A27017:2109
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.
Fourthly, It will make men have no delight in the service of God, when they have no delight in God, nor any sweet thoughts of Heaven, which is the end of their services. No wonder if such Christians complain, That they are still backward to Duty; that they have no delight in Prayer, in Sacraments, or in Scripture it self: If thou couldst once delight in God, thou wouldst easily delight in duty; especially, that which bringeth thee into the nearest converse with him: But till then, no wonder if thou be weary of all; (further then some external excellency may give thee a carnal delight.) Doth not this cause many Christians to go on so heavily in secret duties? like the Ox in the Furrow, that will go no longer then he is driven, and is glad when he is unyoked?
Fourthly, It will make men have no delight in the service of God, when they have no delight in God, nor any sweet thoughts of Heaven, which is the end of their services. No wonder if such Christians complain, That they are still backward to Duty; that they have no delight in Prayer, in Sacraments, or in Scripture it self: If thou couldst once delight in God, thou wouldst easily delight in duty; especially, that which bringeth thee into the neerest converse with him: But till then, no wonder if thou be weary of all; (further then some external excellency may give thee a carnal delight.) Doth not this cause many Christians to go on so heavily in secret duties? like the Ox in the Furrow, that will go no longer then he is driven, and is glad when he is unyoaked?
Fifthly, Yea, it much endangereth the perverting of mens ⟨p. 843⟩judgments, concerning the ways of God, and means of Grace, when they have no delight in God and Heaven. Though it be said, Perit omne judicium cum res transit in affectum, That Judgment perisheth, when things pass into Affection; yet that is but when Affection leadeth the Judgment, and not when it followeth. Affection holdeth its object faster then bare Judgment doth. The Soul will not much care for that Truth, which is not accompanied with suitable goodness; and it will more easily be drawn to believe that to be false, which it doth not delightfully apprehend to be good; which doubtless is no small cause of the ungodly's prejudice, against the ways of God, and of many formal mens dislike of extemporate Prayers, and of a strict observation of the Lords day: Had they a true delight in God, and heavenly Things, it would rectify their judgments better then all the arguments in the world. Lose this delight once, and you will begin to quarrel with the Ordinances and Ways of God, and to be more offended at the Preachers imperfections, then profited by the Doctrine.