A27017:225
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.
SECT. I.
1. That which is desired and sought for it self,1 is better then that which is desired for something else: or the End, as such, is better then all the Means. This concludeth for Heavens preeminence: All things are but means to that end. If any thing here be excellent, it is because it is a step to that: and the more conducible thereto, the more excellent. The Salvation of our Souls is the end of our Faith,2 of our Hope, our Diligence, of all Mercies, of all Ordinances, as before is proved: It is not for themselves, but ⟨p. 70⟩for this Rest, that all these are desired and used. Praying is not the end of Praying; nor Preaching the end of Preaching; nor Believing the end of Believing; these are but the way to him who is the way to this Rest.3 Indeed Christ himself is both the way and the Rest, the means and the end; singularly desirable as the way, but yet more as the end. If any thing then that ever you saw or enjoyed appear lovely and desirable, then must its end be so much more.
1. THat which is desired and sought for it self,1 is better then that which is desired for something else: or the End, as such, is better then all the Means. This concludeth for Heavens preheminence: All things are but means to that end. If any thing here be excellent, it is because it is a step to that: and the more conducible thereto, the more excellent. The Salvation of our Souls is the end of our Faith,