A27017:1449
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 11
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.
9. On the other side, do but think with your selves; what a world of comfort you may have if you be faithful in this duty: First, If you should not succeed, yet you have freed your own souls, and though it be sad, yet not so sad, for you may have peace in your own consciences, Secondly, But if you do succeed, the comfort is unexpressible. For first, Godly children will be truly loving to your selves that are their Parents; when a little riches or matters of this world, will oft make ungodly children to cast off their very natural affection: secondly, Godly children will be most obedient to you; They dare not disobey and provoke you, because of the command of God, except you should command them that which is unlawful, and then they must obey God rather then men: thirdly, And if you should fall into want, they would be most faithful in relieving you, as knowing they are tied by a double bond, of Nature, and of Grace: fourthly, And they will also be helpers to your souls, and to your spiritual comforts; they will be delighting you with the mention of heaven, and with all holy conference and actions; when wicked children will be grieving you with cursing, and swearing, or drunkenness, or disobedience: fifthly, Yea, when you are in trouble, or sickness, and at death▪ your godly children will be at hand to advise and to support you; they will strive with God in prayers for you; O what a comfort is it to a Parent, to have a child that hath the Spirit of Prayer, and interest in God? how much good may they do you by their importunity ⟨p. 532⟩with God? And what a sadness is it to have children, that when you lye sick, can do no more but ask you how you do, and look on you in your misery? sixthly, Yea, all your Family may fare the better, for one child or servant that feareth God; (yea perhaps all the Town where he liveth:) As Josephs case proveth, and Jacobs, and many the like; when one wicked child may bring a Judgment o• your house: seventhly, And if God make you instruments of your children's conversion, you will have a share in all the good that they do through their lives; all the good they do to their brethren, or to the Church of God, and all the honour they bring to God, will redound to your happiness, as having been instruments of it: eighthly, And what a comfort may it be to you all your lives, to think that you shall live with them for ever with God?