A27017:856
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 4 › Section 2
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. II.1
- 1§. 2.
2. The place or state of torment is purposely ordained for the glorifying of the Attribute of Gods Justice. As all the Works of God are great and wonderful, so those above all, which are specially intended for the eminent advancing of some of his Attributes: When he will glorify his Power, he makes the worlds by his Wisdom: The comely order of all and singular creatures declare his Wisdom; His Providence is shown in sustaining all things, and maintaining Order, and attaining his excellent ends, amongst the confused, perverse, tumultuous agitations of a world of wicked, foolish, self-destroying Miscreants: When a spark of his Wrath doth kindle upon the earth, the whole world, save only eight persons, are drowned; Sodom Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim are burnt with fire from heaven to ashes; The sea shuts her mouth upon some; The earth doth open and swallow others; The Pestilence destroyeth them up by thousands: The present deplorable estate of the Jews may fully testify this to the world: And yet the glorifying of the two great Attributes, of Mercy and Justice, is intended most eminently for the life to come. As therefore when God will purposely then glorify his Mercy, he will do it in a way and degree that is now incredible and beyond the comprehension of the Saints that must enjoy it; so that the blood of his Son, and the enjoyment of himself immediately in Glory shall not be thought too high an honour for them: So also, when the time comes that he will purposely manifest his Justice, it shall appear to be indeed the Justice of God: The everlasting flames of Hell will not be thought too hot for the Rebellious; and when they have there burned through millions of Ages, he will not repent him of the evil which is befallen them. O, woe to the soul that is thus set up for a Butt, for the wrath of the Almighty to shoot at! and for a Bush that must burn in the flames of his Jealousy, and never be consumed!