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. XXII.

I Will onely yet Answer some Objections, and so conclude this Use.

1. Object. O, If I were but certain of Heaven, I should then never stick at dying.

Answ. 1. Search, for all that, whether some of the foremen∣tioned c••uses may not be in fault, as well as this.

2. Didst thou not say so long ago? Have you not been in this song this many yeers? if you are yet uncertain, whose fault is it? you have had nothing else to do with your lives, nor no greater matter then this to minde. Were you not better presently fall to the tryal; till you have put the Question out of doubt? Must God stay while you trifle? and must his patience be continued to cherish your negligence? If thou have played the loyterer, do so no longer. Go search thy soul, and follow the search close, till the•• come to a clear discovery. Begin to night, stay not till the next morning. Certainty comes not by length of time, but by the bless∣ing of the Spirit upon wise and faithful tryal. You may linger out

thus twenty yeers more, and be still as uncertain as now you are.

3. A perfect certainty may not be expected: we shall still be deficient in that as well as in other things: They who think the Apostle speaks absolutely, and not comparatively, of a perfect assurance in the very degree, when he mentions a Plerophory or Full assurance. I know no reason, but they may expect perfection in all things else, as well as this. VVhen you have done all, you will know this but in part. If your belief of that Scripture, which saith, Beleeve, and be saved, be imperfect; and if your knowledg, whether your own deceitful hearts do sincerely beleeve or not, be imperfect; or if but one of these tvvo be imperfect: the result or conclusion must needs be so too. If you vvould then stay till you are perfectly certain, you may stay for ever: if you have obtained assurance but in some degree, or got but the grounds for assurance said; it is then the speediest, and surest vvay, to desire rather to be quickly in Rest: For then, and never till then, vvill both the grounds and assurance be fully perfect.

4. Both your assurance, and the comfort thereof, is the gift of the Spirit, vvho is a free bestovver: And Gods usual time to be largest in mercy, is vvhen his people are deepest in necessity. A mercy in season, is the svveetest mercy. I could give you here a∣bundance of late examples, of those vvho have languished for assurance and comfort; some all their sickness, and some most of their lives; and vvhen they have been neer to death, they have received in abundance. Never fear death then through imperfecti∣ons of assurance; for thats the most usual time of all, vvhen God most fully and svveetly bestovvs it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 22.