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. II.

* 1.11. TO be deceived about your Title to Heaven, is exceed∣ing easie; and not to be deceived, is exceeding difficult. This I make manifest to you thus.

* 1.21. Multitudes that never suspected any falshood in their hearts, have yet proved unsound in the day of Tryal; and they that never feared any danger toward them, have perished for e∣ver: Yea many that have been confident of their integrity and safety. I shall adjoyn the proofes of what I say, in the Margin for brevity sake. How many poor souls are now in Hell, that little thought of comming thither? and that were wont to de∣spise their counsel that bid them Try and make sure? And to say, They made no doubt of their Salvation?

2. Yea, and many that have excelled in worldly wisdom, yet have been befooled in this great business: and they that had wit

to deceive their neighbours,* 1.3 were yet deceived by Satan and their own hearts. Yea, men of strongest head-pieces, and pro∣foundest learning, who knew much of the secrets of Nature, of the courses of the Planets, and motions of the Spheres, have yet been utterly mistaken in their own hearts.

3. Yea, Those that have lived in the clear light of the Gospel, and heard the difference between the Righteous and the Wicked plainly laid open, and many a Mark for Tryal laid down, and and many a Sermon pressing them to Examine, and directing them how to do it,* 1.4 yet even these have been, and dayly are de∣ceived.

4. Yea, those that have had a whole life's time to make sure in, and have been told over and over that they had their lives for no other end, but to provide for Everlasting Rest, and make sure of it, have yet been deceived, and have wasted that life-time in forgetful security.

5. Yea, those that have Preached against the negligence of others, and pressed them to Try themselves, and shewed them the danger of being mistaken,* 1.5 have yet proved mistaken them∣selves.

And is it not then time for us to rifle our hearts, and search them to the very quick?

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 2. Motive 1.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 7.22.26.27, &c. Prov. 14.12. Luk. 13.25, 26 Luk. 18.21, 11 Rev. 3.17. So Ananias and Saphira▪ The rich man in Luk. 16. &c.
• * 1.3

  Ahitophel, Gehezi, Ananias and Saphira. Pharisees, Jesuites, &c. Rom. 1.22.
• * 1.4

  Judas and the Jews that heard Christ.
• * 1.5

  Mat 7.22. Rom. 2.21. 1 Cor. 9.27.