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. I.

WE have now by the guidance of the Word of the Lord, and by the assistance of his Spirit, shewed you the nature of the Rest of the Saints; and ac∣quainted you with some duties in relation thereto: We come now to the close of all, to press you to the great duty, which I chiefly intended, when I begun this subject; and have here reserved it to the last place, be∣cause I know hearers are usually of slippery memories; yet apt to retain the last that is spoken, though they forget all that went be∣fore. Dear friends, its pity that either you or I, should forget any thing of that which doth so neerly concern us, as this Eternal Rest of the Saints doth. But if you must needs forget something; let it be any thing else, rather then this; let it be rather all that I have hitherto said (though I hope of better) then this one ensuing Use.

Is there a Rest, and such a Rest remaining for us? Why then are our thoughts no more upon it? why are not our hearts continually there? why dwell we not there, in constant contemplation? Sirs, Ask your hearts in good earnest, what is the cause of this neg∣lect? are we reasonable in this? or, are we not? Hath the Eter∣nal God provided us such a Glory, and promised to take us up, to dwell with himself? and is not this worth the thinking on? Should not the strongest desires of our hearts be after it? and the daily

delights of our souls be there? Do we beleeve this? and can we yet forget and neglect it? Whats the matter? will not God give us leave to approach this light? or will he not suffer our souls to tast and see? Why then, what means all his earnest invitations? why doth he so condemn our earthly-mindedness? and command us to set our affections above? Ah vile hearts! If God were against it, we were likelier to be for it. When he would have us to keep our station, then we are aspiring to be like God, and are ready to invade the Divine Prerogatives: But when he commands our hearts to Heaven, then they will not stir an inch; like our Prede∣cessors, the sinful Israelites: When God would have them march for Canaan, then they mutiny, and will not stir; either they fear the Gyants, or the walled Cities, or want necessaries, or something hinders them▪ but when God bids them not to go▪ then will they needs be presently marching, and fight they will, though it be to their overthrow. If the fore-thoughts of glory were forbidden fruit, perhaps we should be sooner drawn unto them; and we should itch (as the Bethshemites) to be looking into this Ark. Sure I am, where God hath forbidden us to place our thoughts, and our delights, thither it is eas••y enough to draw them. If he say (Love not the World, nor the things of the World) we dote upon it never the less. We have love enough, if the world require it; and thoughts enough to pursue our profits. How delightfully and unweariedly, can we think of vanity? and day after day im∣ploy our mindes about the Creature? And have we no thoughts of this our Rest? How freely, and how frequently can we think of our pleasures, our friends, our labors, our flesh, our lusts, our common studies, or news? yea, our very miseries, our wrongs, our sufferings, and our seats? But vvhere is the Christian, vvhose heart is on his Rest? Why Sirs, vvhat is the matter? vvhy are vve not taken up vvith the vievvs of Glory? and our souls more ac∣customed to these delightful Meditations? Are vve so full of joy, that vve need no more? or is there no matter in Heaven, for our joyous thoughts? or rather are not our hearts carnal and blockish? Earth vvill to Earth▪ Had vve more Spirit, it vvould be othervvise with us. As the Jews use to cast to the ground the Book of Esther, before they read it, because the Name of God is not in it. And as Austin cast by Ciceroes writings, because they contained not the Name of Jesus: So let us humble and cast dovvn these sensual

hearts that have in them no more of Christ and Glory: As we should not own our duties any further then somewhat of Christ is in them, so should we no further own our hearts: And as we should delight in the creatures no further then they have reference to Christ and Eternity; so should we no further approve of our own hearts. If there were little of Christ and Heaven in our mouths, but the world were the onely subject of our speeches, then all would account us to be ungodly; why then may we not call our hearts ungodly, that have so little delight in Christ and Hea∣ven? A holy tongue will not excuse or secure a profane heart. Why did Christ pronounce his Disciples eyes and eares so blessed, but as they were the doors to let in Christ by his Works and Words into their hearts? O blessed are the eyes that so see, and the ears that so hear, that the heart is thereby raised to this blessed heavenly frame. Sirs, so much of your hearts as is empty of Christ and heaven, let it befilled with shame and sorrow, and not with ease.

Notes

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