A27017:2111
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.
Sixthly, And it is the want of these Heavenly Delights in God, that makes men so entertain the delights of the flesh: This is the cause of most mens voluptuousness, and flesh-pleasing. The Soul will not rest without some kind of delights: If it had nothing to delight in, either in hand, or in hope, it would be in a kind of Hell on Earth, vexing it self with continual sorrow and despair. If a Dog have lost his Master, he will follow somebody else. Men must have their sweet Cups, or delicious Fare, or gay Apparel, or Cards, or Dice, or Fleshly Lasts, to make up their want of delight in God: (How well these will serve in stead of God, our fleshly youths will be better able to tell me, when we meet at Judgment.) If men were acquainted with this Heavenly Life, there would need no Laws against Sabbath breaking, and riotousness; nor would men need to go for mirth to an Alehouse or a Tavern: They would have a far sweeter pastime, and recreation nearer hand.
Sixthly, And it is the want of these Heavenly Delights in God, that makes men so entertain the delights of the flesh: This is the cause of most mens voluptuousness, and flesh-pleasing. The Soul will not rest without some kinde of delights: If it had nothing to delight in, either in hand, or in hope, it would be in a kinde of Hell on Earth, vexing it self with continual sorrow and despair. If a Dog have lost his Master, he will follow somebody else. Men must have their sweet Cups, or delicious Fare, or gay Apparel, or Cards, or Dice, or Fleshly Lasts, to make up their want of delight in God: (How well these will serve in stead of God, our fleshly youths will be better able to tell me, when we meet at Judgment.) If men were acquainted with this Heavenly Life, there would need no Laws against Sabbath breaking, and riotousness; nor would men need to go for mirth to an Alehouse or a Tavern: They would have a far sweeter pastime, and recreation neerer hand.
Seventhly also, This want of Heavenly Delights, will leave men under the power of every Affliction; they will have nothing to comfort them, and ease them in their sufferings, but the empty, ⟨p. 844⟩uneffectual pleasures of the flesh; and when that is gone, where then is their delight?