A27017:199
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.
Wherefore, O Christians, comfort one another with these words. This is one of the Gospel Mysteries: That we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an Eye, at the last Trump: for the Trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this Corruptible must put on Incorruption; ⟨p. 55⟩and this Mortal, Immortality. Then is Death swallowed up in victory. 1O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Triumph, now, O Christian, in these Promises; thou shalt shortly Triumph in their Performance. For this is the Day that the Lord will make;2 we shall be glad, and rejoice therein. The Grave that could not keep our Lord, cannot keep us: He arose for us, and by the same Power will cause us to arise. For if we believe that Jesus dyed, and rose again; even so them also which sleep in Jesus, 3will God bring with him. Can the Head live, and the body or members remain Dead? Oh, write those sweet words upon thy heart,4 Christian; Because I Live, Ye shall Live also. As sure as Christ lives, we shall live: And as sure as he is risen, we shall rise. Else the Dead perish. Else what is our Hope?5 what advantageth all our duty or suffering? Else the sensual Epicure were one of the wisest men: and what better are we then our beasts? Surely our knowledge more then theirs, would but increase our sorrows: and our dominion over them is no great felicity: The Servant hath oft-times a better life then his Master, because he hath few of his Masters Cares. And our dead Carcasses are no more comely, nor yield a sweeter savour, then theirs. But we have a sure ground of Hope. And besides this Life, we have a Life that's hid with Christ in God: and when Christ, who is our Life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in Glory, Col. 3.3, 4