A27017:1362
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.
1. Consider, Nature teacheth the communicating of good: and grace doth especially dispose the soul thereto. The neglect therefore of this work is a sin against both Nature and Grace. He that should never seek after God himself, would quickly be concluded graceless by all: And is not he as certainly graceless, that doth ⟨p. 492⟩not labour the salvation of others, when we are bound to love our neighbour as our self? Would you not think that man or woman unnatural, that would let their own children or neighbours famish in the streets, while they have provision at hand? And is not he more unnatural that will let his children or neighbours perish eternally, and will not open his mouth to save them? Certainly this is most barbarous cruelty. Pity to the miserable is so natural, that we account an unmerciful cruel man, a very monster, to be abhorred of all. Many vicious men are too much loved in the world: but a cruel man is abhorred of all. Now that it may appear to you what a cruel thing this neglect of souls is, do but consider of these two things. First, How great a work it is. Secondly, And how small a matter it is that thou refusest to do for the accomplishing of so great a work. First, It is to save thy brother from eternal flames: that he may not there lye roaring in endless remediless torments. It is to bring him to the Everlasting Rest, where he may live in unconceivable happiness with God. Secondly; And what is it that you should do to help him herein? Why, it is to teach him, and persuade him▪ and lay open to him his sin, and his duty, his misery and the remedy, till you have made him willing to yield to the offers and commands of Christ. And is this so great a matter for to do, to the attaining of such a blessed End? If God had bid you give them all your estates to win them, or lay down your lives to save them, sure you would have refused; when you will not bestow a little breath to save them! Is not the soul of a Husband, or Wife, or Child, or Neighbour worth a few words? It is worth this, or it is worth nothing. If they did lye dying in the streets, and a few words would save their lives, would not every man say, that he were a cruel wretch that would let them perish, rather than speak to them? Even the covetous hypocrite, that James reproveth, would give a few words to the poor; and say, go, and be warmed, & be clothed:
1. Consider, Nature teacheth the communicating of good: and grace doth especially dispose the soul thereto. The neglect therefore of this work is a sin against both Nature and Grace. He that should never seek after God himself, would quickly be concluded graceless by all: And is not he as certainly graceless, that doth