A27017:1616
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. XXIII.1
- 1§. 23.
Object. 2. O, but the Churches necessities are great, and God hath made me useful in my place; so that the loss vvill be to many, or else, me thinks, I could willingly die.
OBject. 2. O, but the Churches necessities are great, and God hath made me useful in my place; so that the loss vvill be to many, or else, me thinks, I could vvillingly die.
Answ. This may be the case of some; but yet remember, the heart is deceitful: God is oft pretended, when our selves are intended. But if this be it that sticks with thee indeed, consider, Wilt thou pretend to be wiser then God? doth not he know how •o provide for his Church? Cannot he do his work without thee? ⟨p. 596⟩or find out instruments enough besides thee? Think not too highly of thy self, because God hath made thee useful. Must the Church needs fall when thou art gone? Art thou the foundation on which its built? Could God take away a Moses, an Aaron, David, Elijah, &c. and find supply for all their places? and cannot he also find supply for thine? This is to derogate from God too much, and to arrogate too much unto thy self. Neither art thou so merciful as God; nor canst love the Church so well as he: As his interest is infinitely beyond thine, so is his tender care and bounty. But of this before.
Answ. This may be the case of some; but yet remember, the heart is deceitful: God is oft pretended, vvhen our selves are inended. But if this be it that sticks vvith thee indeed, consider, VVilt thou pretend to be vviser then God? doth not he knovv hovv o provide for his Church? Cannot he do his vvork vvithout thee?