A27017:133
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.
SECT. III.
13. This Rest containeth, the Highest Degree of the Saints personal perfection; both of Soul and Body. This necessarily qualifies them to enjoy the Glory, and throughly to partake the sweetness of it. Were the Glory never so great, and themselves not made capable by a personal perfection suitable thereto, it would be little to them. There's necessary a right disposition of the Recipient, to a right enjoying, and affecting: This is one thing that makes the Saints Joys there so great; Here, Eye hath not seen, nor Ear heard, nor Heart conceived what God hath laid up for them that wait for him: For the Eye of flesh is not capable of seeing it, nor this Ear of hearing it, nor this Heart of understanding it; But there the Eye, and Ear, and Heart are made capable; else how do they enjoy it? The more perfect the sight is, the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the Appetite, the sweeter the Food. The more musical the Ear, the more pleasant the Melody. The more perfect the Soul, the more Joyous those Joys, and the more Glorious to us is that Glory. Nor is it only ⟨p. 23⟩our sinful imperfection, that is here to be removed; nor only that which is the fruit of sin; but that which adhered to us in our pure naturals.2 Adams dressing the Garden, was neither sin nor the fruit of sin: Nor is either to be less Glorious then the Stars, or the Sun •n the Firmament of our Father: Yet is this the dignity to which the Righteous shall be advanced. There is far more procured by Christ, then was lost by Adam. It's the misery of wicked men here, that all without them is mercy, excellent mercies; but within them a heart full of sin shuts the door against all and makes them but the more miserable. When all's well within, then all's well indeed. The near Good, is the best; and the near evil and enemy, the worst. Therefore will God, as a special part of his Saints Happiness, perfect themselves, as well as their condition.