A27017:1554
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. II.1
- 1§. 2.
And first consider, What a deal of gross infidelity doth lurk in the bowels of this sin? Either paganish unbelief of the truth of that eternal blessedness, and of the truth of the Scripture which doth promise it to us; or at least a doubting of our own interest, or most usually somewhat of both these. And though Christians are usually most sensible of the latter, and therefore complain most against it; yet I am apt to suspect the former to be the main radical master sin, and of greatest force in this business. O, if we did but verily believe, that the promise of this glory is the word of God, and that God doth truly mean as he speaks, and is fully resolved to make it good; if we did verily believe, that there is indeed such blessedness prepared for believers▪ as the Scripture mentioneth; sure we should be as impatient of living, as we are now fearful of dying and should think every day a year till our last day should come: We should as hardly refrain from laying violent hands on our selves, or from the neglecting of the means of our health and life, as we do now from overmuch carefulness and seeking of life by unlawful means. If the eloquent oration of a Philosopher ⟨p. 576⟩concerning the souls immortality and the life to come could make his affected hearer, presently to cast himself head long from the rock, as impatient of any longer delay; what would a serious Christians belief do, if Gods Law against self murder did not restrain? Is it possible that we can truly believe, that death will remove us from misery to such glory, and yet be loth to dye? If it were the doubts of our own interest, which did fear us; yet a true belief of the certainty and excellency of this Rest, would make us restless till our interest be cleared. If a man that is desperately sick to day, did believe he should arise sound the next morning; or a man to day in despicable poverty, had assurance that he should to morrow arise a prince; would they be afraid to go to bed? Or rather think it the longest day of their lives, till that desired night and morning come? The truth is, though there is much faith and Christianity in our mouths, yet there is much infidelity and paganism in our hearts, which is the main cause, that we are so loth to dye.