A27017:1256
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 10 › Section 6
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.
What are we beholden to this flesh for, that we are so loath that any thing should ail it? Indeed we must not wrong it our selves; for that is forbidden us: Nor may we deny it any thing that is fit for a Servant; that so it may be useful to us, while we are forced to make use of it. But if God chastise ⟨p. 447⟩it for rebelling against him and the Spirit, and it begin to cry and complain under this chastisement, shall we make the suffering greater then it is, and take its part against God? Indeed the Flesh is very near to us; we cannot choose but condole its sufferings, and feel somewhat of that which it feeleth. But is it so near as to be our chiefest part? Or cannot it be sore, but we must be so sorry? or cannot it consume and pine away, but our peace and comfort must consume with it? What if it be undone? are we therefore undone? or if it perish and be destroyed, do We therefore perish? Oh fie upon this carnality and unbelief, which is so contradictory to the principles of Christianity! Surely God dealeth the worse with this Flesh, because we so over-value and Idolize it. We make it the greatest part of our care and labour to provide for it, and to satisfy its desires; and we would have God to be of our mind▪ and to do so too. But as he hath commanded us, to make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the desires or lusts thereof, (Rom. 13.14) So will he follow the same rule himself in his dealings with us; and will not much stick at the displeasing of the flesh, when it may honour himself, or profit our Souls. The flesh is aware of this; and perceives that the Word and Works of God are much against its desires and delights;1 and therefore is it also against the Word and Works of God: It saith of the Word (as Ahab of Micaiah,) I hate it, for it doth not speak good concerning me, but evil. There is such an Enmity betwixt this flesh and God, That they that are in the flesh cannot please him: and the carnal mind is Enmity against him; for it is not subject to his Law, nor indeed can be: So inconsistent is the pleasing of the flesh, and the pleasing of GOD; That he hath concluded, That to mind the things of the flesh, or to be carnally minded, is Death; and if we live after the flesh, we shall dye; but if by the Spirit we mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live,