A27017:758
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. III. › 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.
Thirdly, Moreover as they lose God, so they lose all those spiritual delightful Affections, and Actions, by which the Blessed do feed on God. That transporting knowledge: those ravishing views of his Glorious Face: The unconceivable pleasure of loving God. The apprehensions of his infinite Love to us; The constant joys which his Saints are taken up with; and the Rivers of consolation wherewith he doth satisfy them. Is it nothing to lose all this? The employment of a King in ruling a kingdom, doth not so far exceed the employment of the vilest scullion or slave, as this Heavenly employment exceedeth his.
THirdly, Moreover as they lose God, so they lose all those spiritual delightful Affections, and Actions, by which the Blessed do feed on God. That transporting knowledg: those ravishing views of his Glorious Face: The unconceivable pleasure of loving God. The apprehensions of his infinite Love to us; The constant joys which his Saints are taken up with; and the Rivers of consolation wherewith he doth satisfie them. Is it nothing to lose all this? The employment of a King in ruling a kingdome, doth not so far exceed the imployment of the vilest scullion or slave, as this Heavenly imployment exceedeth his.
These wretches had no delight in Praising God on earth; their recreations and pleasures were of another nature: and now, when the Saints are singing his praises, and employed in magnifying the Lord of Saints; then shall the ungodly be denied this happiness, and have an employment suitable to their natures and deserts: Their hearts were full of Hell upon earth: in stead of God, and his Love, and Fear, and Graces, there was Pride, and self-love, and lust, and unbelief; And therefore Hell must now entertain those Hearts, which formerly entertained so much of it. Their Houses on Earth were the resemblances of Hell: in stead of worshipping God, and calling upon his name, there was scorning at his worship, and swearing by his name: And now Hell must therefore be their habitation for ever, where they shall never be troubled with that worship and duty which they abhorred, but join with the rest of the damned in blaspheming that God who is avenging their former impieties and blasphemies. Can it probably be expected, that they who made themselves merry while they lived on earth, in deriding the persons and families of the godly, for their frequent worshipping and praising God, should at last be admitted into the Family of Heaven, and join with those Saints in those more perfect praises? Surely without a sound change upon their hearts before they go hence, it is utterly impossible. It is too late then to