A27017:2055
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.
dost thou weep, when I have wept so much? Be of good cheer; thy wounds are saving, and not deadly. It is I that have made them, who mean thee no hurt, Though I let out thy blood, I will not let out thy life.
O me thinks I remember yet his voice, and feel those embracing arms that took me up, How gently did he handle me! how carefully did he dress my wounds and bind them up! Me thinks I hear him still saying to me, Poor sinner, though thou hast dealt unkindly with me, and cast me off; yet will not I do so by thee; though thou hast set light by me and all my mercies, yet both I and All are thine; what wouldst thou have, that I can give thee? and what dost thou want that I cannot give thee? If any thing I have will pleasure thee, thou shalt have it; If any thing in heaven or earth will make the happy, why it is all thine own; Wouldst thou have pardon? thou shalt have it, I freely forgive thee all the debt: wouldst thou have grace and peace? thou shalt have them both; wouldst thou have my self? why, behold, I am thine, thy friend, thy Lord, thy brother, thy husband, and thy head; wouldst thou have the Father? why I will bring thee to him; and thou shalt have him in and by me.—These were my Lords reviving words; These were the melting, healing, raising, quickening passages of love. After all this, when I was doubtful of his love; me thinks I yet remember his overcoming and convincing Arguments.—Why sinner, have I done so much to testify my Love, and yet dost thou doubt? Have I made thy believing it, the condition of enjoying it, and yet dost thou doubt? Have I offered thee my self and love so long, and yet dost thou question my willingness to be thine? Why what could I have done more then I have done? At what dearer rate should I tell thee that I love thee? Read yet the story of my bitter passion, wilt thou not believe ⟨p. 800⟩that it proceeded from love? Did I ever give thee cause to be so jealous of me? Or to think so hardly of me, as thou dost? Have I made my self in the Gospel, a Lyon to thine enemies, and a Lamb to thee, and dost thou so over-look my Lamb like nature? Have I set mine arms and heart there open to thee, and wilt thou not believe but they are shut? why, if I had been willing to let thee perish, I could have done it at a cheaper rate, what need I then have done and suffered so much? what need I follow thee with so long patience and entreating? what dost thou tell me of thy wants? have I not enough for me and thee? and why dost thou foolishly tell me of thy unworthiness, and thy sin? I had not died, if man had not sinned?