A27017:1239
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.
CHAP. X. The fourth Use. The Reason of the Saints Afflictions here.
CHAP. X. The fourth Vse. The Reason of the Saints Afflictions here.
SECT. I.
A Further necessary Use which we must make of the present Doctrine is this:1 To inform us why the People of God do suffer so much in this life. What wonder? when you see their Rest doth yet Remain: They are not yet come to their Resting place. We would all fain have continual prosperity, because it is easy and pleasing to the flesh; but we consider not the unreasonableness of such desires. We are like children, who if they see any thing which their ⟨p. 440⟩appetite desireth, do cry for it: and if you tell them that it is unwholesome, or hurtful for them, they are never the more quieted: or if you go about to heal any sore that they have, they will not endure you to hurt them, though you tell them, that they cannot otherwise be healed: their Sense is too strong for their Reason; and therefore Reason doth little persuade them. Even so is it with us when God is afflicting us. He giveth us Reasons why we must bear them; so that our Reason is oft convinced and satisfied: And yet we cry and complain still; and we rest satisfied never the more. It is not Reason, but Ease that we must have: What cares the flesh for Scripture and Argument, if it still suffer and smart? These be but wind and words, which do not remove or abate its pain. Spiritual remedies may cure the spirits maladies; but that will not content the flesh. But methinks Christians should have another palate then that of the flesh, to try and relish providences by: God hath purposely given them the Spirit, to subdue and overrule the flesh. And therefore I shall here give them some Reasons of Gods dealing in their present sufferings, whereby the equity and mercy therein may appear: And they shall be only such as are drawn from the reference that these afflictions have to our Rest; which being a Christians Happiness, and ultimate End, will direct him in judging of all estates and means.