A27017:153
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
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.
1Knowledge of it self is very desirable, even the knowledge of some evil (though not the Evil it self:) As far as the Rational Soul exceeds the Sensitive, so far the Delights of a Philosopher, in discovering ⟨p. 31⟩the secrets of Nature, and knowing the mystery of Sciences, exceeds the Delights of the Glutton, the Drunkard, the unclean, and of all voluptuous sensualists whatsoever: so excellent is all Truth. What then is their Delight, who know the God of Truth? What would I not give, so that all the uncertain questionable Principles in Logic, Natural Philosophy, Metaphysics, and Medicine, were but certain in themselves, and to me? And that my dull, obscure notions of them were but quick and clear! Oh, what then should I not either perform, or part with, to enjoy a clear and true Apprehension of the most True God? How noble a *faculty of the Soul is this Understanding? It can compass the Earth: It can measure the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Heaven: It can fore-know each Eclipse to a minute, many years before: Yea, but this is the top of all its excellency, It can know God who is infinite, who made all these; a little here, and more, much more hereafter. Oh the wisdom and goodness of our Blessed Lord! He hath created the Understanding with a Natural Bias, and inclination to Truth, as its object; and to the Prime Truth, as its Prime Object: and lest we should turn aside to any Creature, he hath kept this as his own Divine Prerogative, not communicable to any Creature, viz. to be the Prime Truth. And though I think not (as *some do) that there is so near a close, between the Understanding and Truth, as may produce a proper Union or Identity: Yet doubtless it's no such cold touch, or disdainful embrace, as is between these gross earthly Heterogeneals. The true, studious, contemplative man, knows this to be true; who feels as sweet embraces between his Intellect and Truth, and far more, then ever the quickest sense did in possessing its desired object. But the true, studious, contemplative Christian, knows it much more; who sometime hath felt more sweet embraces between his Soul and Jesus Christ, then all inferior Truth can afford. I know some Christians are kept short this way, especially the careless in their watch and walking;