A27017:963
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 6 › Section 17
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. XVII.
116. Consider; Violence and laborious Striving for Salvation, is the way that the Wisdom of God hath directed us to, as best; and his Sovereign Authority appointed us, as necessary. Who knows the way to Heaven, better then the God of Heaven? When men tell us, that we are too strict and precise, whom do they accuse? God or us?2 If we do no more then what we are commanded, nor so much neither, they may as well say, God hath made Laws which are too strict and precise. Sure if it were a fault, it would lie in him that commands it, and not in us who are bound to obey. And dare these men think that they are wiser then God? Do they know better then he, what men must do to be saved? These are the men that ask us, Whether we be wiser then all the world besides? and yet they will pretend to be wiser then God. What do they less, when God bids us take the most diligent course, and they tell us, It is more ado then needs? Mark well the language of the Laws of God, and see how you can reconcile it with the language of the world: Mat. 11.12. The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence, and the Violent take it by force. Or as it is in Luke 16.16. Every one presseth into it. Luke 13.24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many shall seek to enter in, and not be able. So Mat. 7.13.14. Eccles. 9.10