A27017:1483
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 15
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.
4. But some will object: We have been brought up in ignorance our selves, and therefore we are unable to teach your children. Answer. Indeed this is the very sore of the Land. But is it not pity, that men should so receive their destruction by tradition? would you have this course to go on thus still? […] parents did not teach you; and therefore you cannot teach your children; and therefore they cannot teach theirs; By this course the knowledge of God should be banished out of the world, and never be recovered. But if your parents did not teach you, why did not you learn when you came to age? The truth is, you had no hearts to it; for he that hath not knowledge, cannot value it or love it. But yet, though you have greatly sinned, it is not too late, if you will but follow my faithful advice in these 4. points.
4. BUt some will object: We have been brought up in ignorance our selves, and therefore we are unable to teach your children. Answer. Indeed this is the very sore of the Land. But is it not pitty, that men should so receive their destruction by tradition? would you have this course to go on thus still? 〈…〉 parents did not teach you; and therefore you cannot teach your children; and therefore they cannot teach theirs; By this course the knowledge of God should be banished out of the world, and never be recovered. But if your parents did not teach you, why did not you learn when you came to age? The truth is, you had no hearts to it; for he that hath not knowledge, cannot value it or love it. But yet, though you have greatly sinned, it is not too late, if you will but follow my faithful advice in these 4. points.
1. Get your hearts deeply sensible of your own sin and misery, because of this long time which you have spent in ignorance and neglect. Bethink your selves sometime when you are alone; Did not God make you, and sustain you for his service? should not he have had the youth and strength of your spirits? Did you live all this while at the door of Eternity? What if you had dyed in ignorance? Where had you been then? What a deal of time have you spent to little purpose? Your life is near done, and your work all undone. You are ready to dye, before you have learned to live. Should not God have had a better share of your lives? and your souls been more sadly regarded and provided for? In the