A27017:1738
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.
1SECT. VI.
- 1§. 6.
6. Another impediment to this Heavenly Life, is, Wilful laziness, and slothfulness of Spirit: And I verily think for knowing men, there is nothing hinders more then this. O, if it were only the exercise of the Body, the moving of the Lips, the bending of the Knee; then it were an easy work indeed, and men would as commonly step to Heaven, as they go a few miles to visit a friend; yea, if it were to spend most of our days in numbering Beads, and repeating certain words and Prayers, in ⟨p. 661⟩voluntary humility, and neglecting the body, after the commandments and doctrines of men, (Col. 2.21, 22, 23.) yea, or in the outward part of duties commanded by God, yet it were comparatively easy: Further, if it were only in the exercise of parts and gifts, though we made such performance our daily trade, yet it were easy to be heavenly-minded. But it is a work more difficult then all this: To separate thoughts and affections from the world; to force them to a work of so high a nature; to draw forth all our graces in their order, and exercise each on its proper object; to hold them to this, till they perceive success and till the work doth thrive and prosper in their hands! This, this is the difficult task. Reader, Heaven is above thee, the way is upwards. Dost thou think, who art a feeble, short-winded sinner, to travel daily this steep ascent, without a great deal of labour and resolution? Canst thou get that earthly heart to Heaven, and bring that backward mind to God, while thou liest still, and takest thine ease? If lying down at the foot of the Hill, and looking toward the top, and wishing we were there, would serve the turn, then we should have daily travellers for Heaven.1