A27017:1428
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.
We have then nothing to do, but easily to study for popular Sermons, nor is it safe so much as to make them our own by looking into and examining their grounds, lest in so doing we should be forced to a dissent▪ So that Scholars may easily be drawn to think, that it is better to be at a venture of the common belief, which may be with ease, then to weary and spend themselves in tedious studies, when they are sure beforehand of no better reward from men, then the reputation of Heretics▪ Which is the lot of all that go out of the common rode. So that who will hereafter look after any more truth then is known and in credit, except it be some one that is so taken with admiration of it, as to cast all his reputation overboard rather then make shipwreck of his self-prized Merchandise! Yet most wonderful is it, that my Christian, especially so many godly Ministers should arrogate to themselves the high prerogatives of God! viz. to be the Rule and Standard of Truth! I know they will say that Scripture is the Rule; but when they must be the peremptory Judges of the sense of that Scripture, so that in the hardest controversies none must swerve from their sense, upon pain of being branded with Heresy or error, what is this but to be the Judges themselves, and Scripture but their servant? The final, full, decisive interpretation of Laws, belongeth to none but the Lawmakers themselves. For who can know another mans meaning, beyond his expressions, but himself?
We have then nothing to do, but easily to study for popular Sermons, nor is it safe so much as to make them our own by looking into and examining their grounds, lest in so doing we should be forced to a dissent▪ So that Scholars may easily be drawn to think, that it is better to be at a venture of the common belief, which may be with ease, then to weary and spend themselves in tedious studies, when they are sure beforehand of no better reward from men, then the reputation of Hereticks▪ Which is the lot of all that go out of the common rode. So that who will hereafter look after any more truth then is known and in credit, except it be some one that is so taken with admiration of it, as to cast all his reputation overboard rather then make shipwrack of his self-prized Merchandize! Yet most wonderful is it, that my Christian, especially so many godly Ministers should arrogate to themselves the high prerogatives of God! viz. to be the Rule and Standard of Truth! I know they will say that Scripture is the Rule; but when they must be the peremtory Judges of the sense of that Scripture, so that in the hardest controversies none must swarve from their sense, upon pain of being branded with Heresie or error, what is this but to be the Judges themselves, and Scripture but their servant? The final, ful, decisive interpretation of Lawes, belongeth to none but the Lawmakers themselves. For who can know another mans meaning, beyond his expressions, but himself?