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. III.

2. TO be mistaken in this great Point is also very Common,* 1.1 as well as easie: So common that it is the case of most in the world. In the old world we find of none that were in a∣ny fear of Judgement: and yet how few persons were not de∣ceived? So in Sodom: So among the Jews: And I would it were not so in England!* 1.2 Almost all men amongst us do verily look to be saved: You shall scarce speak with one of a thousand that doth not: And yet Christ telleth us, That few find the strait gate and narrow way that leads to Life. Do but reckon up the se∣veral sorts of men that are mistaken in thinking they have title to Heaven,* 1.3 as the Scripture doth enumera••e them, and what a multitude will they prove! 1. All that are ignorant of the Funda∣mentals of Religion. 2. All Heretick, who maintain false doctrines against the Foundation, or against the necessary means of Life.

3. All that live in the practice of gross sin.* 1.4 4. Or that love and regard the smallest sin. 5. All that harden themselves against frequent reproof. Prov. 29.1. 6. All that minde the Flesh more then the Spirit. Rom. 8.6.7.13. Or the world more then God. Phil. 3.18, 19. 1 John 2.15.16. 7. All that do as the most do. Luk. 13.23, 24, 25. 1 John 5.19. 8. All that are deriders at the Godly, and discourage others from the way of God by their reproaches. Pro. 1.22. &c. 3.34. & 19.29. 9. All that are unholy: And that ne∣ver were Regenerate and born anew. 10. All that have not their very hearts set upon Heaven. Mat. 6.21. 11. All that have a Form of Godliness without the Power. 12. And all that love either parents, or wife, or children, or house, or lands, or life, more then Christ. Luk. 14.26. Every on of these that thinketh he hath any Title to Heaven, is as surely mistaken as the Scripture is true.

And if such multitudes are deceived, should not we search the more diligently, lest we should be deceived as well as they?

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 3. Motive 2.
• * 1.2

  Gal. 6.3, 4, 7. Mat. 7.21.
• * 1.3

  Ephes. 4▪ 18. Hosea 4.6. Isai. 27.11. 2 Cor. 4.3. Rev. 2.6, 20.
• * 1.4

  Titus 2 19. 1 Cor. 6.9. & 15.50. Eph. 5.4, 5, 6. Psal. 66.18. Jam 4 4, 5. Heb. 12.14. John 3.3. 2 Tim. 3.5. James 1.22. Mark 13.5, 6. Matth. 10.37. John 12 25.