A27017:548
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 4 › Section 3
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 here I must run over the three foregoing Particulars again; and show you; first, That the witnesses of Scripture-Miracles, could, and did infallibly know the Truth which they testified: secondly, That they had no intent to deceive the world; and thirdly, That it hath been brought down to Posterity by a way so infallible, that there remains no doubt, whether our Records are Authentic. For the first of these I think will be most easily acknowledged: Men are naturally so confident of the infallibility of their own senses, that sure they will not suspect the senses of others. But if they should, let them apply here what is said before to put them out of doubt.1 First, It was matter of Fact, which might be easily discerned. Secondly, The Apostles and others who bear witness to it, were present, yea, continual companions of Christ, and the multitude of Christians were eye-witnesses of the Miracles of the Apostles, Thirdly, These were men neither blind nor deaf, but of as sound and perfect senses as we. Fourthly, This is apparent: first, Because they were great multitudes, even that were present, and therefore could not all be blind, if they had, how did they walk about? Fifthly, These Miracles were not done by night, nor in a corner, but in the open light in the midst of the people. Sixthly, They were not once or twice only performed, but very oft, of several kinds, by several persons, even Prophets, ⟨p. 198⟩and Christ himself and his Apostles in many Generations; so that if there had been any deceit,2 it might have been easily discovered. Seventhly, and lastly, It was in the midst of vigilant and subtle enemies, who were able and ready enough to have evinced the deceit.
And here I must run over the three foregoing Particulars again; and shew you; first, That the witnesses of Scripture-Miracles, could, and did infallibly know the Truth which they testified: secondly, That they had no intent to deceive the world; and thirdly, That it hath been brought down to Posterity by a way so infallible, that there remains no doubt, whether our Records are Authentick. For the first of these I think will be most easily acknowledged: Men are naturally so confident of the infallibility of their own senses, that sure they will not suspect the senses of others. But if they should, let them apply here what is said before to put them out of doubt.