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. VIII.

5. ANd as you must do it Plainly,* 1.1 so also Seriously, Zealously, and Effectually. The exceeding stupidity and deadness of mens hearts is such, that no other dealing will ordinarily work. You must call loud to awake a man in a Swoun or Lethargy. If you speak to the common sort of men, of the evil of their sin, of their need of Christ, of the danger of their Souls. and of the ne∣cessity of Regeneration, they will wearily and unwillingly give you the hearing, and put off all with a sigh, or a few good wishes, and say, [God forgive us, we are all sinners,] and there's an end. If ever you will do them good therefore, you must sharpen your exhortation, and set it home, and follow it with their hearts, till you have rouzed them up, and made them begin to look about them. Let them know that thou speak not to them of indifferent things, not about childrens games, or worldlings vanities, or mat∣ters of a few days or years continuance; nor yet about matters of uncertainty, which perhaps may never come to pass: But it is about the saving or damning of their Souls and bodies; and whether they shall be Blessed with Christ, or tormented with Devils, and that for ever and ever without any change; It is, how to stand before God in Judgment, and what answer to give, and how they are like to speed: And this Judgment and eternal state they shall very shortly see; they are almost at it; yet a few more nights and days, and they shall presently be at that last day;

a few more breathes they have to breathe, and they shall breathe out their last; and then as certainly shall they see that mighty change, as the Heaven is over their heads, and the earth under their feet. Oh labour to make men know, that it is mad jesting about Salvation or Damnation; and that Heaven and Hell be not mat∣ters to be playd with, or passed over with a few careless thoughts! Is it most certain that one of these days thou shalt be either in everlasting unchangeable Joy or Torments, and doth it not awake thee? Is there so few that find the way of life? so many that go the way of death? so hard to escape? so easie to miscarry? and that while we fear nothing but think all is well? and yet do you fit still and trifle! Why what do you mean? what do you think on? The world is passing away: its pleasures are fading: its honours are leaving you: its profits will prove unprofitable to you: Hea∣ven or Hell are a little before you: God is Just and Jealous: his Threatenings are true: the great day of his Judgment will be terrible: your time runs on: your lives are uncertain: you are far behind hand: you have loitered long: your case is dangerous: your Souls are far gone in sin: you are strange to God: you are hardened in evil customs: you have no assurance of pardon to shew: if you dye to morrow, how unready are you? and with what terror will your Souls go out of your bodies? And do you yet loiter for all this? Why consider with your selves: God stand∣eth all this while waiting your leasure: his patience beareth: his Justice forbeareth: his Mercy intreateth you: Christ standeth offering you his blood and merits: you may have him freely, and life with him: the Spirit is perswading you: Conscience is accusing and urging you: Ministers are praying for you, and calling upon you: Satan stands waiting when Justice will cut off your lives, that he may have you: This is your time: Now or Never. What! had you rather lose Heaven then your profits or pleasures? had you rather burn in Hell, then repent on Earth? had you rather howl and roar there, then pray day and night for mercy here? or to have Devils your Tormentors, then to have Christ your Governor? Will you renounce your part in God and Glory, rather then renounce your cursed sins? Do you think a holy life too much for Heaven? or too dear a course to prevent an endless misery? Oh friends; What do you think of these things? God hath made you men, and endued you with Reason;

do not renounce your Reason where you should chiefly use it.— In this manner you must deal roundly and seriously with men. Alas, it is not a few dull words between Jest and earnest, between sleep and waking, as it were, that will waken an ignorant dead-hearted sinner? When a dull hearer and a dull speaker meet toge∣ther, a dead heart and a dead exhortation, it is far unlike to have a lively effect. If a man fall down in a Swoun, you will not stand trifling with him, but lay hands on him presently, and snatch him up, and rub him, and call loud to him: If a house be on fire, you will not in a cold affected strain go tell your neighbor of it, nor go make an oration of the nature and danger of fire; but you will run out, and cry, Fire, Fire: Matters of moment must be seri∣ously dealt with. To tell a man of his sins so softly as Eli did his sons,* 1.2 or reprove him so gently as Jehosaphat did Ahab (Let not the King say so) doth usually as much harm as good. I am per∣swaded the very manner of some mens reproof and exhortations, hath hardened many a sinner in the way of destruction: To tell them of Sin, or of Heaven or Hell, in a dull, easie, careless lan∣guage, doth make men think you are not in good sadness, nor do mean as you speak; but either you scarce think your selves such things are true, or else you take them for small indifferent matters, or else sure you would never speak of them in such a slight indiffer∣ent manner. Oh Sirs, deal with Sin as Sin, and speak of Heaven and Hell as they are, and not as if you were in Jest. I confess I have failed much in this my self; the Lord lay it not to my charge. Loathness to displease men, makes us undo them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 8.
• * 1.2

  1 Sam. 23. 1 Kings 22.8.