A27017:1782
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.
10. Lastly, I advise as a further help to this heavenly work. That thou neglect not the due care for the health of thy body, and for the maintaining a vigorous cheerfulness in thy spirits; nor yet over-pamper and please thy flesh. Learn how to carry thy self with prudence to thy body. It is a useful servant, if thou give it its due, and but its due: It is a most devouring tyrant, if thou give it the mastery, or suffer it to have what it unreasonably desireth. And […] as a blunted Knife, as a Horse that is lame, as thy Ox that is famished, if thou injuriously deny it what is necessary to its support. When we consider how frequently men offend on both extremes, and how few use their bodies aright, we cannot wonder if they be much hindered in their heavenly conversing. Most men are very slaves to their sensitive appetite, and can scarce deny any thing to the flesh, which they can give it on easy rates, without much shame, or loss, or grief. The flesh thus used, is as unfit to serve you, as a wild colt to ride on. When such men should converse in Heaven, the flesh will carry them to an Alehouse, or to their sports, to their profits, or credit, or vain company; to wanton practices, or sights, or speeches, or thoughts: It will thrust a whore, or a pair of Cards, or a good bargain into their minds, in stead of God. Look to this specially, you that are young, and healthful, and lusty: As you love your souls, remember that in Rom. 13.14. which converted Austin, Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil its desires; and that Rom. 8.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14. Some few others do much hinder their heavenly joy, by over rigorous denying the body its necessaries, and so making it unable to serve them. But the most by forfeiting and excess; do overthrow and disable it. You love to have your knife keen, and every instrument you use in order: when your horse goes lustily how cheerfully do you travel? As much need hath the soul of a sound and cheerful body. If they who abuse their bodies, and neglect their health, did wrong the flesh only, the matter were small, but they wrong the soul also: As he that spoils the house, doth wrong the inhabitant. When the body is sick, and the spirits do languish, how heavily move we in these Meditations, and Joys? Yet where God denieth this mercy, we may the better bear it, because he oft occasioneth our benefit by the denial.