A27017:899
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 11
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.
LECT. XI.1
- 1§. 11.
And thus I have showed you somewhat of their misery, who miss of this Rest prepared for the Saints. And now Reader, I demand thy resolution, what use thou wilt make of all this? Shall it all be lost to thee? or wilt thou as thou art alone consider of it in good earnest? Thou hast cast by many a warning of God, wilt thou do so by this also? Take heed what thou dost, and how thou so resolvest; God will not always stand warning and threatening; The hand of revenge is lifted up; the blow is coming, and woe to him whoever he be on whom it lighteth; Little thinkest thou how near thou standest to thy eternal state, and how near the Pit thou art dancing in thy greatest jollity; if thy eyes were but opened, as they will be shortly, thou wouldest see all this that I have spoken before thine eyes without stirring from the place (I think) in which thou standest. Dost thou throw by the Book, and say, It speaks of nothing but Hell and Damnation? Thus thou usest also to complain of the Minister; but wouldst thou not have us to tell thee of these things? should we be guilty of the blood of thy soul, by keeping silent that which God hath charged us upon pain of death to make known▪ wouldst thou perish in ease and silence? and also have us to perish with thee, rather then to awake thee, or displease thee by speaking the truth? If thou wilt be guilty of such inhumane cruelty, yet God forbid we should be guilty of such most sottish folly! There are few Preachers so simple, but they know that this kind of Preaching is the ready way to be hated of their Hearers: And the desire of applause, and the favour of men is so natural to all men, that I think there is few that delight in such a displeasing way: Our temptations to flattery and Man-pleasing are too strong for that. But I beseech the consider; Are these things true, or are they not? If they were not true, I would heartily join with thee against any Minister that should offer to Preach them, and to affright poor people when there is no cause; and I should think such Preachers did deserve Death or Banishment: But if every word of these threatenings be the words of God, and if they be as true as thou livest and readest this, what a wretch art thou that