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 ...

SECT. II.

SEcondly,2 1.1 the Scripture tels us, that this Rest is Purchased, as well as Purposed for them; or that they are redeemed to this Rest. In what sense this may be said to be purchased by Christ, I have shewed before, viz. Not as the immediate work of his suffer∣ings (which was the payment of our debt, by satisfying the Law) but as a more remote, though most excellent fruit; even the ef∣fect of that power, which by his death he procured to himself. He himself for the suffering of death, was crowned with glory; yet did he not properly die for himself, nor was that the direct effect of his death.* 1.2 Some of those Teachers who are gone forth of late, do tell us, as a piece of their new discoveries, that Christ never pur∣chased Life and Salvation for us, but purchased us to Life and Sal∣vation * 1.3: Not understanding that they affirm and deny the same thing in severall expressions. What difference is there betwixt buying liberty to the prisoner, and buying the prisoner to liberty? betwixt buying life to a condemned malefactor, and buying him to life? Or betwixt purchasing Reconciliation to an enemy, and purchasing an enemy to Reconciliation? But in this last they have found a difference, and tell us, that God never was at enmity with man, but man only at enmity with God, and therefore need not be reconciled: Directly contrary to Scripture, which tels us that God hateth all the workers of iniquity,* 1.4 and that he is their enemy. And though there be no change in God, nor any thing properly called Hatred, yet it sufficeth that there is a change in the sinners relation, and that there is something in God which cannot better be expressed or conceived, then by these termes of enmity and ha∣tred: And the enmity of the Law against a sinner, may well be called the enmity of God. However, this differenceth betwixt en∣mity in God, and enmity in us; but not betwixt the sense of the forementioned expressions. So that whether you will call it pur∣chasing life for us, or purchasing us to life, the sense is the same, viz. By satisfying the Law, and removing impediments, to procure us Title to, and Possession of this Life.

It is then by the blood of Jesus that we have entrance into the Holyest. Heb. 10.19. Even all our entrance to the fruition of God, both that by faith and prayer here, and that by full possession

hereafter. Therefore do the Saints sing forth his praises, who hath Redeemed them out of every Nation by his blood, and made them Kings and Priests to God, Rev. 5.9.10.

Whether that, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Eph. 1.14. which is translated, the Redemption of the purchased profession, do prove this or not; yet I see no appearance of truth in their exposition of it,* 1.5 who (because they deny that salvation is pur∣chased by Christ) do affirme that its Christ himself who is there called the Purchased possession. Therefore did God give his Son, and the Son give his life, and therefore was Christ lift up on the Cross, as Moses lift up the Serpent in the Wilderness, that who∣soever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, John. 3.15, 16. So then I conclude, either Christ must loose his blood and sufferings,* 1.6 and never see of the travaile of his soul, but all his pains and expectation be frustrate, or els there remain∣eth a Rest to the people of God.

Notes

• 2 1.1

  That it is procured for them by the blood of Christ.
• * 1.2

  Paul Hobson.
• * 1.3

  I confesse the later is the more proper expression, and oftner used in the Scriptures.
• * 1.4

  Exod. 23.22. Psal. 11.5. Psal. 5.5. Isa. 63.10. Lam. 2.5.
• * 1.5

  Paul Hobson.
• * 1.6

  I••a. 53.11.