A27017:92
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
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. X.
5. IN the Definition,1 I call a Christians Happiness, the end of [his Course] thereby meaning, as Paul, 2 Tim. 4.7. the whole scope of his life. For as Salvation may and must be our end, so not only the end of our faith (though that principally) but of all our actions; for as whatsoever we do, must be done to the glory of God, whether eating, drinking, &c. so must they all be done to our Salvation. That we may believe for Salvation, some will grant, who yet deny that we may do, or obey for it. *I would it were well understood, for the clearing of many controversies, what the Scripture usually means by Faith. Doubtless the Gospel takes it not so strictly as Philosophers do; but, in a larger sense, for our obedience to all Gospel precepts. To believe in his name, and to receive him, are all one:3 but we must receive him as King, as well as Saviour: therefore believing doth not produce subjection as a fruit,4 but contain it as an essential part, except we say that Faith receives Christ as a Saviour first, and so justifies before it take him for King (as some think,) which is a maimed, unsound, and no Scripture faith. I doubt not, but the Soul more sensibly looks at Salvation from Christ, then Government by him, in the first work; yet (whatever precedaneous act there may be) it never conceives of Christ to Justification, nor knows him with the knowledge which is eternal life, till it conceive of him, and know him for Lord and King. Therefore there is not such a difference between Faith and Gospel-obedience, or Works, as some judg: Obedience to the Gospel is put for Faith, and Disobedience put for Unbelief usually in the New Testament.