A27017:210
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.
He whose first coming was not to condemn the world, 1but that the world through him might be saved; I am sure intends not his second coming to condemn his people, but that they through him might be saved. He hath given us Eternal Life in Charter and Title already, yea, and partly in possession; and will he after that condemn us? When he gave us the knowledge of his Father and himself,2 he gave us Eternal Life: And he hath verily told us, That he that heareth his word, and believeth on him that sent him, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life. Indeed if our Judg were our enemy, as he is to the world, then we might well fear. If the Devil were our Judg, or the Ungodly were our Judg, then we should be condemned as Hypocrites, as Heretics, as Schismatics, as proud, or covetous, or what not?3 But our Judg is Christ who dyed, yea rather who is risen again, and maketh request for us. For all power is given him in ⟨p. 62⟩Heaven and in Earth; 4and all things delivered into his hands: and the Father hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. For though God judg the world, yet the Father (immediately without his Vicegerent Christ) judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. Oh what inexpressible joy may this afford to a Believer? That our Dear Lord, who loveth our Souls, and whom our Souls love, shall be our Judg? Will a man fear to be judged by his dearest friend? By a Brother? By a Father? Or a Wife by her own Husband? Christian, Did he come down, and suffer, and weep▪ and bleed, and dye for thee; and will he now condemn thee? Was he judged, and condemned, and executed in thy stead; and now will he condemn thee himself? Did he make a Bath of his blood for thy sins? and a garment of his own Righteousness, for thy nakedness? and will he now open them to thy shame? Is he the undertaker for thy Salvation? and will he be against thee? Hath it cost him so dear to save thee? and will he now himself destroy thee? Hath he done the most of the work already, in Redeeming, Regenerating, and Sanctifying, Justifying, preserving and perfecting thee? and will he now undo all again? Nay, hath he begun, and will he not finish? Hath he interceded so long for thee to the Father? and will he cast thee away himself?