A27017:189
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.
What were become of our faith, our prayers, our tears, and our waiting? What were all the patience of the Saints worth to them? Were we not left of all men most miserable? Christians, hath Christ made us forsake all the world, and be forsaken of all the world? to hate all, and be hated of all? and all this for him, that we might have him in stead of all? and will he, think you, after all this, forget us, & forsake us himself? Far be such a thought from our hearts! But why stayed he not with his people while he was here? Why? must not the Comforter be sent?1 Was not the work on earth done? Must he not receive the Recompense of Reward? and enter into his Glory? Must he not take possession in our behalf? Must he not go to prepare a place for us? Must he not intercede with the Father? and plead his sufferings? and be filled with the Spirit to send forth? and receive authority? and subdue his enemies? Our abode here is short; If he had stayed on earth, what would it have been to enjoy him for a few days, and ⟨p. 47⟩then dye? But he hath more in Heaven to dwell among; even the spirits of the Just of many Generations, there made perfect. Beside, he will have us live by faith, and not by sight. Oh, fellow Christians, what a day will that be? when we who have been kept prisoners by sin, by sinners, by the grave, shall be fetched out by the Lord himself? When Christ shall come from heaven to plead with his enemies, and set his Captives free? It will not be such a Coming as his first was, in meanness, and poverty, and contempt; He will not come to be spit upon, and buffeted, and scorned, and crucified again: He will not come (oh careless world) to be slighted and neglected by you any more. And yet that coming, which was necessarily in Infirmity and Reproach, for our sakes, wanted not its Glory. If the Angels of heaven must be the messengers of that Coming, as being tidings of Joy to all people;2 And the Heavenly Host must go before, or accompany for the Celebration of his Nativity, and must praise God with that solemnity, Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth Peace, Good will towards men: Oh then with what shoutings will Angels and Saints at that day proclaim, Glory to God, and Peace and Good will toward men?