and Francis Tyton, 1650
THE SAINTS Everlasting REST. PART. III. › Chapter 6 › Section 27
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
SECT. XXVII.
I Have been larger upon this Use then at first I intended;1 Partly because of the general neglect of Heaven that all sorts are guilty of; Partly because mens Salvation depends upon their present Striving and Seeking; Partly because the Doctrine of Free Grace mis-understood, is lately so abused to the cherishing of sloth and security: Partly because many eminent men of late do Judg, That To work or labour for Life and Salvation is Mercenary, Legal, and Dangerous; Which Doctrine (as I have said before) were it by the owners reduced into practice, would undoubtedly damn them; because they that seek not shall not find, and they that strive not to enter shall be shut out; and they that labour not shall not be crowned: And partly because it is grown the custom of this distracted age, in stead of striving for the Kingdom and contending for the Faith, to strive with each other about *uncertain Controversies, and to contend about the circumstantials of the Faith;3 wherein the Kingdom of God doth no more consist then in meats or drinks, or Questions about the Law▪ or Genealogies. Si•s, shall we who are Brethren fall out by the way home? and spend so much of our time about the smaller matters, which thousands have been saved without, but never any on• saved by them? while Christ and our Eternal Rest are almost forgotten? The Lord pardon and heal the folly of his People!