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. V.* 1.1

4. IT shews that we are insensible of the vanity of the Creature,* 1.2 and of the vexation accompanying our residence here, when we are so loth to hear, or think of a removal. VVhat ever we say against the world, or how grievous soever our complaints may seem; we either beleeve not, or feel not what we say, or else we should be answerably affected to it. VVe call the world our enemy, and cry out of the oppression of our Task-masters, and groan un∣der our sore bondage; but either we speak not as we think, or else we imagine some singular happiness, to consist in the possession of worldly things; for which, all this should be endured. Is any man loth to leave his prison? or to remove his dwelling from cruel enemies? or to scape the hands of murderous robbers? Do we take the world indeed for our prison? our cruel, spoyling▪ mur∣derous foe? and yet are we loth to leave it? Do we take this flesh for the clog of our spirits? and a vail thats drawn betwixt us and God? and a continual in dwelling traitor to our souls? and yet are we loth to lay it down?* 1.3 Indeed Peter was smitten by the Angel, before he arose and left his prison; but it was more from his igno∣rance of his intended deliverance, then any unwillingness to leave the place. I have read of Josephs long imprisonment; and Daniels casting into the Den of Lyons; and Jeremies sticking fast in the

Dungeon; and Jonahs lying in the belly of the VVhale; and David from the deep crying to God; but I remember not that any were loth to be delivered. I have read indeed, That they suffered cheerfully,* 1.4 and rejoyced in being afflicted, destitute and tormented; yea, and that some of them would not accept of deliverance: But not from any love to the suffering, or any unwillingness to change their condition; but because of the hard terms of their deliverance,* 1.5 and from the hope they had of a better resurrection. Though Paul and Sylas could sing in the stocks, and comfortably bear their cruel scourgings; yet I do not beleeve they were un∣willing to go forth; nor took it ill when God relieved them. At foolish wretched soul! Doth every prisoner groan for freedom? and every Slave desire his Jubilee? and every sick man long for health? and every hungry man for food? and dost thou alone ab∣hor deliverance? Doth the Seamen long to see the Land? doth the Husbandman desire the Harvest? and the laboring man to re∣ceive his pay? doth the traveller long to be at home? and the runner long to win the prize? and the Souldier long to win the field? And art thou loth to see thy labors finished? and to receive the end of thy Faith, and sufferings? and to obtain the thing, for which thou livest? Are all thy sufferings onely seeming? have thy gripes, thy griefs and groans, been onely dreams? if they were, yet methinks we should not be afraid of waking: Fearful dreams are not delightful. Or is it not rather the worlds delights, that are all meer dreams and shadows? Is not all its glory, as the light of a Glow-worm, a wandering fire, yielding but small directing light, and as little comforting heat in all our doubtful, and sorrow∣ful darkness? or hath the world In these its latter days, laid aside its ancient enmity? Is it become of late more kinde? hath it left its thorny renting nature? who hath wrought this great change? and who hath made this reconciliation? Surely, not the great Re∣conciler: He hath told us, in the world we shall have trouble, and in him onely, we shall have peace. VVe may reconcile our selves to the world (at our peril) but it will never reconcile it self to us. O foolish unworthy soul! who hadst rather dwell in this land of darkness, and rather wander in this barren wilderness, then be at rest with Jesus Christ! who hadst rather stay among the VVolves, and daily suffer the Scorpions stings, then to praise the Lord with the Hosts of Heaven! If thou didst well know what Heaven is, and what Earth is, it would not be so.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 5.
• * 1.2

  Inquit, Plate rus ille Felix, aegrotus, Fin••m fac dolorum Domine: Sor∣dent enim mihi omaia terrena: Vtinam. uti∣nam vel hoc momento h••ra meae mortis in∣starct: Ex animo cupio dissolvi, & esse cum Christo.
• * 1.3

  Acts 12.7, 8, 9.
• * 1.4

  Heb. 11.
• * 1.5

  Acts 16.25. Compara nunc si placeat hanc vitam cum illa. Elige si potes perpetuam cor∣p••ris vitam in labore, aerum∣naque misera∣bili tantarum commutation••i votorumque laedio, fastidio voluptatum. Dum si Deus ista perpetuare velit, illa dili∣geres?

  Nam si per se vita fugienda est, ut sit mole∣sliarum fuga requies aerum∣narum, quanto magis ea requi∣es est expeten∣da, cui futurae resurrectionis voluptas per∣petua succe∣det? Vbi nul∣la criminum series, nulla illecebra delictorum. Ambros. lib. de Ressurect. John 16.20, 33.