A27017:242
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. VIII.
8. Reason concludes that for the Best,1 which is so in the Judgment of the Best and wisest men. Though, it's true, the Judgment of imperfect man, can be no perfect Rule of Truth or Goodness: Yet God revealeth this Good to all on whom he will bestow it; and hides not from his people the end they should aim at and attain. If the Holiest men are the Best and Wisest, then their Lives tell you their Judgments; and their unwearied labour and sufferings for this Rest, shows you, they take it for the perfection of their Happiness. If men of greatest experience be the wisest men, and they that have tried both estates; then surely, it's vanity and vexation that's found below, and solid Happiness and Rest above. If dying men are wiser then others; who by the worlds forsaking them, and by the approach of Eternity, begin to be undeceived; then surely Happiness is hereafter, and not here: For though the deluded world in their flourishing prosperity can bless themselves in their fools paradise, and merrily jest at the simplicity of the Saints; yet scarce one of many, even of the worst of them, but are ready at last to cry out with Balaam, Oh that I might dye the death of the righteous, and my last end might be like his. Never take heed therefore what they think or say now, for as sure as they shall dye, they will one of these days think and say clean contrary. As we regard not what a drunken man says, because it is not he, but the drink, and when he hath slept he will awake in another mind: so ⟨image 54⟩why should we regard what wicked men say now, who are drunk with security and fleshly delights? When we know before hand for certain, that when they have slept the sleep of death, at the furthest, they will awake in another mind. Only pity the perverted understandings of these poor men who are beside themselves; knowing, that one of these days, when too late experience brings them to their right minds, they will be of a far different Judgment. They ask us, What, are you wiser then your fore-fathers? then all the Town besides? then such and such Great men, and learned men? And do you think in good sadness we may not with better reason ask you, What? are you wiser then Enoch, and Noah? then Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel? then David and Solomon? then Moses and the Prophets?