A27017:338
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.
1SECT. XVII.
- 1§ 17.
99. WE shall Rest also from all the trouble and pain of Duty. The Conscientious Magistrate now cries out, O the burden that lieth upon me! The conscientious parents that know the preciousness of their children's souls, and the constant pains required to their godly education cry out, O, the burden! The conscientious Minister above all, when he reads his charge. 2 Tim, 4.1. and views his pattern, Mark. 3.20.21. &c. Act. 20.18, 31. When he hath tried a while what it is to study, and pray, and preach, according to the weight and Excellency of the work; to go from house to house, and from neighbour to neighbour, and to beseech them night and day with tears; and after all to be hated and persecuted for so doing; no wonder if he cry out, O, the burden! and be ready […] to run away with Jonah, and with Jeremiah to say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his Name: For his word is a reproach to us, and a derision daily; But that he hath made his word as a fire shut up in our bones and heart, that we are weary of forbearing and cannot stay. Jer. 20.8, 9. How long may we study and labour before one soul is brought clear over to Christ? And when it is done, how soon do the snares of sensuality or error entangle them? How many receive the doctrine of delusion, before they have time to be built up in the Truth? And when Heresies must of necessity arise, how few of them do appear approved? The first new, strange apparition of light doth so amaze them, that they think they are in the third Heavens, when they are but newly passed from the suburbs of Hell; and are presently as confident, as if they knew all things, when they have not yet half light enough to acquaint them with their ignorance; But after 10 or 20 years study they become usually of the same judgment with those they despised. And seldom doth a Minister live to see the ripeness of his people; but one soweth and planteth, another watereth, and a third reapeth and receiveth the increase.