A27017:398
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.
Yet hath the Creature here a twofold consideration. First, As it is vain and insufficient to perform what the Idolater expecteth; and so I handle it here. Secondly, As it is the object of such sinful abuse, and the occasion of sin; and so it falls under the former branch, of our [turning from sin,] and in this sense their division may be granted: but this is only a various respect; for indeed it is still only our sinful abuse of the Creature, in our vain admirations, undue estimations, too strong affections, and false expectations, which we turn from.
Yet hath the Creature here a twofold consideration. First, As it is vain and insufficient to perform what the Idolater expecteth; and so I handle it here. Secondly, As it is the object of such sinful abuse, and the occasion of sin; and so it falls under the former branch, of our [turning from sin,] and in this sense their division may be granted: but this is onely a various respect; for indeed it is still onely our sinful abuse of the Creature, in our vain admirations, undue estimations, too strong affections, and false expectations, which we turn from.
There is a twofold Error very common in the descriptions of the work of Conversion.1 The one, of those who only mention the sinners turning from sin to God, without mentioning any receiving of Christ by Faith. The other of those, who on the contrary, only mention a sinners believing, and then think they have said all. Nay, they blame them as Legalists who make any thing but the bare believing of the love of God in Christ to us, to be part of this work;2 and would persuade poor souls to question all their former comforts, and conclude the work to have been only legal and unsound, because they have made their changes of heart, and turning from sin and Creatures, part of it; and have taken up part of their comfort from the reviewing of these, as evidences of a right work. Indeed, should they take up here without Christ, or take such change in stead of Christ, in whole or in part; the reprehension were just, and the danger great. But can Christ be the way, where the Creature is the end? Is he not only the way to the Father? And must not a right end be intended, before right means? Can we seek to Christ for to reconcile us to God, while in our hearts we prefer the Creature before him?