A27017:906
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 5 › 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.
1SECT. II.
- 1§. 2.
I shall apply this Reproof more particularly yet to […] several sorts of men. First, To the carnal worldly-minded man, who is so taken up in seeking the things below, that he hath neither heart nor time to seek this Rest.
I shall apply this Reproof more particularly yet to 〈…〉 several sorts of men. First, To the carnal worldly-minded man, who is so taken up in seeking the things below, that he hath neither heart nor time to seek this Rest.
1May I not well say to these men, as Paul to the Galatians in another case? Foolish sinners! who hath bewitched you? It is not for nothing that Divines use to call the world a Witch▪ for as in Witchcraft mens lives, senses, goods, or cattle are destroyed by […] […] secret unseen power of the Devil, of which a man can give no natural Reason; so here, men will destroy their own souls in a way quite against their own knowledge; and as Witches will make a man dance ⟨p. 341⟩naked, or do the most unseemly, unreasonable actions; so the world doth bewitch men into brute beasts, and draw them some degrees beyond madness. Would not any man wonder that is in his right wit, and hath but the spiritual use of Reason, to see what riding and running, what scrambling and catching there is for a thing of naught, while eternal Rest lies by neglected! what contriving and caring, what fighting and bloodshed to get a step higher in the world then their brethren, while they neglect the Kingly dignity of the Saints! what insatiable pursuit of fleshly pleasures, whilst they look upon the Praises of God, which is the joy of Angels, as a tiring burden! what unwearied diligence there is in raising their posterity, in enlarging their possessions, in gathering a little silver or gold? yea, perhaps for a poor living from hand to mouth? while in the mean time their Judgment is drawing near; and yet how it shall go with them then? or how they shall live eternally, did never put them to the trouble of ones hours sober consideration; what rising early, and sitting up late, and labouring, and caring year after year to maintain themselves and their children in credit till they dye, but what shall follow after that they never think on, as if it were only their work to provide for their bodies, and only Gods work to provide for their souls, whereas God hath promised more to provide for their bodies without their care, then for their souls; though indeed they must painfully serve his Providence for both; and yet these men can cry to us; May not a man be saved without so much ado? And may we not say with more reason to them? May not a man have a little Air, or Earth? a little credit or wealth without so much ado? or at least, may not a man have enough to bring him to his grave without so much ado? O how early do they rouse up their servants to their labour?