A27017:654
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 7 › Section 1
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.
That there is such a Word, I prove thus: If it cannot stand with the welfare of mankind, and consequently with that honour which the wisdom and goodness of God hath by their welfare, that the world should be without a written Law; then certainly there is such a written Law. But that it cannot stand with the welfare of the creature, or that honour of God, appears thus. That there be a certain and sufficient Revelation of the VVill of God to man, more then mere Nature and Creatures do teach, is necessary to the welfare of man, and the aforesaid honour of God. But there is now no such certain and sufficient Revelation unwritten in the ⟨p. 236⟩world; therefore it is necessary that there be such a Revelation written. The proof of the Major is the main task, which if it be well performed will clearly carry the whole cause; for I believe all the rest will quickly be granted, if that be once plain: Therefore I shall stand a little the more largely to prove it, viz. That there is a necessity for the welfare of man, and the honour of Gods Wisdom and Goodness, that there be some further Revelation of Gods VVill, then is in mere Nature or Creatures to be found. And first, I will prove it necessary to the welfare of man; And that thus. If man have a Happiness or Misery to partake of after this life, and no sufficient Revelation of it in Nature or Creatures, then it is necessary that he have some other Revelation of it, which is sufficient. But such a Happiness or Misery man must partake of hereafter, which Nature and Creatures do not sufficiently reveal, (either end or means) therefore some other is necessary. I will stand the largelier on the first Branch of the Antecedent, because the chief weight lieth on it; and I scarce ever knew any doubt of Scripture, but they also doubted of the immortal state and recompense of souls; and that usually is their first and chiefest doubt.
That there is such a Word, I prove thus: If it cannot stand with the welfare of mankinde, and consequently with that honor which the wisdom and goodness of God hath by their welfare, that the world should be without a written Law; then certainly there is such a written Law. But that it cannot stand with the welfare of the creature, or that honor of God, appears thus. That there be a certain and sufficient Revelation of the VVill of God to man, more then meer Nature and Creatures do teach, is necessary to the welfare of man, and the aforesaid honour of God. But there is now no such certain and sufficient Revelation unwritten in the