A27017:558
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.
17. Whether any Enemy hath with weight of Argument confuted the Christian Cause? Whether when they have undertaken it, it hath not been only an arguing the *improbability, or assigning ⟨p. 203⟩the Miracles to other causes, or an opposing the Doctrine delivered by the Christians, rather then these miraculous actions in question? I leave those to judg who have read their Writings. Yea, whether their common Arguments have not been Fire and Sword? 18. It is an easy matter yet to prove, that the enemies of Scripture have been incompetent Witnesses: First, Being men that were not present, or had not the opportunity to be so well acquainted with the Actions of Christ, of the Prophets and Apostles, as themselves and others that do attest them. Secondly, Being men of apparent malice, and possessed with much prejudice against the persons and things which they oppose. This I might easily and fully prove if I could stand upon it. Thirdly, They had all worldly advantages attending their Cause, which they were all to lose, with life it self, if they had appeared for Christ. Fourthly, They were generally men of no great Conscience, nor Moral Honesty, and most of them of most sensual and vicious conversation. This appears by their own Writings, both Doctrinal and Historical. What sensual Interpretations of the Law, did the very strict Sect of the Pharisees make? What fleshly Laws have the followers of Mahomet? What Vices did the Laws of the Heathens tolerate? Yea what foul errors are in the Ethics of their most rigid Moralists? And you may be sure that their lives were far worse then their Laws: And indeed their own Histories do acknowledge as much; To save me the labour of mentioning them, Read Dr. Hackwels Apology on that Subject. Sure such men are incompetent Witnesses in any cause between man and man, and would so be judged at any impartial Judicature. And indeed, how is it possible that they should be much better, when they have no Laws that teach them either what true Happiness is, or what is the way and means to attain it? Fifthly, Besides all this, their Testimony was only of the Negative, and that in such cases as it could not be valid.
17. VVhether any Enemy hath with weight of Argument confuted the Christian Cause? VVhether when they have undertaken it, it hath not been onely an arguing the