A27017:1651
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.
First, By keeping the heart employed; when we are idle, we tempt the devil to tempt us; as it is an encouragement to a Thief, to see your doors open, and no body within; and as we use to say, Careless persons make Thieves: or as it will encourage an Highway Robber, to see you unweaponed; so may it encourage Satan, to find your hearts idle; but when the heart is taken up with God, it cannot have while to hearken to Temptations, it cannot have while to be lustful and wanton, ambitious or worldly: If a poor man have a suit to any of you, he will not come when you are taken up in some great mans company or discourse, that's but an ill time to speed.
First, By keeping the heart employed; when we are idle, we tempt the devil to tempt us; as it is an encouragement to a Thief, to see your doors open, and no body within; and as we use to say, Careless persons make Theeves: or as it will encourage an Highway Robber, to see you unweaponed; so may it encourage Sathan, to find your hearts idle; but when the heart is taken up with God, it cannot have while to hearken to Temptations, it cannot have while to be lustful and wanton, ambitious or worldly: If a poor man have a suit to any of you, he will not come when you are taken up in some great mans company or discourse, thats but an ill time to speed.
If you were but busied in your lawful Callings, you would not be so ready to hearken to Temptations, much less if you were busied above with God: Will you leave your Plough and Harvest in the Field? or leave the quenching of a fire in your houses, to run with children a hunting of Butterflies? would a Judg be persuaded to rise from the Bench, when he is sitting upon life and death, to go and play among the Boys in the streets? No more will a Christian when he is busy with God, and taking a survey of his eternal Rest, give ear to the alluring charms of Sathan, Non vacat exiguis, &c. is a Character of the truly prudent man; the children of that Kingdom should never have while for trifles; but especially when they are employed in the affairs of the Kingdom; and this employment is one of the Saints chief preservatives against temptations: For as Gregory saith,1