A27017:452
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.
and if they mistake, they are in Synods to consult for Information, and in cases of difficulty, beyond their own reach, to obey the Decrees of such a lawful Synod: But to expect a final decisive Judgment of all Controversies on Earth, is vain: And that Synods should be too bold in determining, what God hath left doubtful, and utterly uncertain, is destructive to the Unity and Peace of the Church, rather then conducible. And for men to believe any of their Conclusions, or obey any of their Canons, when we are sure, That they are contrary to the Word of God; this were to change our Master, and take them for Christ, the Prophet, who are but his Ambassadors and Ushers in his School. When we have disputed and contended our selves aweary, and wrangled the Church into flames and ashes; yet that which God hath spoken obscurely, and so left difficult in it self, will remain obscure and difficult still: And that which is difficult, through the weakness and incapacity of the Readers ⟨image 108⟩will be far better cleared by a rational Explication, then by a •are Canon. O when will the Lord once persuade his Churches •o take his Scripture Laws for the only Canon of their Faith! •nd that in their own naked Simplicity and Evidence! without •he Canons and Comments of men; which are no parts of our Creed, but helps to our understandings, and bounds to our practice […] matters circumstantial, which God hath left to mans determination! When will the Lord persuade us, not to be wise above what […] written? but to acknowledge that to be beyond us, which is unrevealed in the Word! and that to be doubtful, which is darkly revealed. Then the Contentions of the Church, about the Mysteries of the Divine Decrees, the nature of Internal Grace, and way, •nd manner of the Spirits working, &c. will be more calmly managed.
and if they mistake, they are in Synods to consult for Information, and in cases of difficulty, beyond their own reach, to obey the Decrees of such a lawful Synod: But to expect a final decisive Judgment of all Controversies on Earth, is vain: And that Synods should be too bold in determining, what God hath left doubtful, and utterly uncertain, is destructive to the Vnitie and Peace of the Church, rather then conducible. And for men to beleeve any of their Conclusions, or obey any of their Canons, when we are sure, That they are contrary to the Word of God; this were to change our Master, and take them for Christ, the Prophet, who are but his Ambassadors and Vshers in his School. When we have disputed and contended our selves aweary, and wrangled the Church into flames and ashes; yet that which God hath spoken obscurely, and so left difficult in it self, will remain obscure and difficult still: And that which is difficult, through the weakness and incapacity of the Readers