A27017:1029
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 7 › Section 1
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.
4. I wonder how thou canst without terror approach God in prayer, or any duty. When thou callest him thy Father, thou knowest not whether thou speak true or false: When thou needest him in thy sickness, or other extremity, thou knowest not whether thou hast a friend to go to, or an enemy. When thou receivest the Sacrament, thou knowest not whether thou take thy blessing or ⟨p. 384⟩thy bane. And who would wilfully live such a life as this?
5. What comfort canst thou find in any thing which thou possessest? Methinks friends, and honours, and house, and lands, should do thee little good, till thou know that thou hast the love of God with all; and shalt have Rest with him when thou leavest these. Offer to a prisoner before he know his sentence either music, or clothes, or lands, or preferment, and what cares he for any of these? till he know how he shall scape for his life, and then he will look after these comforts of life, and not before; for he knows if he must dye the next day, it will be small comfort to dye rich or honourable. Methinks it should be so with thee, till thou know thine eternal state: Dost not thou as Ezek. 12.18. Eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy drink with trembling and carefulness, and say, Alas, though I have these to refresh my body now, yet I know not what I shall have hereafter! Even when thou liest down to take thy rest, methinks the uncertainty of thy Salvation should keep thee waking, or amaze thee in thy dreams, and trouble thy sleep; and thou shouldst say as Job in a smaller distress then thine, Job 7.13, 14. When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; then thou scarest me through dreams, and terrifiest me through visions.
5. What comfort canst thou find in any thing which thou possessest? Methinks friends, and honors, and house, and lands, should do thee little good, till thou know that thou hast the love of God with all; and shalt have Rest with him when thou leavest these. Offer to a prisoner before he know his sentence either musick, or clothes, or lands, or preferment, and what cares he for any of these? till he know how he shall scape for his life, and then he will look after these comforts of life, and not before; for he knows if he must dye the next day, it will be small comfort to dye rich or honorable. Methinks it should be so with thee, till thou know thine eternal state: Dost not thou as