A27017:1271
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 8
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.
Object. 4 Oh, but, •aith another, It is the godly that are my afflict•rs: they disclaim me, and will scarce look at me; they censure me, and backbite me, and slander me, and look upon me with a disdainful eye: If it were ungodly men, I could bear it easily: I look for no better at their hands: but when those that were my delight, and that I looked for daily comfort and refreshing from, when these shall be my grief, and as thorns in my sides, who can bear it? —
Answ. 1. Who ever is the instrument, the Affliction is from God, and the provoking cause from thy self: And were it not fitter then that thou look more to God and thy self? 2. Didst thou not know, that the best men are still sinful in part? and that their hearts are naturally deceitful, and desperately wicked, as well as others? And this being but imperfectly cured, so far as they are fleshly, the fruits of the flesh will appear in them, which are strife, hatred, 1variance, emulations, wrath, seditions, heresies, envyings, &c. So far the best is as a brier, and the most upright of them sharper then a thorny hedge: Learn therefore a better use from the Prophet, Micah 7.4, 5, 6, 7. Trust not (too much) in a friend, nor put confidence in a guide; Keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom, &c. But look rather for the Lord, and wait for the God of thy Salvation. *It is likely thou hast given that Love and Trust to Saints, which was due only ⟨p. 455⟩to God, or which thou hast denied him: and then no wonder if he chastise thee by them. Or perhaps the observation of the excellencies of Grace hath made thee forget the vileness of Nature; and therefore God will have thee take notice of both. Many are tender of giving too much to the dead Saints, that yet give too much to the living without scruple. Till thou hast learned to suffer from a Saint, as well as from the Wicked and to be abused by the Godly, as well as the Ungodly, never look to live a contented or comfortable life, nor never think thou hast truly learned the Art of Suffering. Do not think that I vilify the Saints too much in so saying. I confess it is pity that Saints must suffer from Saints; And it is quite contrary to their holy Nature, and their Masters Laws;