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. I.

I Hope,* 1.1 Reader, by this time thou art somewhat sensi∣ble, what a desperate thing it is to trifle about our Eternal Rest; and how deeply thou hast been guilty of this thy self. And I hope also, that thou darest not now suffer this Conviction to dye; but art re∣solved to be another man for the time to come: What sayst thou? Is this thy Resolution? If thou were sick of some desperate disease, and the Physitian should tell thee, [If you will observe but one thing, I doubt not to cure you,] wouldst thou not observe it? Why, if thou wilt observe but this one thing for thy Soul, I make no doubt of thy Salvation: If thou wilt now but shake off thy sloath, and put to all thy strength, and ply the work of God unwea∣riedly, and be a down-right Christian in good sadness; I know not what can hinder thy Happiness. As far as thou art gone from God, if thou wouldst but now return and seek him with all thy heart, no doubt but thou shalt find him. As unkindly as thou hast dealt with Jesus Christ, if thou didst but feel thy self sick and dead, and seek him heartily, and apply thy self in good earnest to the obe∣dience of his Laws; thy Salvation were as sure as if thou hadst it already. But as full as the Satisfaction of Christ is, as free as the Promise is, as large as the Mercy of God is; yet if thou do but look

on these, and talk of them, when thou shouldst greedily entertain them, thou wilt be never the better for them; and if thou loiter when thou shouldst labour, thou wilt lose the Crown. Oh fall to work then speedily and seriously, and bless God that thou hast yet time to do it; and though that which is past cannot be recalled, yet redeem the time now by doubling thy diligence. And because thou shalt see I urge thee not without cause, I will here adjoyn a multitude of Considerations to Move thee; yet do I not desire thee to take them by number, but by waight: Their intent and use is, to drive thee from Delaying and from Loytering in seeking Rest: And to all men do I propound them, both Godly and ungodly: Whoever thou art therefore, I entreat thee to rouze up thy spirit, and read them deliberately, and give me a little while thy attention as to a message from God; and (as Moses said to the people, Deut. 32.46.) Set thy heart to all the words that I testifie to thee this day, for it is not a vain thing, but it is for thy Life: Weigh what I here wright with the Judgment of a man; and if I speak not Reason, throw it back in my face; but if I do, see thou enter∣tain and obey it accordingly; and the Lord open thy heart, and fasten his counsel effectually upon thee.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 1.