A27017:640
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 6 › Section 6
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.
Sixthly, They are performed in answer to the prayers of believers: while they urge God with the promises of Scripture, then doth he appear in these evident providences. This is a common and powerful Argument, which most Christians may draw from their own experiences. Had we no other Argument to prove Scripture to be the word of God, but only the strange success of the prayers of the Saints, while they trust upon, and plead the promises with fervency; I think it might much confirm experienced men. What wonders, yea what apparent miracles did the prayers of former Christians procure? cHence the Christians soldiers in their Army were called, the Thundering Legion: they could do more by their prayers, then the rest by their Arms. Hence (as Zuingerus testifies) Gregory was called [Greek or Hebrew], from his frequent miracles among the heathen. And Vincenti•• reporteth that Sulpitius Bituricensis did expel Devils, heal the sick and raise the dead, by praying to God for them. When Myconius (a godly Divine) lay sick of that Consumption which is called a Ph•hisis, Luther prayeth earnestly that he might be recovered, and that he might not dye before himself. And so ⟨p. 233⟩confident was he of the grant of his desire, that he writes boldly to Myconius, that he should not dye now, but should remain yet longer upon this earth. Upon these prayers did Myconius presently revive, as from the dead; and live six years after, till Luther was dead: And himself hath largely written the story, and professed, that when he read Luther's letters he seemed to hear that voice of Christ, Lazarus come forth. Yea so powerful and prevailing was Luther in prayer, that Justus Jonas writes of him, Iste vir potuit quod voluit: That man could do what his list.
Sixthly, They are performed in answer to the prayers of believers: while they urge God with the promises of Scripture, then doth he appeare in these evident providences. This is a common and powerfull Argument, which most Christians may draw from their own experiences. Had we no other Argument to prove Scripture to be the word of God, but only the strange successe of the prayers of the Saints, while they trust upon, and plead the promises with fervency; I think it might much confirm experienced men. What wonders, yea what apparent miracles did the prayers of former Christians procure?