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 ...

* 1.1SECT. V.

5 1.2FIfthly, Scripture further assures us, that the Saints have the be∣ginnings, foretasts, earnest, and Seals of this Rest here: And may not all this assure them of the full possession? The very King∣dom of God is within them, Luke 17.21. They here (as is be∣fore said) take it by force. They have a beginning of that know∣ledg which Christ hath said is eternall life, John 17.3. I have fully manifested that before, that the Rest and Glory of the peo∣ple of God, doth consist in their Knowing, Loving, Rejoycing, and Praising; and all these are begun (though but begun) here: therefore doubtless so much as we here know God; so much as we Love, Rejoyce and Praise, so much we have of Heaven on earth, so much we enjoy of the Rest of Souls. And do you think that God will give the Beginning, where he never intends to give the End? Nay God doth give his people oftentimes, such fore∣sights and foretasts of this same Rest, that their spirits are even transported with it, and they could heartly wish they might be present there. Paul is taken up into the third Heaven, and seeth things that must not be uttered. The Saints are kept by the power of God through faith unto that salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time, wherein they can greatly Rejoyce even in temptations: 1 Pet. 1.5, 6. And therefore the Apostle also tells us, That they who now see not Christ, nor ever saw him; yet love him, and Believing do Rejoyce in him, with joy unspeakable and full of Glory: Receiving the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls, 1 Pet. 1.8.9. Observe here. First, How God gives his people this foretasting joy. Se∣condly, How this joy is said to be full of Glory, and therefore must needs be a beginning of the Glory. Thirdly, How immediatly upon this there follows, Receiving the end of their Faith, the Sal∣vation of the soul. And Paul also brings in the Justified, Rejoyc∣ing in hope of the Glory of God, Rom. 5.2. And I doubt not but some poor Christians amongst us, who have little to boast of appearing without, have often these foretasts in their souls. And do you think God will Tantalize his people? Will he give them the first fruits, and not the crop? Doth he shew them Glory to set them a longing, and then d••ny them the actuall fruition? Or doth he lift them up so neer this Rest, and give them such rejoycings in

it,* 1.3 and yet never bestow it on them? It cannot be. Nay doth he give them the earnest of the inheritance? Eph. 1.14. And Seal them with the Holy Spirit of promise? Eph. 1.13. And yet will he deny the full possession? These absurdities may not be charged on an ordinary man, much less on the Faithfull and Righ∣teous God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  § 5.
• 5 1.2

  So do the beginnings, f••••••tasts▪ ear∣nests and seals
• * 1.3

  2 Cor. 1.22. & 5.5.