A27017:404
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.
SECT. V.1
- 1§ 5.
4. And as the Will is thus averted from the fore-mentioned objects;1 so at the same time doth it cleave to God the Father, and to Christ. Its first acting in order of Nature, is toward the whole Divine Essence; and it consists especially in [electing and desiring God for his portion and chief Good:] Having before been convinced,1 That nothing else can be his happiness, he now finds it is in God; and there looks toward it. But it is yet rather with desire, then hope; For alas, the sinner hath already found himself to be a stranger and enemy to God, under the guilt of sin, and curse of his Law; and knows there is no coming to him in peace, till his case be altered: And therefore having before been convinced also, That only Christ is able, and willing to do this; and having heard this mercy in the Gospel freely offered, his next act is,2 Secondly, [to accept most affectionately of Christ, for Saviour and Lord.] I put the former before this; because the ultimate end is necessarily the first intended; and the Divine Essence is principally that ultimate end; yet not excluding the humane nature in the second person: But Christ as Mediator ⟨p. 158⟩is the way to that end;4 and throughout the Gospel is offered to us in such terms, as import his Being the means of making us happy in God. And though that former act of the soul toward the Godhead, do not justify, as this last doth; yet is it (I think) as proper to the people of God as this: nor can any man unregenerate, truly choose God for his Lord, his portion, and chief good. Therefore do they both mistake: They who only mention our turning to Christ, and they who only mention our turning to God, in this work of Conversion, as is touched before. Pauls preaching was, Repentance toward God, and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.