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. X.* 1.1

FIfthly, And yet more will it add to their calamity, to remem∣ber how often they were perswaded to return, both by the ministery in publike, and in private by all their godly faithfull friends; every request, and exhortation of the Minister will now be as a fiery dart in his spirit. How fresh will every Sermon come now into his minde? even those that he had forgotten, as soon as heard them. He even seems to hear still the voice of the Mini∣ster, and to see his tears; O how fain would he have had me to have escaped these torments! How earnestly did he intreat me! With what love and tender compassion did he beseech me! How did his bowels yearn over me! And yet I did but make a jest of it, and hardened my heart against all this. How oft did he con∣vince me, that all was not well with me! And yet I stifled all these convictions. How plainly did he rip up my sores! And open to me my very heart! And shew me the unsoundness and deceit••fulness

of it! And yet I was loath to know the worst of my self, and therefore shut mine eyes, and would not see. O how glad would he have been after all his study and prayers and pains, if he could but have seen me cordially entertain the truth, and turn to Christ! He would have thought himself well recompenced for all his labors and sufferings in his work, to have seen me converted and made happy by it. And did I withstand and make light of all this? Should any have been more willing of my happiness then my self?* 1.2 Had not I more cause to desire it then he? Did it not more neerly concern me? It was not he, but I, that was to suffer for my obstinacie: He would have laid his hands under my feet to have done me good, he would have fallen down to me upon his knees to have begged my obedience to his message, if that would have prevailed with my hardened heart. O how deserved∣ly do I now suffer these flames, who was so forewarned of them, and so intreated to escape them! Nay my friends, my parents, my godly neighbours did admonish and exhort me; They told me what would come of my wilfulness and negligence at last, but I did neither believe them, nor regard them; Magistrates were fain to restrain me from sinning by Law and punishment; Was not the foresight of this misery sufficient to restraine me!— Thus wil the Remembrance of all the means that ever they enjoy∣ed, be fuell to feed the flames in their consciences. O that sinners would but think of this, when they sit under the plain instruction and pressing exhortations of a faithfull Ministry! How dear they must pay for all this, if it do not prevaile with them! And how they will wish a thousand times in the anguish of their souls, that they had either obeyed his doctrine, or had never heard him. The melting words of exhortation which they were wont to hear, will be hot burning words to their hearts upon this sad review. It cost the Minister dear, even his daily study, his earnest prayers, his compassionate sorrows for their misery, his care, his sufferings, his spending, weakning, killing pains; But O how much dearer will it cost these rebellious sinners? His lost tears, will cost them blood, his lost sighs, will cost them eternall groans, and his lost exhortations, will cause their eternall lamentations. For Christ hath said it, that if any City or people receive not, or welcome

not the Gospel,* 1.3 the very dust of the messengers feet (who lost his travaile to bring them that glad tidings) shall witness against them, much more then his greater pains: And it shall be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgement then for that City. That Sodom which was the shame of the world for unna∣turall wickedness, the disgrace of mankind: that would have committed wickedness with the Angels from Heaven; that were not ashamed to prosecute their villany in the open street; that pro∣ceeded in their rage against Lots admonitions yea under the very miraculous judgement of God, and groped for the door when they were stricken blinde; That Sodom which was consumed with fire from Heaven, and turned to that deadly Sea of waters, and suffers the vengeance of eternall fire (Jud. 7.) even that Sodome shall scape better in the day of Judgment, then the neg∣lecters of this so great Salvation. It will somewhat abate the heat of their torment,* 1.4 that they had not those full and plain offers of grace, nor those constant Sermons, nor pressing perswasions, nor clear convictions, as those under the sound of the Gospel have had. I beseech thee who Readest these words, stay here a while, and sadly think of what I say. I professe to thee from the Lord, it is easier thinking of it now, then it will be then; What a dole∣full aggravation of thy misery would this be, that the food of thy soul, should prove thy bane? And that That should feed thy ever∣lasting torment, which is sent to save thee, and prevent thy tor∣ments?

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 10.
• * 1.2

  When I hear men under all the means that we enjoy, yet think that their Ignorance shal excuse them, it maketh me think of the Answer of the Agent of Charles the 5. Emperor to the Ambassador of Siena. The Sienois having rebelled a∣gainst the Em∣peror sent their Ambas∣sador to ex∣cuse it; who when he could finde no other excuse, thought in a jest to put it of thus; What, saith he, shall not we of Siena be excus¦ed, seeing we are known to be all fools? The Agent re∣plyed: Even that shall ex∣cuse you; but upon the condition which is ••it for fools, which is, to be kept bound and en∣chained. Lord Remy his Civill considerations, Chap. 79. pag. 200.
• * 1.3

  Mat. 10.14, 15.16.
• * 1.4

  Heb. 2 3.