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.

HAving shewed thee how thou must set upon this work, I come now to direct thee in the work it self, and to shew thee the way which thou must take to perform it. All this hath been but to set the Instrument (thy heart) in tune; and now we are come to the Musick it self: All this hath been but to get thee an appetite; it follows now, That thou approach unto the Feast; that thou sit down, and take what is offered, and delight thy soul, as with marrow and fatness. Who∣ever you are, that are children of the Kingdom, I have this message to you from the Lord,* 1.2 Behold, the dinner is prepared; the Oxen and fatlings are killed: Come, for all things are now ready. Heaven is before you; Christ is before you; the exceeding Eternal weight of Glory is before you: Come therefore, and feed upon it: Do not make light of this invitation, (Matth. 22.5.) nor put off your own mercies with excuses; (Luke 14.18.) what ever thou art, Rich or poor, though in Alms-houses or Hospitals though in High∣ways or Hedges, my Commission is, if possible, to compel you to come in;* 1.3 And blessed is he that eateth bread in the Kingdom of God, Luke 14.15. The Manna lyeth about your Tents; walk forth into

the Wilderness, gather it up, take it home, and feed upon it: so that the remaining Work is onely to direct you, how to use your hands and mouth to feed your stomack, I mean, how to use your ••nderstandings for the warming of your Affections, and to fire your Hearts by the help of your Heads. And herein it will be ne∣cessary that I observe this Method; First, to shew you what in∣strument it is that you must work by. Secondly, VVhy, and how this way of working is like to succeed and attain its end. Thirdly, VVhat powers of the soul should here be acted, and what are the particular Affections to be excited, and what objective Considera∣tions are necessary thereto, and in what order you should proceed. Fourthly, By what acts you must advance to the height of the work. Fifthly, VVhat advantages you must take, and what helps you must use for the facilitating your success. Sixthly, In what particulars you must look narrowly to your hearts through the whole: And I will be the briefer in all, left you should lo••e my meaning in a crowd of words, or your thoughts be carried from the VVork it self, by an over-long and tedious Explication of it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 1.
• * 1.2

  Matth. 22.4. Luke 14.17.
• * 1.3

  Luke 14.23.