A27017:1540
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.
Secondly, As we have not yet obtained our end, so are we in the midst of labours and dangers; and is there any resting here? What painful work doth lie upon our hands? Look to our Brethren, to godly, to ungodly, to the Church, to our souls, to God; and what a deal of work in respect of each of these, doth lie before us? and can we rest in the midst of all our labours? Indeed, we may take some refreshing, and ease our selves sometimes in our troubles; if you will call that Rest: But that's not the settling Rest we now are speaking of; we may rest on Earth, as the Ark is said to have rested in the midst of Jordan, Josh. 3.13. A short and small Rest, no question; or as the Angels of Heaven are desired to turn in, and rest them on Earth, Gen. 18.4. They would have been loath to have taken up their *dwelling there. Should Israel have settled his Rest in the Wilderness, among Serpents, and enemies, and weariness, and famine? Should Noah have made the Ark his home, and have been loth to come forth when the waters were fallen? Should the Mariner choose his dwelling on the Sea? and settle his rest in the midst of Rocks and Sands, and raging Tempests? ⟨p. 566⟩though he may adventure through all these, for a Commodity of worth; yet I think he takes it not for his rest. Should a Soldier rest in the midst of fight? when he is in the very thickest of his enemies? and the instruments of death compass him about? I think he cares not how soon the battle is over: And though he may adventure upon war for the obtaining of peace, yet I hope he is not so mad, as to take that instead of Peace. And are not Christians such Travellers, such Mariners, such Soldiers? Have we not fears within, and troubles without? are we not in the thickest of continual dangers? we cannot eat, drink, sleep, labour, pray, hear, confer, &c. but in the midst of snares and perils? and shall we sit down and rest here? O Christian, follow thy work, look to thy dangers, hold on to the end, win the field, and come off the ground, before thou think of a settling rest. I read indeed that Peter on the mount, when he had seen a glimpse of Glory, said, Its good for us to be here. But sure when he was on the Sea, in the midst of waves, he doth not then say, Its good to be here▪ No, then he hath other language, Save Master, we perish.