A27017:1425
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 10
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.
If an Army had tried this popular Government but one year among themselves in their military affairs; and had attempted and managed all their designs by the Vote of the whole Army, I durst have valued their judgments the better ever after in this point. Woe to the patient that must have a mistaking Physician till he be grown skilful by making experiments upon his diseases. And woe to the people that are in such hands, as must learn their skill in Government from the common calamities only, and from their experience of the sufferings of the people! This kind of knowledge, I confess, is the throughest: but it is pity that so many others should pay so dear for it.
If an Army had tryed this popular Government but one yeer among themselves in their military affairs; and had attempted and managed all their designes by the Vote of the whole Army, I durst have valued their judgments the better ever after in this point. Wo to the patient that must have a mistaking Physitian till he be grown skilful by making experiments upon his diseases. And wo to the people that are in such hands, as must learn their skill in Government from the common calamities only, and from their experience of the sufferings of the people! This kinde of knowledge, I confesse, is the throughest: but it is pity that so many others should pay so dear for it.
You therefore that are the Guides of this Chariot of Christ take heed of losing the reins lest all be overthrown: It is but lately that the Prelates held them so hard, that we might not move on in the way of unquestionable duty, and we might not stir at all, for fear of stirring amiss, and godliness was shut out upon pretence of well-ordering it. Do not *you run now into the contrary extreme, to think that all restraint is evil. Alas poor England! how are thy bowels torn out! and thy reformation and deliverance grown (as to man) impossible! because thy inhabitants, yea and Guides, run all into extremes! like a drunken man that reeleth from side to side, but cannot keep the middle way: nay they hate a man of peace that runs not out into their extremes. One party would pluck up the hedge of government, as if the vine-yard could not be fruitful, except it lye wast to the pleasure of all the beasts of of the Forest. They are like the pond that should grudge at the banks and dam, and think it injurious to be thus restrained of its liberty, and therefore combine with the winds to raise a tempest, and so assault and break down the banks in their rage and now