A27017:1375
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.
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?
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 Divel 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 wayes and people to them, and to contradict the doctrine of Christ that should save them, and to encrease 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 laboring to win men to Christ and Life?
11. Consider, The neglect of this doth very deeply wound when conscience is awaked. When a man comes to dye, conscience will ask him, What good hast thou done in thy life time? The saving of souls is the greatest good work, what hast thou done towards this? How many hast thou dealt faithfully with? I have oft observed, that the consciences of dying men, do very much wound them for this omission. For my own part (to tell you my experience) when ever I have been near death, my conscience hath accused me more for this then for any sin: It would bring every ignorant profane neighbour to my remembrance to whom I never made known their danger: It would tell me, Thou shouldst have gone to them in private, and told them plainly of their desperate danger, without bashfulness or daubing; though it had been when thou shouldest have eaten or slept, if thou hadst no other