A27017:472
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
THE SAINTS Everlasting REST. PART II. › Chapter 1 › Section 5
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.
1SECT. V.
- 1§ 5.
5Fifthly, Scripture further assures us, that the Saints have the beginnings, foretasts, earnest, and Seals of this Rest here: And may not all this assure them of the full possession? The very Kingdom of God is within them, Luke 17.21. They here (as is before said) take it by force. They have a beginning of that knowledge which Christ hath said is eternal life, John 17.3. I have fully manifested that before, that the Rest and Glory of the people of God, doth consist in their Knowing, Loving, Rejoicing, and Praising; and all these are begun (though but begun) here: therefore doubtless so much as we here know God; so much as we Love, Rejoice and Praise, so much we have of Heaven on earth, so much we enjoy of the Rest of Souls. And do you think that God will give the Beginning, where he never intends to give the End? Nay God doth give his people oftentimes, such foresights and foretasts of this same Rest, that their spirits are even transported with it, and they could heartily wish they might be present there. Paul is taken up into the third Heaven, and seeth things that must not be uttered. The Saints are kept by the power of God through faith unto that salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time, wherein they can greatly Rejoice even in temptations: 1 Pet. 1.5, 6. And therefore the Apostle also tells us, That they who now see not Christ, nor ever saw him; yet love him, and Believing do Rejoice in him, with joy unspeakable and full of Glory: Receiving the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls,