A27017:1682
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. X.1
- 1§ 10.
8. Consider, There is no man so highly honoureth God, as he who hath his conversation in Heaven; and without this we deeply dishonour him. Is it not a disgrace to the Father, when the Children do feed on Husks, and are clothed in rags, and accompany with none but Rogues and Beggars? Is it not so to our Father, when we who call our selves his Children, shall feed on Earth, and the garb of our souls be but like that of the naked ⟨p. 632⟩World? and when our hearts shall make this clay and dust their more familiar and frequent company, who should always stand in our Fathers presence, and be taken up in his own Attendance? Sure, it beseems not the Spouse of Christ, to live among his Scullions and Slaves, when they may have daily admittance into his presence Chamber; he holds forth the Sceptre, if they will but enter. Sure, we live below the rates of the Gospel, and not as becometh the Children of a King, even of the great King of all the World. We live not according to the height of our Hopes, nor according to the plenty that is in the Promises, nor according to the provision of our Fathers house, and the great preparations made for his Saints. It is well we have a Father of tender Bowels, who will own his Children, even in dirt and rags: It is well the foundation of God stands sure, and that the Lord knoweth who are his; or else he would hardly take us for his own, so far do we live below the honour of Saints: If he did not first challenge his interest in us, neither our selves, nor others could know us to be his people. But O, when a Christian can live above, and rejoice his soul in the things that are unseen; how doth God take himself to be honoured by such a one? The Lord may say, Why this man believes me; I see he can trust me, and take my Word: He rejoiceth in my promise, before he hath possession; he can be glad and thankful for that which his bodily eyes did never see: This mans rejoicing is not in the flesh; I see he loves me, because he minds me; his heart is with me, he loves my presence; and he shall surely enjoy it in my Kingdom for ever. Because thou hast seen (saith Christ to Thomas) thou hast believed; but blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed,