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.* 1.1

2. THere is yet another way by which we may make our senses here serviceable to us;* 1.2 and that is, By comparing the objects of sense with the objects of faith; and so forcing sense to afford us that Medium, from whence we may conclude the trans∣cendent worth of Glory, By arguing from sensitive delights as from the less to the greater. And here for your further assistance I shall furnish you with some of these comparative Argu∣ments.

And first, You must strongly argue with your hearts, from the corrupt delights of sensual men. Think then with your selves, when you would be sensible of the joyes above; Is it such a delight to a sinner to do wickedly? and will it not be delightful indeed then to live with God?* 1.3 Hath a very drunkard such delight in his cups and companions, that the very fears of damnation will not make him forsake them? Hath the bruitish whoremaster such de∣light in his whore, that he will part with his credit, and estate, and salvation, rather then he will part with her? Sure then there are high delights with God! If the way to hell can afford such pleasure, what are the pleasures of the Saints in Heaven? If the coveteous man hath so much pleasure in his wealth, and the ambitious man in his power and titles of honor; what then have the Saints in the everlasting treasures? and what plasure do the Heavenly honors afford, where we shall be set above principalities and powers, and

be made the glorious spouse of Christ? What pleasure do the vo∣luptuous finde in their sensual courses? how closely will they follow their hunting and hawking and other recreations from morning to night? How delightfully will they sit at their Cards and Dice, hours, and dayes, and nights together? O the delight that mustneeds then be, in beholding the face of the Living God, and in singing forth praises to him and the Lamb! which must be our recreation when we come to our Rest!

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 3.
• * 1.2

  2. Compare objects of sense with ob∣jects of faith.
• * 1.3

  Quae ergo nos angit vesania, vitiorum siti••e absynthium, hu∣jus mundi sequi naufragium, vitae praesentis pati infor∣tunium, impiae tyrannidis ferre dominium, et non magis convolare ad sanctorus fae∣licitatem, ad angelorum societatem, ad solemnitatem supernae laetitiae, et ad jucunditatem contemp∣lativae vitae, ut poss••mus intrare in potentias domini, & videre superabundantes divitias bonitatis ejus? Bernard. de praemio pat. Caelest.