A27017:167
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. IX.
Lastly,1 The Affection of Joy hath not the least share in this Fruition. It's that, which all the rest lead to, and conclude in: even the unconceivable Complacency which the Blessed feel in their seeing, knowing, loving, and being beloved of God. The delight of the Senses Here, cannot be known by expressions, as they are felt! How much less this Joy? This is the white stone, which none knoweth but he that receiveth: 2And if there be any Joy which the stranger meddleth not with, then surely this, above all, is it. All Christs ways of mercy tend to, and end in the Saints Joys. He wept, sorrowed, suffered, that they might rejoice: He sendeth the Spirit to be their Comforter; He multiplieth promises, he discovers their future happiness; that their Joy may be full:3 He aboundeth to them in mercies of all sorts; he maketh them lie down in green pastures, and leadeth them by the still waters; yea, openeth to them the fountain of Living Waters; That their Joy may be full: That they may thirst no more; and that it may spring up in them to everlasting life: Yea, he causeth them to suffer,4 that he may cause them to rejoice; and chasteneth them, that he may give them Rest; and maketh them (as he did himself) to drink of the brook in the way, 5that they may lift up the head, Psal. 110.7. And lest after all this they should neglect their own comforts, he maketh it their duty, and presseth it on them, commanding them to rejoice in him alway, and again to rejoice. And he never brings them into so low a condition, wherein he leaves them not more cause of Joy then of Sorrow. And hath the Lord such a care of our comfort Here? where, the Bridegroom being from us, we must mourn?