A27017:843
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 3 › Section 4
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. IV.1
- 1§. 4.
Thirdly, Another Additional loss will be this. They will lose-all that false peace of Conscience, which maketh their present life so easy. The loss of this must necessarily follow the loss of the former. When Presumption and Hope are gone, Peace cannot tarry. Who would think now that sees how quietly the multitude of the ungodly live, that they must very shortly lye roaring in everlasting flames? They lye down, and rise, and sleep as quietly, they eat and drink as quietly; they go about their work as cheerfully, they talk as pleasantly as if nothing ailed them, or as if they were as far out of danger as an obedient Believer; like a man that hath the Falling-sickness, you would little think while he is labouring as strongly, and talking as heartily as another man, how he will presently fall down, and lye gasping, and foaming, and beating his breast in torment; So it is with these men: They are as free from the fears of Hell as others, as free from any vexing sorrows, not so much as troubled with any cares for the state of their souls, nor with any sad or serious thoughts of what shall become of them in another world; yea, and for the most part they have less doubts or disquiet of mind, then those who shall be saved. O happy men, if it would be always thus! and if this peace would prove a lasting peace! But alas, there's the misery, it will not. They are now in their own Element, as the Fish in the water, but little knows that silly creature, when he is most fearlessly and delightfully swallowing down the Bait, how suddenly he shall be snatched out, and lye dead upon the Bank! And as little think these careless sinners, what a change they are near. The Sheep, or ⟨p. 312⟩the Ox is driven quietly to the slaughter, because he knows not whither he goes; if he knew it were to his death, you could not drive him so easily. How contented is the Swine, when the Butchers Knife is shaving his throat? little thinking that it is to prepare for his death. Why, it is even so with these sensual careless men: they fear the mischief least, when they are nearest to it, because they feel it not, or see it not with their eyes: As in the days of Noah (saith Christ) they were eating and drinking,