A27017:321
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.
How many secret dividing contrivances, must then be laid on the score of Christ, against whom and his Saints they were committed? The zealous Authors dare not own them: They would then with the Athenians burn their books, Acts 19.19. and rather lose their labour, then stand to it. There's no plotting to strengthen our party: nor deep designing against our Brethren. And is it not shame and pity, that our course is now so contrary? Surely if there be sorrow or shame in Heaven, we shall then be both sorry and ashamed to look one another there in the face; and to remember all this carriage on earth. Even as the Brethren of Joseph were to behold him, when they remembered their former unkind usage. Is it not enough that all the world is against us, but we must also be against one another? Did I ever think to have heard Christians so to creproach and scorn Christians? and men professing the fear of God, to make so little conscience of censuring, vilifying, slandering, and disgracing one another? Could I have believed him that would have told me five years ago; that when the scorners of Godliness were subdued, and the bitter prosecutors of the Church overthrown, that such should succeed them who suffered with us, who were our intimate friends; with whom we took sweet counsel and went up together to the house of God? Did I think it had been in the hearts of men professing such zeal to Religion, and the ways of Christ, to draw their dswords against each other, and to seek each others blood so fiercely? Alas, if the Judgment be once perverted, and error have possessed the supreme faculty, whither will men go, and what they will do? Nay, what will they not do? O what a potent instrument for Satan is a misguided Conscience! It will make a man kill his dearest friend, yea, father or mother, yea, the holiest Saint, and think he doth God service by it: And to facilitate the work, it will first blot out the reputation of their holiness, and make them take a Saint for a Devil, that so they may vilify or destroy him without remorse. ⟨p. 118⟩O what hellish things are eIgnorance and Pride, that can bring mens souls to such a case as this! Paul knew what he said, when he commanded that a Novice should not be a Teacher, lest being lifted up with Pride, he fall into the Condemnation of the Devil, 1 Tim 3.6.