A27017:1417
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 12 › Section 9
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.
and then we must come down, and be accountable for our work? Do I need to tell you, that we must dye and be judged as well as our people? or that justice is most severe about the Sanctuary? and judgment beginneth at the house of God? and revenge is most implacable about the Altar? and jealousy hottest about the Ark? Have you not learned these lessons from Eli, Corah, Nadah and Abihu, Uzzah, and the Bethshemites, &c. though I had said nothing? Can you forget, that even some of our tribe shall say at judgment, Lord, we have taught in thy Name? who yet must depart, with, I know you not? Do you learn nothing by the afflictions that now lye upon you? You see what hath been done against the Ministry of England: how some have been laid hold on by the hand of justice;1 and some by the hand of violence and injustice, and how all are lashed and reproached by the wanton tongues of ignorant, insolent Sectaries; neither Prelatical, Presbyterian nor mere Independent now spared, it being the very calling it self that now they set against: How they rob the Church of her due maintenance, and make no more of it then Dionysius did of robbing Aesculapius of his golden beard, quia barbatus erat filius, at pater Apollo non ita ▪ or then the same Dionysius did of robbing Jupiter Olympius of the ⟨p. 515⟩golden Coat that Hieron had given, saying, that a Coat of Gold was too heavy for Summer, and too cold for Winter, but cloth would be suitable to both; Or then he did of robbing the Images of the vessels of gold which they held in their hands, saying, he did but take what they offered,2 and held forth to him: Or then the same Dionysius did of robbing the temple of Proserpina, 3when afterwards his ships had a prosperous wind, Videtis, inquit, quam prospera navigatio a dijs immorta•ibus detur sacrilegis: Ex hoc colligens aut non esse deos, aus illis non esse molesta Sacrilegia. Sirs, doth God lay all this on the Church and Ministry for nothing? Doth not the world know what an ignorant, lazy, superstitious Ministry had lately possessed most Churches in the land? And how many such are yet remaining? and those that are better, alas, how far from what we should be, either in knowledge or practice! And yet how unwilling are they to learn what they know not? Even as unwilling as their people are to learn of them, if not much more. O see your errors by the glass of your Afflictions: