A27017:378
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.
but they cannot procure him answerable affections. It is true, some soft and passionate Natures may have tears at command, when one that is truly gracious hath none; yet is this Christian with dry eyes, more solidly apprehensive and deeply affected, then the other is in the midst of his tears; and the weeping Hypocrite will be drawn to his sin again with a trifle, which the groaning Christian would not be hired to commit, with Crowns and Kingdoms.
The things that the Soul is thus convinced and sensible of,1 are especially these in the Description mentioned.
- 1What the Soul is convinced and sensible of.
11. The evil of sin. The sinner is made to know and feel, that the sin which was his delight, his sport, the support of his credit, and estate, is indeed a more loathsome thing then Toads or Serpents; and a greater evil then Plague or Famine, or any other calamity: It being a breach of the righteous Law of the most high God, dishonourable to him, and destructive to the sinner. Now the sinner reads and hears no more the reproofs of sin, as words of course, as if the Minister wanted something to say, to fill up his Sermon; but when you mention his sin, you stir in his wounds; he feels you speak at his very heart, and yet is contented you should show him the worst, and set it home, though he bear the smart. He was wont to marvel what made men keep such a stir against sin; what harm it was for a man to take a little forbidden pleasure: he saw no such heinousness in it, that Christ must needs die for it, and most of the world be eternally tormented in Hell: He thought this was somewhat hard measure, and greater punishment then could possibly be deserved, by a little fleshly liberty, or worldly delight, neglect of Christ, his Word, or Worship, yea, by a wanton thought, a vain word, a dull duty, or cold affection. But now the case is altered; God hath opened his eyes to see that unexpressable vileness in sin, which satisfies him of the reason of all this.