A27017:806
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 2 › Section 13
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.
SECT. XIII.1
- 1§. 13.
Eighthly, Furthermore, this also will be a most tormenting Consideration; to remember what they sold their eternal welfare for, and what it was that they had for heaven? when they compare the value of the pleasures of sin, with the value of the recompense of reward which they forsook for those pleasures: how will the vast disproportion astonish them! To think of a few merry hours, a few pleasant cups, or sweet morsels, a little ease, or low delight to the flesh, the applauding breath of the mouth of mortal men, or the possession of so much agold or earth; and then to think of the everlasting glory! what a vast difference between them will then appear? To think, This is all I had for my soul, my God, my hopes of blessedness! It cannot possibly be expressed how these thoughts will tear his very heart. Then will he exclaim against his folly, O deservedly miserable wretch! Did I set my soul to sale on so base a price? Did I part with my God for a little *dirt and dross? and sell my Saviour, as Judas, for a little silver? O for how small a matter have I parted with my Happiness? I had but a dream of delight, for my hopes of heaven; and now I am awaked, it is all vanished: where are now my honours and attendance? who doth applaud me, or trumpet out my praises? ⟨p. 294⟩where is the Cap and Knee that was wont to do me reverence? my Morsels now are turned to Gall, and my Cups to Wormwood: They delighted me no longer then while they were passing down, when they were past my taste, the pleasure perished. And is this all that I have had for the inestimable treasure? O what a mad exchange did I make? what if I had gained all the world and lost my soul? would it have been a saving match? But alas, how small a part of the world was it, for which I gave up my part in Glory? —O that sinners would forethink of this, when they are swimming in delights of flesh; and studying how to be rich, and honourable in the world! when they are desperately venturing upon known transgression, and sinning against the checks of Conscience!