A27017:117
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
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.
SECT. X.
10. There is supposed also,1 as motion rightly ordered, so strong and constant motion, which may reach the end. If there be not strength put to the bow, the Arrow will not reach the mark: The Lazy world, that think all too much, will find this to their cost one day. They that think less ado might have served, do but reproach Christ for making us so much to do. They that have been most holy, watchful, painful to get faith and assurance, do find when they come to dye, all too little: We see daily the best Christians when dying, Repent their Negligence; I never knew any then repent his holiness, and diligence. It would grieve a mans soul to see a multitude of mistaken sinners, lay out their wit, and care, and pains, for a thing of nought, and think to have eternal Salvation with a wish. If the way to Heaven be not far harder then the world imagines, then Christ and his Apostles knew not the way, or else have deceived us: For they have told us, That the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence; That the gate is strait, and the way narrow, and we must strive if we will enter,2 for many shall seek to enter, and not be able; (which implies the faintness of their seeking, and that they put not strength to the work, and that the righteous themselves are scarcely saved.3 If ever Soul obtain Salvation ⟨p. 17⟩in the worlds common, careless, easy way; then I'll say, there is a nearer way found out then ever God in Scripture hath revealed to the sons of men. But when they have obtained Life and Rest, in this way, let them boast of it; till then, let them give us leave (who would fain go upon sure grounds in point of eternal Salvation) to believe, that God knows the way better then they, and that his Word is a true and infallible discovery thereof.