A27017:1981
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.
4. Compare also the delights above, with the delights of Morality, and of the natural affections: What delight had many sober Heathens in the rules and Practice of Moral duties? so that they took him only for an honest man, who did well through the love of Virtue, and not only for fear of punishment? yea, so highly did they value this moral Virtue, that they thought the chief happiness of man consisted in it. Why, think then, what excellency there will be in that rare perfection which we shall be raised to in heaven? and in that uncreated perfection of God which we shall behold? what sweetness is there in the exercise of natural Love? whether to Children, to Parents, to Yokefellows, or to Friends? The delight which a pair of special faithful friends, do find in loving and enjoying one another, is a most pleasing, sweet delight: It seemed to the Philosophers to be above the delights of Natural, or Matrimonial friendship; and I think it seemed so to David himself, so he concludes his Lamentation for him; I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan, very pleasant hast thou been unto me, thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women, 2 Sam. 1.26. Yea, the soul of Jonathan did cleave to David Even Christ himself;1 as it seemeth had some of this kind of love, for he had one Disciple whom he especially loved and who was wont to lean on his breast: why, think then, if the delights of close and cordial friendship be so great, what delight shall we have in the friendship of the most High? and in our mutual amity with Jesus Christ? and in the dearest love and consort with the Saints? Surely this will be a closer and stricter friendship then ever was betwixt any friends on earth; and these will be more lovely and desirable friends than any that ever the Sun beheld; and both our affections to our Father, and our Saviour, but especially his affection to us will be such as here we never knew; as Spirits are so far more powerful then Flesh, that one Angel can destroy an Host, so also are their affections more strong and powerful, we shall then love a thousand times more strongly and sweetly then now we can: and as all the Attributes and Works of God are incomprehensible, so is the attribute and work of Love; He will love us many thousand times more, then we even at the perfectest are able to love him, what joy then will there be in this mutual Love?