A27017:1141
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 18
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.
2. Grace is never apparent and sensible to the Soul but while it is in Action: Therefore want of Action must needs cause want of Assurance: Habits are not felt immediately, but by the freeness and facility of their Acts: Of the very Being of the Soul it self, nothing is felt or perceived (if any more Be) but only its Acts. The fire that lieth still in the flint is neither seen nor felt; but when you smite it, and force it into Act, it is easily discerned. The greatest Action doth force the greatest Observation; whereas the dead or unactive are not remembered or taken notice of. Those that have long lain still in their graves are out of mens thoughts as well as their sight; but those that walk their streets, and bear Rule among them, are noted by all. It is so with our Graces. That you have a ⟨p. 413⟩Habit of Love or Faith, you can no otherwise know but as a consequence by reasoning: but that you may have the Acts you may know by Feeling. If you see a man lie still in the way; what will you do to know whether he be drunk, or in a swoon, or dead? Will you not stir him or speak to him, to see whether he can go? Or feel his pulse, or observe his breath? Knowing that where there is life their is some kind of motion? I earnestly beseech thee, Christian, observe and practise this excellent Rule: Thou now knowest not whether thou have Repentance, or Faith, or Love, or joy: Why be more in the Acting of these, and thou wilt easily know it:1 Draw forth an Object for Godly sorrow, or Faith, or Love, or Joy; and lay thy heart flat unto it, and take pains to provoke it into suitable action; and then see whether thou have these Graces or no. As Doctor Sibbs observeth, There is sometimes Grief for sin in us when we think there is none:2 it wants but stir•ing up by some quickening word: The like he saith of Love; and may be said of every other Grace. You may go seeking for the Hare or Partridge many hours, and never find them while they lie close and stir not, but when once the Hare betakes him self to his legs, and the bird to her wings, then you see them presently. So long as a Christian hath his Graces in lively Action, so long, for the most part, he is assured of them. How can you doubt whether you love God in the Act of Loving? Or whether you believe in the very Act of Believing? If therefore you would be assured whether this Sacred Fire be kindled in your hearts, blow it up;