A27017:245
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. IX.
19. Lastly, Another Rule in Reason is this, That Good which containeth all other Good in it, must needs it self be best. And where do you think in Reason, that all the streams of Goodness do finally empty themselves? Is it not in God, from whom by secret springs they first proceed? Where else do all the Lines of Goodness concenter? Are not all the sparks contained in this fire? and all the drops in this Ocean? Surely the time was, when there was nothing besides God: and then all Good was only in him. And even now the creatures essence and existence is secondary, derived, contingent, improper, in comparison of his, who Is, and Was, and Is to Come; whose Name alone is called, I AM. What do thine eyes see, or thy heart conceive desirable, which is not there to be ⟨p. 75⟩had? Sin indeed there is none; but darest thou call that good? Worldly delights there are none; for they are Good but for the present Necessity, and please but the brutish Senses. Brethren, do you fear losing or parting with any thing you now enjoy? What? do you fear you shall want when you come to Heaven? shall you want the drops, when you have the Ocean? or the light of the Candle, when you have the Sun? or the shallow Creature, when you have the perfect Creator? Cast thy bread upon the waters, and after many days, 2thou shalt There find it. Lay abroad thy tears, thy prayers, pains, boldly and unweariedly; as God is true, thou dost but set them to usury,3 and shalt receive an hundred fold. Spare not, man, for State, for Honour, for Labour; If Heaven do not make amends for all, God hath deceived us; which who dare once imagine? Cast away Friends, House, Lands, Life, if he bid thee: Leap into the Sea,4 as Peter, if he command thee: Lose thy life, and thou shalt save it everlastingly; when those that saved theirs, shall lose them everlastingly: Venture all, man, upon Gods Word & Promise: There's a Day of Rest coming will fully pay for all. All the pence and the farthings thou expendest for him, are contained, with infinite advantage, in the massive Gold and Jewels of thy Crown. When Alexander had given away his Treasure, and they asked him where it was; he pointed to the poor, and said, in scriniis, in my chests. And when he went upon a hopeful expedition, he gave away his Gold; and when he was asked, what he kept for himself, he answers, spem majorum & meliorum, The hope of greater and better things.