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. VIII.

IF I should quote all the Scriptures that plainly prove this,* 1.1 I should transcribe a great part of the Bible: I will bring none out of the Old Testament, for I know not whether their Authority will here be acknowledged: But I desire the contrary minded,* 1.2 whose con∣sciences are tender of abusing Scripture, and wresting it from the plain sence, to study what tolerable interpretation can be given of these following places, which will not prove, that Life and Salva∣tion may be, yea must be the end of Duty. Joh 5.39, 40. Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Mat. 11.12. The King∣dom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Mat. 7.13. Luk. 13.24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate. Phil. 2.12. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Rom. 2.7, 10. To them, who by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory, and honor, and immortality, eternal life; Glory, honor and peace to every man that worketh good, &c. 1 Cor. 9.24. So run, that you may obtain. 2 Tim. 2.5. A man is not crown∣ed, except he strive lawfully. 2 Tim. 2.12. If we suffer with him, we shall reign with him. 1 Tim. 6.12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. 1 Tim. 6.18, 19. That they do good works, laying up a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Phil. 3.14. If by any means I might attain to the Resurrection of the Dead, I press toward the

mark, for the price of the high calling, &c. Rev. 22.14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life,* 1.3 and enter in by the gates into the City. Mat. 25. Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit, &c. for I was hungry, and ye, &c. Mat. 9. Blessed are the pure in heart, &c. they that hunger and thirst, &c. Be glad and rejoyce, for great is your re∣ward in Heaven.* 1.4 Luk. 11.28. Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it. Yea, the escaping of Hell is a right end of Duty to a Beleever. Hebr. 4.1. Let us fear, least a promise being left us, of entering into his Rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Luk. 12.5. Fear him that is able to destroy both soul and body in hell, yea, (whatsoever others say) I say unto you, Fear him. 1 Cor. 9.27. I keep under my body, and bring it in subjection; lest, when I have preached to others, I my self should be a cast-a∣way. Multitudes of Scriptures, and Scripture Arguments, might be brought, but these may suffice to any that beleeve Scripture.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 8.
• * 1.2

  I spe••k the mo••e of this, because I find that many moderate men who think they have found the mean between the Antino∣m••an and the Legalist, yet do fouly err in this point. As Mr F. in the Marrow of Modern Divi∣nity, a book applauded by so many emi∣nent Divines, in their com∣mendatory E∣pistles before it; And because the doctrine [That we must Act from Life but not For Life, or in thank∣fulness to him that hath saved us, but not for the obtaining of Salvation] is of such danger∣ous consequence, that I would advise all m••n to take heed of it, that regard their Salvation.
• * 1.3

  1 Cor 15. ult. 2 Cor. 4.17. & 5.10, 11.
• * 1.4

  I here under∣take to prove, that this fore∣mentioned doctrine redu∣ced to practise will certainly be the damna∣tion of the pract••ser; But I hope many Antinomians do not practise their own doctrine.