A27017:1786
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. I.
- 1§. 1.
Though I hope what is already spoken be not unuseful, and that it will not by the Reader be cast aside, yet I must tell you, that the main thing intended is yet behind, and that which I aimed at when I set upon this Work. I have observed the Maxim, that my principal end be last in execution, though it was first in my intention. All that I have said, is but for the preparation to this: The Doctrinal part is but to instruct you for this; the rest of the Uses are but introductions to this; The Motives I have laid down, are but to make you willing for this; The Hinderances I mentioned, were but so many blocks in the way to this; The general Helps which I last delivered, are but the necessary Attendants of this: So that, Reader, If thou neglect this that follows, thou dost frustrate the main end of my design, and makest me lose (as to thee) the chief of my labour. I once more entreat thee therefore, as thou art a man that makest conscience of a revealed duty, and that darest not wilfully resist the Spirit, as thou valuest the high delights of a Saint, and the soul ravishing exercise of heavenly Contemplation, as all my former moving Considerations seem reasonable to thee, and as thou art faithful to the peace and prosperity of thine own soul, that thou diligently study these Directions following, and that ⟨p. 687⟩thou speedily and faithfully put them into practice: Practice is the end of all sound Doctrine, and all right Faith doth end in duty: I pray thee therefore, resolve before thou readest any further, and […] here as before the Lord, that if the following Advice be wholesome to thy soul, thou wilt conscionably follow it, and seriously set thy self to the Work, and that no laziness of spirit shall take thee off, nor lesser business interrupt thy course, but that thou wilt approve thy self a Doer of this Word, and not an idle hearer only. Is this thy promise? and wilt thou stand to it? Resolve man, and then I shall be encouraged to give thee my Advice; if I spread not before thee a delicious feast, if I set thee not upon as gainful a trade, and put not into thy hand as delightful an employment as ever thou dealtest with in all thy life, then cast it away, and tell me I have deceived thee, only try it throughly and then judg;