A27017:1374
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.
9. Consider, how many souls have we drawn into the way of damnation, or at least hardened, or settled in it? And should we not now be more diligent to draw men to life? There is not one of us, but have had our companions in sin, especially in the days of our Ignorance and unregeneracy. We have enticed them, or encouraged them to Sabbath-breaking, drinking, or revellings, ⟨p. 497⟩or dancings, and stage plays, or wantonness, and vanities, if not to scorn and oppose the godly: We cannot so easily bring them from sin again, as we did draw them to it: Many are dead already without any change discovered, who were our companions in sin: we know not how many are and will be in hell that we drew thither, and there may curse us in their torments for ever. And doth it not beseem us then to do as much to save men, as we have done to destroy them? and be merciful to some, as we have been cruel to others?
9. Consider, how many souls have we drawn into the way of damnation, or at least hardened, or setled in it? And should we not now be more diligent to draw men to life? There is not one of us, but have had our companions in sin, especially in the dayes of our Ignorance and unregeneracy. We have enticed them, or encouraged them to Sabbath-breaking, drinking, or revellings, ⟨p. 497⟩or dancings, and stageplayes, or wantonness, and vanities, if not to scorn and oppose the godly: We cannot so easily bring them from sin again, as we did draw them to it: Many are dead already without any change discovered, who were our companions in sin: we know not how many are and will be in hell that we drew thither, and there may curse us in their torments for ever. And doth it not beseem us then to do as much to save men, as we have done to destroy them? and be merciful to some, as we have been cruel to others?
10. Consider, how diligent are all the enemies of these poor souls to draw them to Hell? And if no body be diligent in helping them to Heaven, what is like to become of them? The Devil is tempting them day and night: Their inward lusts are still working and withdrawing them: The flesh is still pleading for its delights and profits; Their old companions are ready to entice them to sin, and to disgrace Gods ways and people to them, and to contradict the doctrine of Christ that should save them, and to increase their prejudice, and dislike of holiness. Seducing Teachers are exceeding diligent in sowing tares, and in drawing off the unstable from the doctrine and way of life: so that when we have done all we can, and hope we have won men, what a multitude of late have after all been taken in this snare? And shall a seducer be so unwearied in Proselyting poor ungrounded souls to his Fancies? And shall not a sound Christian be much more unwearied in labouring to win men to Christ and Life?