A27017:1171
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 8 › Section 5
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. V.
14. Consider how small the labour of this duty is in comparison of the sorrow which followeth its neglect. A few hours or days work, if it be closely followed and with good direction, may do much to resolve the Question. There is no such trouble in searching our hearts, nor any such danger as may deter men from it▪ what harm can it do to you to Try or to know? It will take up no very long time: Or if it did, yet you have your time given you for that end. One hour so spent will comfort you more then many otherwise. If you cannot have while to make sure of heaven, how can you have while to eat, or drink, or live? You can endure to follow your callings at Plough, and Cart, and Shop, to toil and sweat from day to day, and year to year in the hardest labours: And cannot you endure to spend a little time in inquiring what shall be your everlasting state? What a deal of sorrow and after-complaining might this small labour prevent? How many miles travel besides the vexation may a Traveller save by inquiring of the way? Why what a sad case are you in, while you live in such uncertainty? You can have no true comfort in any thing you see, or hear, or possess. You are not sure to be an hour out of Hell. And if you come thither you will do nothing but bewail the folly of this neglect. No excuse will then pervert Justice, or quiet your Conscience. If you say, I little thought of this day and place; God and Conscience may reply, why didst thou not think of it? Wast thou not warned? Hadst thou not time? Therefore must thou perish because thou wouldest not think of it. As the Commander answered his Soldier in Plutarch, when he said, non volens erravi, I erred against my will; he beat him and replied, non volens poenas dato, Thou shalt be punished also against thy will.