A27017:1897
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. IV.
- 1§. 4.
3. But the great work (which you may either promise or subjoin to this as you please,) is, To exercise thy belief of the truth of thy Rest: And that both in respect of the truth of the Promise, and also the truth of thy own Interest and Title. As unbelief doth cause the languishing of all our Graces, so Faith would do much to revive and actuate them, if it were but revived and actuated it self: Especially our belief of the verity of the Scripture, I conceive as needful to be exercised and confirmed, as almost any point of Faith. But of this I have spoken in the Second Part of this Book, whither I refer thee for some confirming Arguments. Though few complain of their not believing Scripture, yet I conceive it to be the commonest part of unbelief, and the very root of bitterness, which spoileth our Graces. Perhaps thou hast not a positive belief of the contrary, nor dost not flatly think that Scripture is not the Word of God; that were to be a down-right Infidel indeed: And yet thou mayest have but little belief, that Scripture is Gods Word, and that both in regard of the habit, and the act. Its one thing, not to believe Scripture to be true; and another thing, positively to believe it to be false. Faith may be idle, and suspend its exercise toward the Truth, though it do not yet act against the Truth. It may stand still, when it goes not out of the way; it may be asleep, and do you little service, though it do not directly fight against you. Besides, a great deal of unbelief may consist with a small degree of Faith. If we did soundly believe, That there is such a Glory; that within a few days our eyes shall behold it: O what passions would it raise within us! Were we throughly persuaded, That every Word in the Scripture concerning the unconceivable joys of the Kingdom, and the unexpressible Blessedness of the life to come, were the very Word of the Living God, and should certainly be performed to the smallest tittle; O what astonishing apprehensions of that life would it breed! what amazing horror would seize upon our hearts, when we found our selves strangers to the conditions of that life! and utterly ignorant of our portion therein! what love, what longings would it raise within us! O, how it would actuate every affection! how it would transport us with joy upon