A27017:13
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.
My dear Friends,
IF either I or my labours have any thing of public use or worth, it is wholly (though not only) yours. And I am convinced by Providence, That it is the Will of God it should be so. This I clearly discerned in my first coming to you, in my former abode with you, and in the time of my forced absence from you. When I was separated by the miseries of the late unhappy war, I durst not fix in any other Congregation, but lived in a military unpleasing state, lest I should forestall my return to you; for whom I took my self reserved. The offers of greater worldly accommodations, with five times the means which I receive with you, was no temptation to me once to question whether I should leave you: Your free invitation of my return, your obedience to my Doctrine, the strong affection which I have yet towards you above all people, and the general hearty return of Love, which I find from you, do all persuade me, that I was sent into this world, especially for the service of your souls. And that even when I am dead, I might ⟨image 3⟩yet be a help to your salvation; the Lord hath forced me quite besides my own resolution, to write this Treatise and leave it in your hands. It was far from my thoughts ever to have become thus public, and burdened the world with any writings of mine: Therefore have I oft resisted the requests of my reverend Brethren, and some Superiors, who might else have commanded much more at my hands. But see how God over ruleth and crosseth our resolutions.
IF either I or my labors have any thing of publike use or worth, it is wholly (though not onely) yours. And I am convinced by Providence, That it is the Will of God it should be so. This I clearly discerned in my first coming to you, in my former abode with you, and in the time of my forced absence from you. When I was separated by the miseries of the late unhappy war, I durst not fix in any other Congregation, but lived in a military unpleasing state, lest I should forestal my return to you; for whom I took my self reserved. The offers of greater worldly accommodations, with five times the means which I receive with you, was no temptation to me once to question whether I should leave you: Your free invitation of my return, your obedience to my Doctrine, the strong affection which I have yet towards you above all people, and the general hearty return of Love, which I finde from you, do all perswade me, that I was sent into this world, especially for the service of your souls. And that even when I am dead, I might