A27017:2065
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.
Away then you soul-tormenting cares and fears! Away you importune heart-vexing sorrows! At least forbear me a little while; stand by, and trouble not my aspiring soul; stay here below, whilst I go up, and see my Rest. The way is strange to me, but ⟨p. 806⟩not to Christ. There was the eternal dwelling of his glorious deity; And thither hath he also brought his assumed glorified flesh. It was his work to purchase it; it is his work to prepare it, and to prepare me for it, and to bring me to it. The Eternal God of truth hath given me his promise, his seal, and his oath to assure me,1 that believing in Christ I shall not perish, but have everlasting life; Thither shall my soul be speedily removed, and my body very shortly follow. It is not so far▪ but he that is every where can bring me thither, nor so difficult and unlikely, but Omnipotency can effect it. And though this unbelief may diminish my delights, and much abate my joys in the way, Yet shall it not abate the love of my Redeemer, nor make the promise of none effect. And can my tongue say, that I shall shortly and surely live with God; and yet my heart not leap within me? Can I say it believingly, and not rejoicingly? Ah faith! how sensibly now do I perceive thy weakness? Ah unbelief! if I had never heard or known it before, yet how sensibly now do I perceive thy malicious tyranny? But, though thou darken my light, and dull my life, and suppress my joys, yet shalt thou not be able to conquer and destroy me. There shall I, and my joys survive, when thou art dead, and though thou envy all my comforts, yet some in despite of thee, I shall even here receive; But were it not for thee, what abundance might I have? The light of Heaven would shine into my heart; and I might be as familiar there as I am on earth.
Away then you soul-tormenting cares and fears! Away you importune heart-vexing sorrows! At least forbear me a little while; stand by, and trouble not my aspiring soul; stay here below, whilest I go up, and see my Rest. The way is strange to me, but ⟨p. 806⟩not to Christ. There was the eternal dwelling of his glorious deitie; And thither hath he also brought his assumed glorified flesh. It was his work to purchase it; it is his work to prepare it, and to prepare me for it, and to bring me to it. The Eternal God of truth hath given me his promise, his seal, and his oath to assure me,