A27017:1100
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 9
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.
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.