A27017:154
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.
SECT. VII.
And doubtless the Memory will not be Idle,1 or useless, in this Blessed work. If it be but by looking back, to help the soul to value its enjoyment, Our knowledge will be enlarged, not diminished; therefore the knowledge of things past shall not be taken away. And what is that knowledge, but Remembrance? Doubtless from that height, the Saint can look behind him and before him. And to compare past with present things, must needs raise in the Blessed Soul an unconceivable esteem and sense of its Condition. To stand on that Mount, whence we can see the Wilderness and Canaan both at once, to stand in Heaven, and look back on Earth, and weigh them together in the balance of a comparing sense and judgment, how must it needs transport the soul, and make it cry ⟨p. 34⟩out, Is this the purchase that cost so dear, as the blood of God? No wonder: O blessed price! and thrice blessed Love, that invented and Condescended! Is this the end of Believing? Is this the end of the Spirits workings? Have the Gales of Grace blown me into such a Harbour? Is it hither that Christ hath enticed my Soul? O blessed way, and thrice blessed end! Is this the Glory which the Scripture spoke of, and Ministers preached of so much? Why now I see the Gospel indeed is good tidings, even tidings of peace, and Good things;2 tidings of great Joy to all Nations! Is my mourning, my fasting, my sad humblings, my heavy walking, groanings, complainings, come to this? Is my praying, watching, fearing to offend, come to this? Are all my afflictions, sickness, languishing, troublesome physic, fears of Death, come to this? Are all Satan's Temptations, the worlds Scorns and Jeers, come to this? (And now if there be such a thing as Indignation left, how will it here let fly?) O vile nature, that resisted so much, and so long, such a blessing! Unworthy Soul! Is this the place thou camest so unwillingly towards? Was Duty wearisome? Was the world too good to lose? Didst thou stick at, leaving all, denying all, and suffering any thing, for this? Wast thou loath to dye, to come to this? O false Heart! that had almost betrayed me to Eternal flames, and lost me this Glory! O base flesh, that would needs have been pleased, though to the loss of this felicity! Didst thou make me to question the truth of this Glory? Didst thou show me Improbabilities, and draw me to distrust the Lord?