A27017:1433
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.
The zeal of my spirit after Peace, hath made me digress here further then I intended:1 But the sum and scope of all my speech is this; Let every conscionable Minister study equally for Peace and Truth, as knowing that they dwell both together in the golden mean, and not at such a distance as most Hotspurs do imagine; and let them believe that they are like to see no more success of their labours, then they are so studious of Peace; and that all wounds will let out both blood and spirits, and both Truth and Godliness is ready to run out at every breach that shall be made among the people or themselves; and that the time for the Pastures of Profession to be green, and for the Field of true Godliness to grow ripe for the Harvest, and for the Rose of Devotion and Heavenliness to be fragrant and flourish; it is not in the blustering stormy tempestuous Winter, but in the calm delightful Summer of Peace. O what abundance of excellent hopeful fruits of Godliness have I seen blown down before they were ripe, by the impetuous winds of wars, and other contentions, and so have lain trodden under foot by Libertinism, and sensuality, as meat for Swine, who else might have been their Masters delight! In a word, I never yet saw the Work of the Gospel go on well in Wars, nor the business of mens salvation succeed among dissentions; but if one have in such times proved a gainer▪ multitudes have bin losers: ⟨p. 525⟩The same God is the God both of Truth and Peace: the same Christ is the Prince of Peace, and Author of Salvation; the same Word is the Gospel of Peace and Salvation: both have the same causes, both are wrought and carried on by the same Spirit, the same Persons are the Sons of Peace and Salvation: so inseparably do they go hand in hand together. O therefore let us be the Ministers, and helpers of our peoples peace, as ever we desire to be helpers of their Salvation.
The zeal of my spirit after Peace, hath made me digress here further then I intended:1 But the sum and scope of all my speech is this; Let every conscionable Minister study equally for Peace and Truth, as knowing that they dwell both together in the golden mean, and not at such a distance as most Hotspurs do imagine; and let them believe that they are like to see no more success of their labors, then they are so studious of Peace; and that all wounds will let out both blood and spirits, and both Truth and Godliness is ready to run out at every breach that shall be made among the people or themselves; and that the time for the Pastures of Profession to be green, and for the Field of true Godliness to grow ripe for the Harvest, and for the Rose of Devotion and Heavenliness to be fragrant and flourish; it is not in the blustering stormy tempestuous Winter, but in the calm delightful Summer of Peace. O what abundance of excellent hopeful fruits of Godliness have I seen blown down before they were ripe, by the impetuous windes of wars, and other contentions, and so have layen troden under foot by Libertinism, and sensuality, as meat for Swine, who else might have been their Masters deligh! In a word, I never yet saw the Work of the Gospel go on well in Wars, nor the business of mens salvation succeed among dissentions; but if one have in such times proved a gainer multitudes have bin losers: