A27017:1090
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 8
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.
13. BUT the greatest hinderances are in mens own hear•s.
- 1§. 8.
1. Some are so Ignorant that they know not what Self-Examination is, nor what a Minister means when he persuadeth them to Try themselves: Or they know not that there ⟨p. 399⟩is any Necessity of it; but think *every man is bound to Believe that God is his Father, and that his sins are pardoned, whether it be true or false; and that it were a great fault to make any Question of it: Or they do not think that Assurance can be attained; or that there is any such great differences betwixt one man and another; but that we are all Christians, and therefore need not to trouble our selves any further: Or at least they know not wherein the difference lies; nor how to set upon this searching of their hearts, nor to find out its secret motions, and to judge accordingly. They have as gross Conceits of that Regeneration which they must search for, as Nicodemus had, John 3.5. And when they should Try whether the Spirit be in them, they are like those in Act. 19.2. That knew not whether there were a Holy Ghost to be received or no.
1. Some are so Ignorant that they know not what Self-Examination is, nor what a Minister means when he perswadeth them to Try themselves: Or they know not that there ⟨p. 399⟩is any Necessity of it; but think *every man is bound to Believe that God is his Father, and that his sins are pardoned, whether it be true or false; and that it were a great fault to make any Question of it: Or they do not think that Assurance can be attained; or that there is any such great differences betwixt one man and another; but that we are all Christians, and therefore need not to trouble our selves any further: Or at least they know not wherein the difference lies; nor how to set upon this searching of their hearts, nor to find out its secret motions, and to judge accordingly. They have as gross Conceits of that Regeneration which they must search for, as Nicodemus had, John 3.5. And when they should Try whether the Spirit be in them, they are like those in Act. 19.2. That knoew not whether there were a Holy Ghost to be received or no.
- *Or as Mr. Saltmarsh saith, every man is bound to believe, but no man to Question whether he believe or no. p. 92, 93 And this Faith (he saith) is a being persuaded more or less of Christs love. p. 94. So that by this Doctrine every man is bound to believe that Christ loveth him, and not to question his belief, (If it were only Christs common love, he might thus believe it) but a special love to him is no where written.Or as Mr. Saltmarsh saith, every man is bound to believe, but no man to Question whether he believe or no. p. 92, 93 And this Faith (he saith) is a being perswaded more or less of Christs love. p. 94. So that by this Doctrine every man is bound to believe that Christ loveth him, and not to question his belief, (If it were only Christs common love, he might thus believe it) but a special love to him is no where written.
2. Some are such Infidels that they will not Believe that ever God will make such a difference betwixt men in the life to come, and therefore will not search themselves whether they differ here: Though Judgment and Resurrection be in their Creed, yet they are not in their Faith.
2. Some are such Infidels that they will not Believe that ever God wil make such a difference betwixt men in the life to come, and therefore will not search themselves whether they differ here: Though Judgment and Resurrection be in their Creed, yet they are not in their Faith.
3. Some are so Dead-hearted, that they perceive not how nearly it doth concern them, let us say what we can to them, they lay it not to heart, but give us the hearing, and there's an end.
3. Some are so Dead-hearted, that they perceive not how neerly it doth concern them, let us say what we can to them, they lay it not to heart, but give us the hearing, and there's an end.
4. Some are so possessed with Self-love and Pride, that they will not so much as suspect any such danger to themselves. Like a proud Tradesman who scorns the motion when his friends desire him to cast up his Books because they are afraid he will Break. As some fond Parents that have an over-weening conceit of their own Children, and therefore will not believe or hear any evil of them▪ such a fond Self-love doth hinder men from suspecting and trying their states.
5. Some are so guilty that they dare not try: They are so fearful that they shall•find their estates unsound, that they dare not search into them. And yet they dare venture them to a more dreadful Trial
5. Some are so guilty that they dare not try: They are so fearful that they shall•find their estates unsound, that they dare not search into them. And yet they dare venture them to a more dreadful Tryal
6. Some are so far in love with their sin, and so far in dislike with the way of God, that they dare not fall on the Trial of their ways, least they be forced from the course which they love, to that which they loath.
6. Some are so far in love with their sin, and so far in dislike with the way of God, that they dare not fall on the Tryal of their ways, least they be forced from the course which they love, to that which they loath.
7. Some are so Resolved already never to change their present state, that they neglect Examination as a useless thing: Before they will turn so precise and seek a new way, when they have lived so long, and gone so far, they will put their Eternal state to the venture, come of it what will. And when a man is fully resolved to hold on his way, and not to turn back be it right or wrong, to what end should he enquire whether he b• right or no?
7. Some are so Resolved already never to change their present state, that they neglect Examination as a useless thing: Before they will turn so precise and seek a new way, when they have lived so long, and gone so far, they will put their E•ernal state to the venture, come of it what will. And when a man is fully resolved to hold on his way, and not to turn back be it right or wrong, to what end should he enquire whether he b• right or no?
8. Most men are so taken up with their worldly affairs and are so busy in driving the trade of providing for the flesh, that they cannot set themselves to the Trying of their title to Heaven: They have another kind of happiness in their eye which they are pursuing, which will not suffer them to make sure of Heaven.
8. Most men are so taken up with their worldly affairs and are so busie in driving the trade of providing for the flesh, that they cannot set themselves to the Trying of their title to Heaven: They have another kind of happiness in their eye which they are pursuing, which will not suffer them to make sure of Heaven.
9. Most men are so clogged with a Laziness and Slothfulness of Spirit, that they will not be persuaded to be at the pains of an hours Examination of their own hearts. It requireth some labour and diligence to accomplish it throughly, and they will rather venture all then set about it.
9. Most men are so clogged with a Laziness and Slothfulness of Spirit, that they will not be perswaded to be at the paines of an hours Examination of their own hearts. It requireth some labour and diligence to accomplish it throughly, and they will rather venture all then set about it.
10. But the most common and dangerous impediment is that false Faith and Hope commonly called Presumption, which bears up the hearts of the most of the world, and so keeps them from suspecting their danger.
Thus you see what abundance of difficulties must be overcome before a man can closely set upon the Examining of his heart. I do but name them for brevity sake.
1SECT. IX.
- 1§. 9. Hinderances which keep many that do Examine from attaining strong Assurance, & cause many to be deceived.§. 9. Hinderances which keep many that do Examine from attaining strong Assurance, & cause many to be de•ceived.
AND if a man do break through all these impediments, and set upon the Duty, yet assurance is not presently attained: Of those few who do enquire after Marks and Means of Assurance, and bestow some pains to learn the difference between the sound Christian, and the unsound; and look often into their own hearts, yet divers are deceived and do miscarry, especially through these following causes.
AND if a man do break through all these impediments, and set upon the Duty, yet assurance is not presently attained: Of those few who do enquire after Marks and Means of Assurance, and bestow some pains to learn the difference between the sound Christian, and the unsound; and look often into their own hearts, yet divers are deceiv'd and do miscarry, especially through these following causes.
1. There is such a Confusion and darkness in the Soul of man, especially of an unregenerate man, that he can scarcely tell what he doth, or what is in him. As one can hardly find any thing in a house where nothing keeps his place, but all is cast on a heap together; so is it in the heart where all things are in disorder, • specially when darkness is added to this disorder; so that the heart is like an obscure Cave or Dungeon, where there is but a little crevice of light, and a man must rather grope then see. No wonder if men mistake in searching such a heart, and so miscarry in judging of their estates.
1. There is such a Confusion and darkness in the Soul of man, especially of an unregenerate man, that he can scarcely tell what he doth, or what is in him. As one can hardly finde any thing in a house where nothing keeps his place, but all is cast on a heap together; so is it in the heart where all things are in disorder, • specially when darkness is added to this disorder; so that the heart is like an obscure Cave or Dungeon, where there is but a little crevise of light, and a man must rather grope then see. No wonder if men mistake in searching such a heart, and so miscarry in judging of their estates.
2. And the rather because most men do accustom themselves to be strangers at home, and are little taken up with observing the temper and motions of their own hearts: All their studies are employed without them, and they are no where less acquainted then in their own breasts.
2. And the rather because most men do accustom themselves to be strangers at home, and are little taken up with observing the temper and motions of their own hearts: All their studies are imployed without them, and they are no where less acquainted then in their own brests.