A27017:2117
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.
and accompany so much with sin and sinners? When Heaven is set open, as it were, to our daily view, and God doth offer us daily admittance into his presence? O how is the unseen God neglected! and the unseen Glory forgotten, and made light of? and all because they are unseen!1 and for want of that Faith, which is the Substance of things hoped for, and the Evidence of things that are not seen?
But for you, sincere Believers, whose hearts God hath weaned from all things here below, I hope you will value this Heavenly Life, and fetch one walk daily in the New Jerusalem! I know God is your Love, and your desire; and I know you would fain be more acquainted with your Saviour; and I know it is your grief, that your hearts are not more near him; and that they do no more feelingly and passionately love him, and delight in him. As ever you would have all this mended, and enjoy your desires, O try this Life of Meditation on your Everlasting Rest! Here is the Mount Ararat, where the fluctuated Ark of your Souls must Rest. O let the World see by your Heavenly Lives, That Religion lieth in something more then Opinions, and Disputes, and a task of outward Duties: Let men see in you, what a Life they must aim at. If ever a Christian be like himself, and answerable to his Principles and Profession, it is when he is most serious, and lively in this Duty, when, as Moses before he died, went up into Mount Nebo, to take a survey of the Land of Canaan; so the Christian doth ascend this Mount of Contemplation, and take a survey by Faith of his Rest. He looks upon the glorious delectable Mansions, and saith, Glorious things are deservedly spoken of thee, O thou City of God: He heareth, as it were, the melody of the Heavenly Chore, and beholdeth the excellent employment of those Spirits, and saith, Blessed are the people that are in such a case, yea, blessed are they that have the Lord for their God: He next looketh to the glorified Inhabitants of that Region, and saith, Happy art thou, O the Israel of God, a people saved by the Lord, the Shield of thy Strength, the Sword of thine Excellency. When he looketh upon the Lord himself, who is their Glory, he is ready with the rest, to fall down and worship him that liveth for ever, and say, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come; Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive Glory, and Honour, and Power. When he looks on the Glorified Saviour of the Saints, he is ready to say, Amen, to that new Song, Blessing, honour, glory, and power be to him that sitteth on the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever; for he hath redeemed us out of every Nation by his blood, and made us Kings, and Priests to God.