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.

* 1.1I Now proceed to the third Use which we shall raise hence; and because it is of exceeding great importance to thy Soul, I intreat thee to read it the more diligently, and weigh it the more seriously.

Is there such a Glorious Rest so neer at hand? and shall none enjoy it but the People of God? What mean the most of the world then, to live so contentedly with∣out assurance of their interest in this Rest? and to neglect the trying of their title to it? When the Lord hath so fully opened the Blessedness of that Kingdom, which none but a little flock of obe∣dient Beleevers shall possess, and so fully expressed those torments which all the rest of the world must eternally suffer, a man would think now, That they that beleeve this to be certainly true, should never be at any quiet in themselves, till they knew which of these must be their own state, and were fully assured that they were Heirs of the Kingdom! Most men that I meet with say, they be∣leeve this Word of God to be true; How then can they sit still in such an utter uncertainty, whether ever they shall live in Rest, or not? One would think they should run up and down from Minister

to Minister, enquiring, How shall I know whether I shall live in Heaven or Hell? and that they should even think themselves half in Hell, till they were sure to scape it, and to be possessed of Rest. Lord, what a wonderful strange madness is this? that men who look dayly when sickness summons them, and death calls them a∣way, and know they must presently enter upon unchangeable Joy or Pain, should yet live as uncertain what shall be their doom, as if they had never heard of any such State? yea and live as quietly and as merrily in this uncertainty, as if all were made sure, and nothing ailed them, and there were no danger? Are these men alive or dead? Are they waking, or are they asleep? What do they think on? Where are their hearts? If they have but a weighty Suit at Law, how careful are they to know whether it will go with them or against them? If they were to be tryed for their lives at an earthly Judicature, how careful would they be to know whether they should be saved or condemned? especially if their care might sure∣ly save them? If they be dangerously sick, they will enquire of the Physician, What think you Sir, shall I scape or no? But for the bu∣siness of their Salvation, they are content to be uncertain. If you ask most men a reason of their hopes to be saved, they will say it is because God is merciful, and Christ dyed for sinners, and the like general reasons, which any man in the world may give as well as they: But put them to prove their special interest in Christ, and in the special saving Mercy of God, and they can say nothing to the purpose at all; or at least nothing out of their hearts and experi∣ence, but only out of their reading or invention. Men are desirous to know all things, save God and themselves: They will travel over Sea and Land to know the scituation of Countries, and the Customs of the World: They will go to Schools and Universities, and turn over multitudes of books, and read and study from year to year, to know the creatures, and to be excellent in the Sciences; They will go apprentice seven years to learn a trade which they may live by here: And yet they never read the book of Consci∣ence, nor study the state of their own Souls, that they may make sure of living for ever. If God should ask them for their Souls, as he did Cain for his brother Abel, they could return but such an Answer as he did: If God or man should say to them, What case is thy Soul in, man? Is it regenerate, and sanctified, and pardoned, or no? Is it in a state of life, or a state of death? He would be rea∣dy

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to say, I know not: Am I my Souls keeper? I hope well; I trust God with my Soul, and trouble not my self with any such thoughts: I shall speed as well as other men do; and so I will put it to the venture: I thank God I never made any doubt of my Sal∣vation. Answ. Thou hast the more cause to doubt a great deal, because thou never didst doubt: and yet more, because thou hast been so careless in thy confidence. What do these expressions discover, but a wilful neglect of thy own Salvation? As a ship∣master that should let his Vessel alone, and mind other matters, and say, I will venture it among the rocks, and sands, and gulfs, and waves, and winds; I will never trouble my self to know whether it shall come safe to the harbor; I will trust God with it; it will speed as well as other mens Vessels do. Indeed as well as other mens that are as careless and Idle, but not so well as other mens that are diligent and watchful. What horrible abuse of God is this, for men to pretend that they trust God with their Souls, for to cloak their own wilful negligence! If thou didst truly Trust God, thou wouldst also be ruled by him, and trust him in that way which he hath appointed thee, and upon those terms which he hath promised to help thee on. He requires thee to give all Diligence to make thy Calling and Election sure, and so to trust him, 2 Pet. 1.10. He hath lined thee out a way in Scripture by which thou mayst come to be sure, and charged thee to search and try thy self, till thou certainly know. Were he not a foolish traveller that would hold on his way when he doth not know whether it be right or wrong, and say, I hope I am right; I will not doubt of it; I will go on and trust God? Art not thou guilty of this folly in in thy travels to Eternity? Not considering that a little ••erious enquiry and tryal whether thy way be right, might save thee a great deal of labour which thou bestowest in vain, and must undo again, or else thou wilt miss of Salvation, and undo thy self? If thou shouldst see a man in despair, or that were certain to be damned for ever when he is dead, wouldst not thou look upon such a man as a pitiful object? Why thou that livest in wilful uncertainty, and dost not know whether thou shalt be saved or no, art in the next condition to such a person; for ought thou knowest to the con∣trary, thy case hereafter may be as bad as his. I know not what thou thinkest of thy own state, but for my part, did I not know what a desperate, blind, dead piece a carnal heart is, I should won∣der

how thou dost to forget thy misery, and to keep off continual horrors from thy heart; And especially in these cases following.

1. I wonder how thou canst either think or speak of the dread∣ful God, without exceeding terror and astonishment, as long as thou art uncertain whether he be thy Father or thy Enemy, and knowest not but all his Attributes may be imployed against thee. If his Saints must rejoyce before him with trembling,* 1.2 and serve him in fear; If they that are sure to receive the unmoveable King∣dom must yet serve God with reverence and godly fear, because he is a consuming fire;* 1.3 How then should the remembrance of him be terrible to them that know not but this fire may for ever con∣sume them?

2. How dost thou think without trembling upon Jesus Christ? when thou knowest not whether his blood hath purged thy Soul or not? and whether he will condemn thee or acquit thee in Judg∣ment; nor whether he be set for thy rising or thy fall, Luk. 2.34. nor whether he be the corner Stone and Foundation of thy happi∣ness, or a stone of stumbling to break thee and grind thee to pow∣der, Mat. 21.44. Methinks thou shouldst be still in that tune as Job 31.23. Destruction from God is a terror to me, and by reason of his Highness I cannot endure.

3. How canst thou open the Bible, and read a Chapter, or hear a Chapter read, but it should terrifie thee? Methinks every leaf should be to thee as Belshazzars writing upon the wall,* 1.4 except only that which draws thee to try and reform: If thou read the Promises, thou knowest not whether ever they shall be fulfilled to thee, because thou art uncertain of thy performance of the Condi∣tion: If thou read the Threatnings, for any thing thou knowest thou dost read thy own sentence. I do not wonder if thou art an enemy to plain preaching, and if thou say of it, and of the Minister and Scripture it self as Ahab of the Prophet, I hate him, for he doth not prophecy good concerning me, but evil, 1 Kings 22.8.

4. I wonder how thou canst without terror approach God in prayer, or any duty. When thou callest him thy Father, thou knowest not whether thou speak true or false: When thou needest him in thy sickness, or other extremity, thou knowest not whether thou hast a friend to go to, or an enemy. When thou receivest the Sacrament, thou knowest not whether thou take thy blessing or

thy bane. And who would wilfully live such a life as this?

5. What comfort canst thou find in any thing which thou pos∣sessest? Methinks friends, and honors, and house, and lands, should do thee little good, till thou know that thou hast the love of God with all; and shalt have Rest with him when thou leavest these. Offer to a prisoner before he know his sentence either musick, or clothes, or lands, or preferment, and what cares he for any of these? till he know how he shall scape for his life, and then he will look after these comforts of life, and not before; for he knows if he must dye the next day, it will be small comfort to dye rich or honorable. Methinks it should be so with thee, till thou know thine eternal state: Dost not thou as Ezek. 12.18. Eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy drink with trembling and carefulness, and say, Alas, though I have these to refresh my body now, yet I know not what I shall have hereafter! Even when thou liest down to take thy rest, methinks the uncertainty of thy Salvation should keep thee wa∣king, or amaze thee in thy dreams, and trouble thy sleep; and thou shouldst say as Job in a smaller distress then thine, Job 7.13, 14. When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my com∣plaint; then thou scarest me through dreams, and terrifiest me through visions.

6. Doth it not grieve thee to see the people of God so com∣fortable, when thou hast none thy self? and to think of the Glory which they shall inherit, when thou hast no assurance thy self of ever enjoying it?

7. What shift dost thou make to think of thy dying hour? Thou knowest it is hard by, and there's no avoyding it, nor any medicine found out that can prevent it: Thou knowest it is the King of terror, Job 18.14. and the very inlet to thine unchange∣able state: The godly that have some assurance of their future wel∣fare, have yet much ado to submit to it willingly, and find, that to dye comfortably is a very difficult work. How then canst thou think of it then without astonishment, who hast got no assurance of the Rest to come? If thou shouldst dye this day (and who knows what a day may bring forth, Prov. 27.1.) thou dost not know whether thou shalt go straight to Heaven or to Hell: And canst thou be merry till thou art got out of this dangerous state? Methinks that in Deut. 28.25, 26, 27. should be the looking-glass of thy heart.

8. What shift dost thou make to preserve thy heart from hor∣ror, when thou remembrest the great Judgment day, and the Ever∣lasting flames?* 1.5 Dost thou not tremble as Felix when thou hearest of it? and as the Elders of the Town trembled when Samuel came in it,* 1.6 saying, Comest thou peaceably? So methinks thou shouldst do when the Minister comes into the Pulpit: And thy heart, when ever thou meditatest of that day, should meditate ter∣ror, Isai. 33.18. And thou shouldst be even a terror to thy self, and all thy friends, Jer. 20.4. If the keepers trembled, and became as dead men, when they did but see the Angels, Mat. 28.3, 4. how canst thou think of living in Hell with Devils, till thou hast got some sound assurance that thou shalt escape it? Or if thou seldom think of these things, the wonder is as great, what shift thou makest to keep these thoughts from thy heart, and to live so quietly in so doleful a state? Thy bed is very soft, or thy heart is very hard, if thou canst sleep soundly in this uncertain case.

I have shewed thee the danger; let me next proceed to shew thee the Remedy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 1.
• * 1.2

  Psa. 2.6, 7, 8, 9
• * 1.3

  Heb. 12.28.29
• * 1.4

  Dan. 5.5, 6.
• * 1.5

  Acts 24.25.
• * 1.6

  1 Sam. 16.4.