A27017:1051
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 4
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.
So that by this which is said you may Answer the Question, What Certainty is to be attained in this Life? and what Certainty it is that we press men to labour for and expect?
Furthermore, you must be sure to distinguish betwixt Assurance it self, and the Joy, and Strength, and other sweet Effects which follow Assurance, or which immediately accompany it.
It is possible that there may be Assurance, and yet no comfort, or little. There are many unskilful, but self-conceited Disputers of late, fitter to manage a club, then an Argument, who tell us, That it must be the Spirit that must Assure us of our Salvation, and not our Marks and Evidences of Grace; That our comfort must not be taken from any thing in our selves; That our *Justification must be immediately believed, and not proved by our Signs, or Sanctification, &c. Of these in order. 1. It is as wise a Question to ask, Whether our Assurance come from the Spirit, or our Evidences, or our Faith, &c? as to ask whether it be our meat, or our stomach, or our teeth, or our hands, that feed us? Or whether it be our Eye-sight, or the Sun-light by which we see things? They are distinct Causes, all necessary to the producing of the same Effect.
It is possible that there may be Assurance, and yet no comfort, or little. There are many unskilful, but self-conceited Disputers of late, fitter to manage a club, then an Argument, who tell us, That it must be the Spirit that must Assure us of our Salvation, and not our Marks and Evidences of Grace; That our comfort must not be taken from any thing in our selves; That our *Justification must be immediately believed, and not proved by our Signs, or Sanctification, &c. Of these in order. 1. It is as wise a Question to ask, Whether our Assurance come from the Spirit, or our Evidences, or our Faith, &c? as to ask whether it be our meat, or our stomack, or our teeth, or our hands, that feed us? Or whether it be our Eye-sight, or the Sun-light by which we see things? They are distinct Causes, all necessary to the producing of the same Effect.