A27017:376
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.
This Conviction implieth also, the subduing and silencing in some measure of all their carnal Reasonings, which were wont to prevail against the Truth, and a discovery of the fallacies of all their former Argumentations.
This Conviction implyeth also, the subduing and silencing in some measure of all their carnal Reasonings, which were wont to prevail against the Truth, and a discovery of the fallacies of all their former Argumentations.
22. As there must be Conviction, so also Sensibility: God works on the Heart, as well as the Head; both were corrupted, and out of order. The principle of new Life doth quicken both. All true Spiritual Knowledge doth pass into Affections. That Religion which is merely traditional, doth indeed swim loose in the Brain; and the Devotion which is kindled but by Men and Means, is hot in the mouth,2 and cold in the stomach. The Work that had no higher rise, then Education, Example, Custom, Reading, or Hearing, doth never kindly pass down to the Affections. The Understanding ⟨p. 147⟩which did receive but mere notions, cannot deliver them to the Affections as Realities. The bare help of Doctrine upon an unrenewed Soul produceth in the Understanding, but a superficial apprehension, and half Assent, and therefore can produce in the Heart but small sensibility. As Hypocrites may know many things (yea, as many as the best Christian) but nothing with the clear apprehensions of an experienced man; so may they with as many things, be slightly affected, but they give deep rooting to none. To read and hear of the worth of Meat and Drink, may raise some esteem of them; but not such as the hungry and thirsty feel, (for by feeling they know the worth thereof.) To view in the Map of the Gospel, the precious things of Christ, and his Kingdom, may slightly affect: But to thirst for, and drink of the living waters; and to travel, to live in, to be heir of that Kingdom, must needs work another kind of Sensibility. It is Christs own differencing Mark (and I had rather have one from him, then from any) that the good ground gives the good Seed deep rooting; but some others entertain it but into the surface of the soil, and cannot afford it depth of Earth. The great things of Sin, of Grace, and Christ, and Eternity, which are of weight one would think to move a Rock, yet shake not the heart of the carnal Professor, nor pierce his soul unto the quick. Though he should have them all ready in his Brain, and be a constant Preacher of them to others, yet do they little affect himself: When he is pressing them upon the hearts of others most earnestly, and crying out on the senselessness of his dull hearers; you would little think how insensible is his own soul, and the great difference between his tongue and his heart: His study and invention, procureth him zealous and moving expressions;