A27017:1564
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. V.1
- 1§. 5.
4. IT shows that we are insensible of the vanity of the Creature,1 and of the vexation accompanying our residence here, when we are so loth to hear, or think of a removal. What ever we say against the world, or how grievous soever our complaints may seem; we either believe not, or feel not what we say, or else we should be answerably affected to it. We call the world our enemy, and cry out of the oppression of our Task-masters, and groan under our sore bondage; but either we speak not as we think, or else we imagine some singular happiness, to consist in the possession of worldly things; for which, all this should be endured. Is any man loth to leave his prison? or to remove his dwelling from cruel enemies? or to scape the hands of murderous robbers? Do we take the world indeed for our prison? our cruel, spoiling▪ murderous foe? and yet are we loth to leave it? Do we take this flesh for the clog of our spirits? and a veil that's drawn betwixt us and God? and a continual in dwelling traitor to our souls? and yet are we loth to lay it down?2 Indeed Peter was smitten by the Angel, before he arose and left his prison; but it was more from his ignorance of his intended deliverance, then any unwillingness to leave the place. I have read of Josephs long imprisonment; and Daniels casting into the Den of Lyons; and Jeremies sticking fast in the ⟨p. 580⟩Dungeon; and Jonahs lying in the belly of the Whale; and David from the deep crying to God; but I remember not that any were loth to be delivered. I have read indeed, That they suffered cheerfully,