A27017:322
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.
He discerned that such young Christians that have got but a little smattering knowledge in Religion, do lie in greatest danger of this Pride and Condemnation. Who but a Paul could have foreseen that among the very Teachers and Governors of so choice a Church as Ephesus, that came to see and hear him, that pray and weep with him, there were some that afterwards should be notorious Sect-mastersf? That of their own selves men should arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them? Acts 20.30. Who then can expect better from any Society now, how knowing and holy soever? To day they may be Orthodox, unanimous, and joined in Love; and perhaps within a few weeks be divided, and at bitter enmity, through their doting about Questions that tend not to edify. Who that had seen how loving the godly in England did live together, when they were hated and scorned of all, would have believed that ever they would have been so bitter against one another. That when those who derided us for Preaching, for Hearing, for constant Praying in our Families, for singing Psalms, for sanctifying the Lords day, for repeating Sermons, for taking Notes, for desiring Discipline, &c. ⟨p. 119⟩had their mouths stopped; we should fall upon one another for the very same duties; and that Professors of Religion should oppose and deride almost all that worship of God out of Conscience, which others did before them through profaneness? Did I not think, that of all other, the scorning at the worshippers of Christ, had been a sure sign of a wicked wretch? But I see now we must distinguish between scorners and scorners, or else I fear we shall exclude almost all. I read indeed in Pagan Writers, That these Christians were as cruel as Bears and Tigers against one another:2 Ammianus Marcellinus gives it as the Reason of Julians policy, in proclaiming Liberty for every party, to Profess, and Preach their own Opinions, because he knew the cruel Christians would then most fiercely fall upon one another; and so by *Liberty of Conscience, and by keeping their Children from the Schools of Learning, he thought to have rooted out Christianity from the Earth. But I had hoped this accusation had come from the malice of the Pagan Writer: Little did I think to have seen it so far verified! Lord, what Devils are we unsanctified, when there is yet such a Nature remaining in the sanctified?