A27017:1654
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.
If conversing with wise and learned men, is the way to make one wise and learned, then no wonder if he that converseth with God, become wise: If men that travel about the earth, do think to return home with more experience and wisdom,1 how much more he that travels to heaven? As the very Air and Climate that we most abide in, do work our bodies to their own temper; no wonder if he that is much in that sublime and purer Region, have a purer soul, and quicker sight; and if he have an understanding full of light, who liveth with the Sun, the Fountain, the Father of light; as certain herbs and meats we feed on, do tend to make our sight more clear, so the soul that's fed with Angels food, must needs have an• understanding much more clear, then they that dwell and ⟨p. 613⟩feed on earth. And therefore you may easily see, that such a man is in far less danger of temptations, and Satan will hardlier beguile his soul; even as a wise man is hardlier deceived then fools and children. Alas, the men of the world, that dwell below, and know no other conversation but earthly, no wonder if their understandings be darkened,2 and they be easily drawn to every wickedness; no wonder if Satan take them captive at his will, and lead them about, as we see a Dog lead a blind man with a string; The foggy Air and Mists of earth do thicken their sight; the smoke of worldly cares and business, blinds them, and the dungeon which they live in, is a land of darkness: How can Worms & Moles see, whose dwelling is always in the earth? while this dust is in mens eyes, no wonder if they mistake gain for godliness, sin for grace, the world for God, their own wills for the Law of Christ, and in the issue hell for heaven; if the people of God will but take notice of their own hearts, they shall find their experiences confirming this that I have said. Christians, do you not sensibly perceive, that when your hearts are seriously sixth on heaven, you presently become wiser then before? Are not your understandings more solid? and your thoughts more sober? have you not truer apprehensions of things then you had? For my own part, if ever I be wise, it is when I have been much above, and seriously studied the life to come: Me thinks I find my understanding after such contemplations, as much to differ from what it was before, as I before differed from a Fool or Idiot;