A27017:1344
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.
If any man seeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Or what love hath he to his brothers soul? Sure if you saw your friend in Hell, you would persuade him hard to come thence, if that would serve; and why do you not now persuade him to prevent it? The Charity of our ignorant forefathers may rise up in judgment against us, and condemn us: They would give all their estates almost, for so many Masses or pardons, to deliver the souls of their friends from a feigned Purgatory: And we will not so much as importunately admonish and entreat them, to save them from the certain flames of Hell though this may be effectual to do them good, and the other will do none.
If any man seeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Or what love hath he to his brothers soul? Sure if you saw your friend in Hell, you would perswade him hard to come thence, if that would serve; and why do you not now perswade him to prevent it? The Charity of our ignorant forefathers may rise up in judgment against us, and condemn us: They would give all their estates almost, for so many Masses or pardons, to deliver the souls of their friends from a feigned Purgatory: And we will not so much as importunately admonish and intreat them, to save them from the certain flames of Hell though this may be effectuall to do them good, and the other will do none.
4. Another hinderance is, A base man pleasing disposition that is in us. We are so loath to displease men, and so desirous to keep in credit and favour with them, that it makes us most unconscionably neglect our known duty. A foolish Physician he is, and a most unfaithful friend, that will let a sick man dye for fear of troubling him. And cruel wretches are we to our friends, that will rather suffer them to go quietly to hell, then we will anger them, or hazard our reputation with them. If they did but fall in a swoon, we would rub them and pinch them, and never stick at hurting them. If they were distracted, we would bind them with chains, and we would please them▪ in nothing that tended to their hurt. And yet when they are besides themselves in point of salvation, and in heir madness posting on to damnation, we will not stop them, for fear of displeasing them. How can these men be Christians, that