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. IV.

* 1.1THe second Mark which I shall give thee, to try whether thou be an Heir of Rest, is this.

As thou takest God for thy chief Good, so [Thou dost heartily accept of Christ for thy onely Saviour and Lord to bring thee to this Rest].* 1.2 The former Mark was the sum of the first and great Command of the Law of Nature, [Thou shalt Love the Lord with all thy heart, or above all.] This second Mark is the sum of the Command or Condition of the Gospel, which saith, [Beleeve in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved.] And the performance of these two is the whole sum or essence of Godliness and Christiani∣ty. Observe therefore the parts of this Mark, which is but a De∣finition of Faith. 1. Dost thou finde that thou art naturally a lost condemned man for thy breach of the first Covenant? and dost be∣leeve that Jesus Christ is the Mediator who hath made a sufficient satisfaction to the Law? and hearing in the Gospel that he is offer∣ed without exception unto all, dost heartily consent that he alone shall be thy Saviour? and dost no further trust to thy Duties and works, then as conditions required by him, and means appointed in subordination to him? not looking at them as in the least mea∣sure able to satisfie the Curse of the Law, or as a Legal Righteous∣ness, nor any part of it? But art content to trust thy Salvation on the Redemption made by Christ?

2. Art thou also content to Take him for thy onely Lord and

King? to govern and guide thee by his Laws and Spirit? And to obey him even when he commandeth the hardest duties? and those which most cross the desires of the flesh? Is it thy sorrow when thou breakest thy resolution herein? and thy Joy when thou keep∣est closest in obedience to him? And though the world and flesh do sometime entice and over reach thee, yet is it thy ordinary De∣sire and Resolution to Obey? So that thou wouldst not change thy Lord and Master for all the world? Thus it is, with every true Christian. But if thou be an Hypocrite, it is far otherwise. Thou mayst call Christ thy Lord and thy Saviour: But thou never found∣est thy self so lost without him, as to drive thee to seek him and trust him, and lay thy Salvation on him alone. Or at least thou didst never heartily consent that he should Govern thee as thy Lord; nor didst resign up thy Soul and Life to be Ruled by him; nor takest his Word for the Law of thy Thoughts and Actions. It is like thou art content to be saved from Hell by Christ when thou dyest: But in the mean time he shall command thee no further then will stand with thy credit, or pleasure, or worldly estate and ends. And if he would give thee leave, thou hadst far rather live after the world and flesh, then after the Word and Spirit. And though thou mayst now and then have a Motion or Purpose to the contrary; yet this that I have mentioned is the ordinary desire and choyce of thy heart: And so thou art no true Beleever in Christ: For though thou con∣fess him in words, yet in works thou dost deny him, being dis∣obedient, and to every Good Work a Disapprover and a Repro∣bate, Tit. 1.16. This is the Case of those that shall be shut out of the Saints Rest.

But especially I would here have you observe, That it is in all this the Consent of your Hearts or Wills which I lay down in this Mark to be enquired after: For that is the most essential Act of Justifying Faith. Therefore I do not ask, whether thou be Assured of Salvation: nor yet whether thou canst beleeve that thy sins are pardoned, and that thou art beloved of God in Christ: These are no parts of Justifying Faith; but excellent fruits and consequents, which they that do receive, are comforted by them: but perhaps thou mayst never receive them whilest thou livest, and yet be a true heir of Rest. Do not say then, I cannot beleeve that my sin is par∣doned, or that I am in Gods favor, and therefore I am no true Be∣leever: This is a most mistaking conclusion. The Question is,

Whether thou canst heartily Accept of Christ that thou mayst be pardoned, reconciled to God, and so saved? Dost thou Consent that he shall be thy Lord who hath bought thee? and take his own course to bring thee to Heaven? This is Justifying Saving Faith; and this is the Mark that thou must try thy self by. Yet still observe, That all this Consent must be Hearty and Real: not feigned, or with reservations. It is not saying, as that dissembling son, Matt. 21.30. I go sir, when he went not: To say, Christ shall be my Lord, and yet let corruption ordinarily rule thee; or be unwilling that his Commands should encroach upon the interest of the world or flesh. If any have more of the Government of thee then Christ; or if thou hadst rather live after any other Laws then his, if it were at thy choyce, thou art not his Disciple. Thus I have layd you down these two Marks, which I am sure are such as every Christian hath, and no other but sincere Christians. I will add no more, seeing the substance of Christianity is contained in these. Oh that the Lord would now perswade thee to the close perform∣ance of this Self-trying Task! That thou mayst not tremble with horror of Soul when the Judg of all the World shall try thee: but have thy Evidence and Assurance so ready at hand, and be so able to prove thy Title to Rest, that the thoughts and approaching of Death and Judgment, may revive thy spirits, and fill thee with Joy, and not apale thee, and fill thee with amazement!

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 4.
• * 1.2

  Mark 3.