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 ...

* 1.1SECT. IV.

3. COnsider whether it be not the most probable way to cause God; either, first, to deny these Mercies which we desire; or secondly, to take from us those which we do enjoy; or thirdly, to imbitter them at least, or curse them to us. Certainly, God is no where so jealous as here: If you had a servant, whom your own wife loved better then she did your self, would you not both take it ill of such a wife, and rid your house of such a servant? You will not suffer your childe to use a knife, till he have wit to do it without hurting him. Why so, if the Lord see you begin to settle in the world, and say, Here I will rest; no wonder if he soon in his jealously unsettle you. If he love you, no wonder if he take that from you, wherewith he sees you about to destroy your selves. It hath been my long observation of many,

That when they have attempted great works, and have just finished them, or have aimed at great things in the world, and have just obtained them, or have lived in much trouble and unsettlement, and have just overcome them, and begin with some content to look upon their condition, and rest in it; they are usually neer to death or ruine. You know the story of the fool in the Gospel: When a man is once at this language, Soul take thy ease, or rest; the next news usually is, Thou fool, this night, or this moneth, or this yeer, shall they require thy soul, and then whose shall these things be? O, what house is there, where this fool dwelleth not? Dear Chri∣stian friends, you to whom I have especially relation, Let you and I consider, whether this be not our own case. Have not I after such an unsettled life, and after almost five yeers living in the weary con∣dition of war, and the unpleasing life of a Souldier, and after so many yeers groaning under the Churches unreformedness, and the great fears that lay upon us, and after so many longings, and pray∣ers for these days: Have I not thought of them with too much con∣tent? and been ready to say, Soul take thy rest? Have not I com∣forted my self more, in the fore-thoughts of enjoying these, then of coming to Heaven, and enjoying God? What wonder then, if God cut me off, when I am just sitting down in this supposed Rest? and hath not the like been your condition? Many of you have been Souldiers, driven from house and home, endured a life of trouble and blood, been deprived of Ministry and Means, longing to see the Churches setling: Did you not reckon up all the Comforts you should have at your return? and glad your hearts with such thoughts, more then with the thoughts of your coming to Heaven? Why what wonder if God now somewhat cross you, and turn some of your joy into sadness? Many a servant of God hath been destroyed from the Earth, by being overvalued and overloved. I pray God you may take warning for the time to come, that you rob not your selves of all your mercies. I am perswaded, our discontents, and murmurings with an unpleasing condition, and our covetous desires after more, are not so pro∣voking to God, nor so destructive to the sinner, as our too sweet enjoying, and Rest of Spirit in a pleasing State. If God have crossed any of you, in Wife, Children, Goods, Friends, &c. either by taking them from you, or the comfort of them, or the benefit and blessing, Try whether this above all other, be not the cause; for

wheresoever your desires stop, and you say, Now I am well; that condition you make your god, and engage the jealousie of God against it. Whether you be friends to God, or enemies, you can never expect that God should wink at such Idolatrie, or suffer you quietlie to enjoy your Idols.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 4.