A27017:1343
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 11 › Section 18
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.
3. This faithful dealing with men for their Salvation, is much Hindered also by our want of Charity and Compassion to mens Souls. We are hard-hearted and cruel towards the miserable; and therefore (as the Priest and the Levite did by the wounded man) we look on them and pass by. Oh what tender heart could endure to look upon a poor, blind, forlorn sinner, wounded by sin, and captivated by Satan, and never once open our mouths for his recovery? What though he be silent, and do not desire thy help himself; yet his very misery cries aloud: Misery is the most effectually suitor to one that is compassionate. If God had not heard the cry of our Miseries before he heard the cry of our prayers, and been moved by his own pity before he was moved by our importunity, we might have long enough continued the slaves of Satan. Is it not the strongest way of arguing that a poor Lazar hath, to unlap his sores, and show them the passengers? all his words will not move them so much as such a pitiful sight. Alas, what pitiful sights do we daily see? The Ignorant, the profane, the neglecters of Christ and their Souls; their sores are open and visible to all that know them: and yet do we not pity them? You will pray to God for them in customary duties, that God would open the eyes, and turn the hearts of your ignorant carnal friends and neighbours: And why do you not endeavour their conversion if you desire it? And if you do not desire it, why do you ask it? Doth not your negligence convince you of hypocrisy in your prayers, and of abusing the high God with your deceitful words? ⟨p. 485⟩Your neighbours are near you, your friends are in the house with you, you eat and drink, and work and walk, and talk with them, and yet you say little or nothing to them. Why do you not pray them to consider and return, as well as pray God to convert and turn them? Have you as oft and as earnestly begged of them to think on their ways, and to reform, as you have taken on you to beg of God that they may do so? What if you should see your neighbour fallen into a pit, and you should presently fall down on your knees, and pray God to help him out, but would neither put forth your hand to help, nor once persuade or direct him to help himself? would not any man censure you to be cruel and hypocritical? What the Holy Ghost saith of mens bodily miseries,1 I may say much more of the misery of their souls;