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

2. FOr the extraordinary performance,* 1.2 these following are sea∣sonable times. 1. When God doth extraordinarily revive and enable thy spirit. When God hath kindled thy spirit with fire from above, it is that it may mount aloft more freely. It is a choice part of a Christians skill, to observe the temper of his own spirit, and to observe the gales of grace, and how the spirit of Christ doth move upon his. VVithout Christ we can do nothing. Therefore let us be doing, when he is doing: and be sure not to be out of the way, nor asleep when he comes. The sails of the wind∣mill stir not without the wind: therefore they must set them a go∣ing when the wind blowes: Be sure that thou watch this wind and tide, if thou wouldst have a speedy voyage to Heaven. A little labor will set thy heart a going at such a time as this, when another time thou mayest study and take pains to little purpose. Most

Christians do sometime finde a more then ordinary reviving and activeness of spirit; take this as sent from heaven to ••alse thee thi∣ther: And when the spirit is lifting thy heart from the earth▪ be sure thou then lift at it thy self. As when the Angel came to Peter in his prison and Irons, and smo••e him on the side, and raised him up say∣ing, Arise up quickly, gird thy self, ••inde on thy sandals▪ and cast thy garment about thee, and follow me; And Peter arose and followed till he was delivered, Act. 12.7.8, &c. So when the spirit finds thy heart in prison and Irons, and smites it, and bids thee, Arise quickly and follow me, be sure thou then arise, and follow, and thou shal•• finde thy chains fall off, and all doors will open, and thou wilt be at Heaven before thou art aware.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 5.
• * 1.2

  Joh. 15.5. As Gerson in the forecited place saith, This Art or way of Medi∣tation is not learned chiefly out of Books: but the spirit of God be∣stoweth it as he pleaseth; on some more plentifully, & on some more sparingly.