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. VI.* 1.1

SEcondly, But though it be undeniable, that all these are the extraordinary workings of God, yet how do they confirm the authority of Scripture? How doth it appeare that they have any such end? Answ. That is it I come to shew you next.

First▪ Some of these works do carry their end apparently with them, and manifest it in their event. The forementioned provi∣dences for raising and preserving the Church, are such as shew us their own ends.

Secondly, They are most usually wrought for the friends and followers of Scripture, and against the enemies and disobeyers of it.

Thirdly, They are the plain fulfilling of the Predictions of Scripture. The Judgements on the offenders are the plain ful∣filling of its threatnings: And the mercies to believers are the plain fulfilling of its Promises. As for example; as unlikely as it was, yet Christ foretold his Apostles, that when he was lifted up, he would draw all men to him: He sent them upon an errand

as unlikely to be so succesfull as any in the world; and yet he told them just what success they should find; how good to their message and how hard to their persons:* 1.2 The promise was of old, to give Christ the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. Christ promiseth to be with his messen∣gers to the end of the world. Why now how punctually doth he accomplish all this? What particular Prophesies of Scripture have been fulfilled, and when, and how, hath been already at large dis∣covered by a 1.3 others, and therefore I shall overpasse that.

Fourthly, These b 1.4 Judgments have been usually executed on offenders, at the very time when they have been either opposing or violating Scripture: And these mercies bestowed chiefly upon believers at such a time when they have been most engaged in de∣fence of, or obedience to the Scriptures.

Fifthly, They usually proceed in such effectuall sort, that they force the enemies and ungodly to confesse the cause: yea and oft times the very standers by: so do they force believers also to see, that God makes good his word in all their mercies.

Sixthly, They are performed in answer to the prayers of be∣lievers: while they urge God with the promises of Scripture, then doth he appeare in these evident providences. This is a common and powerfull Argument, which most Christians may draw from their own experiences. Had we no other Argument to prove Scripture to be the word of God, but only the strange successe of the prayers of the Saints, while they trust upon, and plead the promises with fervency; I think it might much confirm experi∣enced men. What wonders, yea what apparent miracles did the prayers of former Christians procure? c 1.5 Hence the Christians sol∣diers in their Army were called, the Thundering Legion: they could do more by their prayers, then the rest by their Armes. Hence (as Zuingerus testifies) Gregory was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from his frequent miracles among the heathen. And Vincenti•••• reporteth that Sulpitius Bituricensis did expell Divels, heal the sick and raise the dead, by praying to God for them. When Myconius (a godly Divine) lay sick of that Consumption which is called a Ph••hisis, Luther prayeth earnestly that he might be re∣covered, and that he might not dye before himself. And so

confident was he of the grant of his desire, that he writes boldly to Myconius, that he should not dye now, but should remaine yet longer upon this earth. Vpon these prayers did Myconius presently revive, as from the dead; and live six yeers after, till Luther was dead: And himself hath largely written the story, and professed, that when he read Luthers letters he seemed to hear that voice of Christ, Lazarus come forth. Yea so powerfull and prevailing was Luther in prayer, that Justus Jonas writes of him, Iste vir potuit quod voluit: That man could do what his list.

What was it less then a Miracle in Baynam the Martyr, who told the Papistes, Lo here is a Miracle! I feel no more paine in this fire then in a bed of Down: It is as sweet to me as a bed of Roses. So Bishop Farrar, who could say before he went to the fire, If I stir in the fire, believe not my Doctrine: And according∣ly remained unmoved.* 1.6 Theodorus the Martyr in the midst of his torment had one in the shape of a young man, as he thought, came and wiped off his sweat and eased him of his paine. But what need I fetch examples so far off? or to recite the multitudes of them which Church history doth afford us? Is there ever a pray∣ing Christian here who knoweth what it is importunately to strive with God, and to plead his promises with him believingly, that cannot give in his experiences of most remarkable answers? I know mens atheisme and infidelity will never want somewhat to say against the most eminent providences, though they were Mi∣racles themselves. The nature which is so ignorant of God, and at enmity with him, will not acknowledg him in his clear discove∣ries to the World, but will ascribe all to fortune or nature, or some such Idoll, which indeed is nothing: But when mercies are granted in the very time of prayer, and that when to reason there is no hope, and that without the use or help of any other means or creatures, yea and prehaps many times over and over, Is not this as plaine as if God from heaven should say to us, I am ful∣filling to thee the true word of my promise in Christ my Son? How many times have I known the prayer of faith to save the sick, when all Physitians have given them up as dead! It hath been my own case more then once or twice or ten times:* 1.7 when means have all failed, and the highest Art or Reason have sent∣enced me hopeless, yet have I been relieved by the prevalency of fervent prayer, and that (as the Physitian said) tutò, citò, et jucundè.

My flesh and my heart failed,* 1.8 but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever: And though he yet keep me under ne∣cessary weakness, and wholesome sickness, and certain expecta∣tion of further necessities and assaults, yet am I constrained by most convincing experiences, to set up this stone of Remem∣brance, and publikely to the Praise of the Almighty, to acknow∣ledg, that certainly God is true of his promises, and that they are indeed his own infallible Word, and that it is a most excellent priviledge to have interest in God, and a Spirit of supplication to be importunate with him. I doubt not but most Christians that observe the spirit and providences, are able to attest this preva∣lency of prayer by their own experiences.

Object. Perhaps you will say, If these rare examples were com∣mon, I would believe.

Answ. First, If they were common, they would be slieghted, as common wonders are.

Secondly, Importunate prayer is not common, though formall babling be.

Thirdly, The evident returns of prayer are ordinary to the faithfull.

Fourthly, If wonders were common, we should live by sense, and not by faith.

Fifthly, I answer in the words of Austin, God letteth not every Saint partake of Miracles,* 1.9 lest the weak should be deceived with this pernicious error, to prefer Miracles as better then the works of Righteousness, whereby eternall life is attained.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 6.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 2.2, 3, 4, 5.
• a 1.3

  Morne••, Grotius, Doct. Ja••••son, Par∣sons Resolut. part. 2. &c.
• b 1.4

  Ask them in New England whether Mist∣ris Hutchinsons and Mistris Dyers most hi∣deous monst∣rous births were not con∣vincing provi∣dences against their Antino∣mian Anti-scriptural here∣sies, as if God from heaven had spoke a∣gainst them: and yet Old England will not take warn∣ing.

  See Nicephor. Eccl. hist. Tem. 1. li. 4. cap. 13. where Tertulli. Jul. Capitoli∣nus, Orosius, &c. do men∣tion.
• c 1.5

  The Legion of Malta in the time of Mar. Aurelius, who procured by prayer both Thunder on the enemies and raine for the Army. See the Epist. of M. Aurelius in Justin Martyrs Apolo. & Xiphitin. in Vita Aurelij. Melch. Adam in vita Myconij.
• * 1.6

  Recorded by Sozom. and o∣thers.
• * 1.7

  Jam. 5.13, 14, 15, 16.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 73.26.
• * 1.9

  August. de Ci∣vitate Dei, lib. 33.