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. VII.

6. LAstly Consider, God doth seldom give his people so sweet a fore-taste of their Future Rest, as in their deep Afflicti∣ons. He keepeth his most precious cordials for the time of our greatest faintings and dangers. To give such to men that are well and need them not, is but to cast them away: They are not ca∣pable of discerning their working on their worth. A few drops of Divine Consolation in the midst of a world of pleasure and contents, will be but lost and neglected; as some precious spirits cast into a vessel or river of common waters. The Joys of Heaven are of unspeakable sweetness: But a man that overflows with earthly delights, is scarce capable of tasting their sweetness: They

may easilier comfort the most dejected Soul, then him that feeleth not any need of comfort, as being full of other comforts already. Even the best of Saints do seldom-taste of the delights of God, and pure, spiritual, unmixed Joys, in the time of their prosperity, as they do in their deepest troubles and distress. God is not so lavish of his choice favours, as to bestow them unseasonably: Even to his own will he give them at so fit a time, when he know∣eth that they are needful, and will be valued; and when he is sure to be thanked for them, and his people rejoyced by them. Especi∣ally when our sufferings are more directly for his cause, then doth he seldom fail of sweetening the bitter cup. Therefore have the Martyrs been possessors of the highest Joys, and therefore were they in former times so ambitious of Martyrdom. I do not think that Paul and Silas did ever sing more Joyfully, then when they were sore with scourgings, and were fast in the inner prison, with their feet in the stocks, Acts 16.24, 25. When did Christ preach such comforts to his Disciples, and leave them his Peace, and assure them of his providing them mansions with himself? but when he was ready to leave them, and their hearts to be sorrowful because of his departure? When did he appear among them, and say, Peace be unto you? but when they were shut up together for fear of the persecuting Jews? When did the room shake where they were, and the Holy Ghost come down upon them, and they lift up their voyces in praising God? but when they were impri∣soned, convented, and threatened for the Name of Christ? Acts 4.24, 31. When did Stephen see Heaven opened, but when he was giving up his life for the testimony of Jesus? Acts 7.55. And though we be never put to the suffering of Martyrdom, yet God knoweth, that in our natural sufferings we need support. Many a Christian that hath waited for Christ (with Simeon in the Tem∣ple) in duty and holiness all his days, yet never finds him in his arms till he is dying; though his Love was fixed in their hearts before: and they that wondered that they tasted not of his com∣forts, have then when it was needful received abundance. And indeed, in time of prosperity, that comfort which we have is so mixed according to the mixt causes of it, that we can very hardly discern what of it is carnal, and what is spiritual. But when all worldly comforts and hopes are gone, then that which is left is most likely to be spiritual. And the Spirit never worketh more

sensibly and sweetly, then when it worketh alone. Seeing then that the time of Affliction, is the time of our most pure, spiritual, heavenly Joy, for the most part, why should a Christian think it so sad a time? Is not that our best estate, wherein we have most of God? Why else do we desire to come to Heaven? If we look for a Heaven of fleshly delights, we shall find our selves mistaken. Conclude then, that Affliction is not so bad a state for a Saint in his way to Rest, as the flesh would make it. Are we wiser then God? Doth not he know what is good for us better then we? Or is he not as careful of our Good, as we are of our own? Ah, wo to us if he were not much more! and if he did not love us better then we love either him or our selves!

Notes

• §. 7.
• Jo••. 14. & 15, & 16. & 17. John 20.