A27017:1996
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.
8. Compare the comforts which thou shalt have above with those which thou hast here received in the Ordinances. Hath not the written Word been to thee as an open fountain, flowing with comforts day and night? when thou hast been in trouble, there thou hast met with refreshing: when thy faith hath staggered, it hath there been confirmed: what suitable Scriptures hath the Spirit set before thee? What seasonable promises have come into thy mind? so that thou mayest say with David, If thy Word had not been my delight, I had perished in my trouble? Think then If the Word be so full of consolations, what overflowing springs shall we find in God? if his letters are so comfortable, what are the words that flow from his blessed lips? and the beams that stream from his Glorious Face? If Luther would not take all the world for one leaf of the Bible, what would he take for the Joys which it revealeth? If the promise be so sweet, what is the performance? If the Testament of our Lord, and our charter for the Kingdom be so comfortable, what will be our possession of the Kingdom it self? Think further; what delights have I found also in this Word preached? when I have sit under a heavenly heart-searching Teacher, how hath my heart been warmed within me? how hath he melted me, and turned my bowels? me thinks I have felt my self almost in Heaven: me thinks I could have been content to have sate and heard from morning to night, I could even have lived and dyed there: How oft have I gone to the congregation troubled in spirit, and returned home with quietness and delight? How oft have I gone doubting, concluding damnation against my own soul; and God hath sent me home with my doubts resolved, and satisfied me, and persuaded me of his love in Christ? How oft have I gone with darkness and doubtings in my Judgment, and God hath opened to me such precious truths, and opened also my understanding to see them, that his light hath been exceeding comfortable to ⟨p. 770⟩my soul? what Cordials have I met with in my saddest afflictions? what preparatives to fortify me for the next encounter? Well then, if Moses face do shine so gloriously, what Glory is in the Face of God? If the very feet of the *Messengers of these tidings of Peace be beautiful, how beautiful is the face of the Prince of Peace? If the word in the mouth of a fellow servant be so pleasant, what is the living Word himself?