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. XIIII.

6 1.26. WE shall then Rest also from all our sad Divisions, and unchristian like quarrels with one another. As he said, who saw the Carkasses lie together, as if they had embraced each other, who had been slain by each other in a Duel. Quantâ se in∣vicem amplectuntur amicitiâ, qui mutuâ implacabili inimicitiâ peri∣êre? How lovingly do they embrace one another, being dead, who perished through their mutual implacable enmity? So, how lovingly do thousands live together in Heaven, who lived in Di∣visions and Quarrels on Earth? or as he said, Who beheld how quietly and peaceably the bones and dust of mortal enemies did lie together. Non tantâ vivi pace essetis conjuncti: You did not live together so peaceably. So we may say of multitudes in Hea∣ven, now all of one minde, one heart, and one imployment, You lived not on Earth in so sweet familiarity. There is no contention, because none of this Pride, Ignorance, or other Corruption. Paul and Barnabas are now fully reconciled. There they are not every man conceited of his own understanding, and in love with the issue of his own Brain; but all admiring the Divine perfection, and in love with God,* 1.3 and one another. As old Grynaeus wrote to his friend, Si te non ampliùs in his terris videam, ibi tamen convenie∣mus ubi Lutherus cum Zuinglio optimè jam convenit: If I see you no more on Earth, yet we shall there meet, where Luther and Zuinglius are now well agreed. There is a full reconciliation between Sacramentarians and Vbiquitarians, Calvinists and Lutherans, Remonstrants and Contra-Remonstrants, Disciplinarians and Anti Disciplinarians, Conformists and Non-Conformists, Antinomians and Legalists are terms there not known. Presbyteri∣ans and Independents are perfectly agreed: There is no Discipline erected by State Policy, nor any disordered popular rule: No Government but that of Christ: All things are established Jure Divino. No bitter Invectives, nor voluminous reproaches: The Language ofa 1.4 Martin is there a stranger; and the sound of his ec∣cho is not heard. No Recording our Brethrens infirmities: nor raking into the sores which Christ died to heal. How many Ser∣mons zealously Preached; how many Books studiously compiled,

will then by the Authors be all disclaimed? b 1.5 How many back-biting slanderous speeches? How many secret dividing contrivan∣ces, must then be laid on the score of Christ, against whom and his Saints they were committed? The zealous Authors dare not own them: They would then with the Athenians burn their books, Acts 19.19. and rather lose their labor, then stand to it. There's no plot∣ing to strengthen our party: nor deep designing against our Bre∣thren. And is it not shame and pity, that our course is now so con∣trary? Surely if there be sorrow or shame in Heaven, we shall then be both sorry and ashamed to look one another there in the face; and to remember all this carriage on earth. Even as the Brethren of Joseph were to behold him, when they remembred their former unkinde usage. Is it not enough that all the world is against us, but we must also be against one another? Did I ever think to have heard Christians so to c 1.6 reproach and scorn Christians? and men professing the fear of God, to make so little conscience of censuring, vilifying, slandering, and disgracing one another? Could I have believed him that would have told me five years ago; that when the scorners of Godliness were subdued, and the bitter prosecutors of the Church overthrown, that such should succeed them who suffered with us, who were our intimate friends; with whom we took sweet counsel and went up together to the house of God? Did I think it had been in the hearts of men professing such zeal to Religion, and the ways of Christ, to draw their d 1.7 swords against each other, and to seek each others blood so fiercely? Alas, if the Judgment be once perverted, and error have possessed the su∣pream faculty, whither will men go, and what they will do? Nay, what will they not do? O what a potent instrument for Satan is a misguided Conscience! It will make a man kill his dearest friend, yea, father or mother, yea, the holiest Saint, and think he doth God service by it: And to facilitate the work, it will first blot out the reputation of their holiness, and make them take a Saint for a Devil, that so they may vilifie or destroy him without remorse.

O what hellish things are e 1.8 Ignorance and Pride, that can bring mens souls to such a case as this! Paul knew what he said, when he commanded that a Novice should not be a Teacher, lest being lifted up with Pride, he fall into the Condemnation of the Devil, 1 Tim 3.6. He discerned that such young Christians that have got but a little smattering knowledg in Religion, do lie in greatest danger of this Pride and Condemnation. Who but a Paul could have foreseen that among the very Teachers and Governors of so choice a Church as Ephesus, that came to see and hear him, that pray and weep with him, there were some that afterwards should be notorious Sect-masters f 1.9? That of their own selves men should arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them? Acts 20.30. VVho then can expect better from any So∣ciety now, how knowing and holy soever? To day they may be Orthodox, unanimous, and joyned in Love; and perhaps within a few weeks be divided, and at bitter enmity, through their doting about Questions that tend not to edifie. VVho that had seen how loving the godly in England did live together, when they were hated and scorned of all, would have believed that ever they would have been so bitter against one another. That when those who derided us for Preaching, for Hearing, for constant Praying in our Families, for singing Psalms, for sanctifying the Lords day, for repeating Sermons, for taking Notes, for desiring Discipline, &c.

had their mouthes stopped; we should fall upon one ano∣ther for the very same duties; and that Professors of Religion should oppose and deride almost all that worship of God out of Conscience, which others did before them through prophaneness? Did I not think, that of all other, the scorning at the worshippers of Christ, had been a sure sign of a wicked wretch? But I see now we must distinguish between scorners and scorners, or else I fear we shall exclude almost all. I read indeed in Pagan VVriters, That these Christians were as cruel as Bears and Tygers against one another:* 1.10 Ammianus Marcellinus gives it as the Reason of Juli∣ans policy, in proclaiming Liberty for every party, to Profess, and Preach their own Opinions, because he knew the cruel Christians would then most fiercely fall upon one another; and so by * 1.11 Liberty of Conscience, and by keeping their Children from the Schools of Learning, he thought to have rooted out Christianity from the Earth. But I had hoped this accusation had come from the malice of the Pagan VVriter: Little did I think to have seen it so far verified! Lord, what Divels are we unsanctified, when there is yet such a Nature remaining in the sanctified? Such a Na∣ture hath God in these days suffered to discover it self in the very Godly; that if he did not graciously and powerfully restrain, they would shed the blood of one another; and no thanks to us if it be not done. But I hope his design is but to humble and shame us by the discovery, and then to prevent the breaking forth.

Object. But is it possible such should be truly Godly? Then what sin will denominate a man ungodly?

Answ. Or else I must believe the doctrine of the Saints Apo∣stasie; or believe there are scarce any godly in the world. O what a wound of dishonor hath this given, not onely to the strict∣er profession of holines, but even to the very Christian name? Were there a possibility of hiding it, I durst not thus mention it. O Christian, If thou who readest this be guilty, I charge thee be∣fore the living God, That thou sadly consider, how far is this un∣like thy Copy? Suppose thou hadst seen the Lord Jesus, girded to the service, stooping to the Earth, washing his Disciples dirty feet, and wiping them, and saying to them, This I have done to give

you an example, That if I your Lord and Master have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one anothers: Would not this make thee ashamed and tremble? Shall the Lord wipe the feet, and the fellow-servant be ready to cut the throat? would not thy proud heart scorn to stoop to thy Masters work? Look to thy self; it is not the name of a professor, nor the zeal for thy opinions, that will prove thee a Christian, or secure thee from the heat of the consuming fire.* 1.12 If thou love not thine enemy, much more thy Christian friend, thou canst not be Christs Disciple. It is the com∣mon mark whereby his Disciples are known to all men,* 1.13 That they love one another. Is it not his last great Legacy, My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you? Mark the expressions of that command. If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, live peaceably with all men, Rom. 12.18. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, Heb. 12.14. O the deceitfulness of the heart of man! That those same men, who lately in their self-examination could finde nothing of Christ so clear within them, as their love to the Bre∣thren, and were confident of this, when they could scarce discover any other grace, should now look so strangely upon them, and be filled with so much bitterness against them! That the same men, who would have travelled through reproaches many miles, to hear an able faithful Minister, and not think the labor ill bestow∣ed, should now become their bitterest enemies, and the most powerful hinderers of the success of their labors, and travel as far to cry them down. It makes me almost ready to say, O sweet, O happy days of persecution! Which drove us together in a clo∣sure of Love! who being now dryed at the fire of Liberty and Prosperity, are crumbled all into dust by our contentions. But it makes me seriously, both to say, and to think. O sweet, O happy day of the Rest of the Saints in Glory! When as there is one God, one Christ, one Spirit, so we shall have one Judgment, one Heart, one Church, one Imployment for ever! VVhen there shall be no more Circumcision and Uncircumcision,* 1.14 Jew and Gentile, Anabaptist or Poedobaptist, Brownist, Separatist, Independent, Presbyterian, Episcopal, but Christ is All, and in All. We shall not there scruple our Communion, nor any of the Ordinances of Divine Worship: There will not be one for singing, and another against it; but even those who here jarred in discord, shall all conjoyn in blessed concord, and make up one melodious Quire.

I could wish they were of the Martyrs minde, who rejoyced that she might have her foot in the same hole of the Stocks, in which Master Philpots had been before her: But however, I am sure they will joyfully live in the same Heaven, and gladly participate in the same Rest. Those whom one house could not hold, nor one Church hold them, no nor one Kingdom neither; yet one Heaven, and one God may hold. One House, one Kingdom, could not hold Joseph and his Brethren, but they must together again, whether they will or no; and then how is the case altered? Then every man must strait withdraw, while they weep over and kiss each other. O how canst thou now finde in thy heart, if thou bear the heart or face of a Christian, to be bitter or injurious against thy Brethren, when thou dost but once think of that time and place, where thou h••p••••t in the near∣est and sweetest familiarity, to live and rejoyce with them for ever? I confess their infirmities are not to be loved, nor sin to be tolerated because its theirs: But be sure it be sin, which thou op••posest in them; and do it with a Spirit of meekness and compas∣sion, that the world may see thy love to the Person, while thou opposest the Offence. Alas, that Turks and Pagans, can agree in wickedness, better then Christians in the Truth! That Bears and Lyons, Wolves and Tygers can agree together, but Christians can∣not! That a Legion of Devils can accord in one body,* 1.15 and not the tenth part so many Christians in one Church! Well; the fault may be mine, and it may be theirs; or more likely both mine and theirs: But this rejoyceth me, That my old Friends who now look strangely at me, will joyfully triumph with me in our common Rest.

Notes

• * 1.1

  § 14.
• 6 1.2

  From our Divisions and Dissentions.
• * 1.3

  Melch Adam. in vitâ Gry∣nai.
• a 1.4

  Two books full of the language of Hell, in bit∣terrest scornes at the Mini∣stry and Dis∣cipline, thought to be written by one Overton.
• b 1.5

  Quemadmo∣dum vero in multas & va∣rias sectas scis∣sa est Catabap∣tistarum haere∣fis, ita in hoc omnes unani∣miter consenti∣unt, ut praedi∣catoribus veri∣tatis negotium exhibeant & eos erga audi∣tores tanquam seductores sus∣pectos reddant. Epistol. Leo. Judae. ante Bullingerum contra Cata∣bap.
• c 1.6

  Si Calvinus quam a natura insitam habe∣bat vehementi∣am, ca ipse ad∣versus perdi∣tos sophistas usus est, ut in∣terdum etiam modum non tenuisse videri possit; rogo moderatissimos istos homines quibus nimium incalescere vi∣dentur quicun∣que ipsorum more non fri∣gent, ut pro quo, & in quem dicatur, paulo attentius expendant; neque haereticos istos spiritus ex ing••ni•• suo metiantur. Beza, in Epistola praefat. ante Calvini Tractatus Theologicos.
• d 1.7

  Me quoque non latet, turbulentos homines m••vendis seditionibus, Satanae esse ••••abella, ut in Evangelii odium placidos alioqui homines inflammet. Ita nostro seculu, sub Evangelii nascentis initia, barbaros homines armavit, qui l••gibus, judicijs, & omni politiae bellum ex professo indice∣rent. — Sed ab Evangelio recedere, ut seditionibus obviàm catur, nimis perversum est. Cal∣vin de Scandalis.
• e 1.8

  Quod mul∣tos videmus hoc vel illa er∣rore captos, a rectâ viâ ab∣duci, nunquam nisi justâ Dei vindictâ acci∣dit. Verè Au∣gustinus su∣perbiam nomi∣nat, Haerese••••n omnium ma∣trem: Nullus enim unquam extitit erroris Magister, quem non prava am∣bitio in suum praecipitiū ex∣tulerit. Scimus Deum parvulis fidum esse do∣ctorem. Proinde qui arrogantia turgent, eos non mirum est ab hac Schola pul∣sos, vagis suis speculationibus sursum & deorsum raptari. Quotquot hác nostra aetate a purâ Evangelii doctrina pro••apsi falsorum dogmatum ••aeperunt esse Auth••res, reperiemus onmes, superbiae morbo correptos, ingenu tormenta sibi & aliis fabricass. Calvin. de scandalis.
• f 1.9

  Altera pestis est opinionum varietas & dissen∣tio in ecclesia: Quae ut his temporibus Jesuitarum impulsu valdè incruduit, ita tamen n••que nova vobis neque mira videri debet. Vt enim palatorum sic judiciorum magna est varietas: Et ut multae facies hominum, sic & corda diversa: ut Hieron. adv. Pelag. l. 3. Dr. Humfredus Jesuitis. part. 2 in Epistola Dedicatoria. Multos subvertunt, abducentes ipsos praetextu cognitionis, ab eo qui universa cre. vit, &c. Velut qui altius quid ac majus habeant quod ostendant Deo, &c. Probabili∣ter quidem inducentes per verborum artific um simplices ad quaerendi modum: Verum improbè per∣dentes ipsos, in eo quod maled••cam & impiam ipsorum mentem efficiunt, &c. Nam error per scipsum non ostenditur, ut ne denudatus deprehendatur, sed amiculo splendido callidè ornatus, ut etiam ipsa v••ritate veriorem seipsum exhibere videatur imperitioribus▪ per externam apparentiam. Irenaeus advers haeres pag. 1. Proaem. Dilig••nter insistendum, nequid ex poste quae grassatur ex vicinia, fide libus curae nostrae commissis, c••nv••ctu, colloqu••is, & quotidianis, quae vitari non possunt, disceptationi∣bus affl••tur. Serpit enim facile contagio, & nisi malo obviàm iretur, falsorum doctorum asius, & haereticorum consortium infi••m••••um fidem proculdubio vitiarent. Evangelii ergo praecones sese ex∣erceant in refutatione pontificiorum, Anabaptistaru•• & Socimanorum, &c. ab illis enim magnop••re m••tu••ndum, tum quia ••ll••s permixti ••••vimus, tum quia eorum plerique miro quodam studio ardent, doctrinae suae disseminandae Amyraldus de pace inter Evangelicos constituend. pag 246.
• * 1.10

  Ammian. Mar∣cel in vitâ Juliani.
• * 1.11

  O•• quam beati erunt in illo die Judi∣cii Magistratus illi qui subdi∣tos non modo honestis legibus, judiciis & dis∣ciplinâ praecla∣rè rexerunt: sed etiam om∣nium maximè in hoc studium incubu••runt ut incorrupta Re∣ligio apud suos exculta sit; doctrina caele∣stis per ••idos, ••ruditos & con∣stantes Mini∣stros sit tradi∣ta, & ingens hominum mul∣titudo per spi••ritum & ver∣bum renata in conspectum Christi prodeat, quae tali Magi••stratui aeternas gratias agat. E contra quam infoelices qui, &c. Religionem per varias corrupt••as p••ss•• sunt adulterari. Wigandus in Epist. ante Com. in Proph. John 13 8. 9, 10, 12, 14.
• * 1.12

  Matth. 5.44.
• * 1.13

  John 13.35. & 14.27.
• * 1.14

  Col 3.11.
• * 1.15

  Matth. 5.9. Luke 8.30.