A27017:1363
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.
What a barbarous unmerciful wretch then art thou, that wilt not vouchsafe a few words of serious sober admonition, to save the soul of thy neighbour or friend? Cruelty and unmercifulness to mens bodies is a most damnable sin: but to their souls much more, as the soul is of greater worth then the body; and as eternity is of greater moment then this short time. Alas, you do not see or feel what case their souls are in, when they are in Hell, for want of your faithful admonition! Little know you what many ⟨p. 493⟩a soul may now be feeling, who have been your neighbours and acquaintance, and dyed in their sins; on whom you never bestowed one hours sober advice for the preventing of their unhappiness. If you did know their misery, you would now do more to bring them out of hell: but alas it is too late, you should have done it while they were with you,1 it is now too late. As one said in reproach of Physicians; that they were the most happy men because all their good deeds and cures were seen above ground to their praise, but all their mistakes and neglects were buried out of sight: so I may say to you, many a neglect of yours to the souls about you may be now buried with those souls in Hell, out of your sight and hearing, and therefore now it doth not much trouble you: but alas they feel it though you feel it not. May not many a Papist rise up in judgment against us and condemn us? They will give their lands and estates to have so many Masses said for the souls of their deceased friends (when it is too late) to bring them out of a feigned Purgatory: And we will not ply them with persuasions while we may, to save them from real threatened condemnation: Though this cheaper means may prove effectual, when that dearer way of Papists will do no good: Jeremiah cried out, My bowels, My bowels, I cannot hold my peace, because of a temporal destruction of his people: And do not our bowels yearn? and can we hold our peace at mens eternal destruction?
What a barbarous unmerciful wretch then art thou, that wilt not vouchsafe a few words of serious sober admonition, to save the soul of thy neighbor or friend? Cruelty and unmercifulness to mens bodies is a most damnable sin: but to their souls much more, as the soul is of greater worth then the body; and as eternity is of greater moment then this short time. Alas, you do not see or feel what case their souls are in, when they are in Hell, for want of your faithful admonition! Little know you what many