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The Saints' Everlasting Rest

Name: The Saints' Everlasting Rest
Author: Richard Baxter

Richard Baxter 1650

Baxter's influential treatise on heavenly rest, expounding the blessed state of saints in glory and motivating believers toward holiness through contemplation of eternal reward.

EEBO-TCP A27017 (TEI), original spelling, printed page numbers. EEBO 12395300; STC/Wing Wing B1383; ESTC R17757

From the text

The opening of the work as printed, from p. 1, in the spelling of this edition.

IT was not only our interest in God, [§. 1.] and actual fruition of him, which was lost in Adams Covenant-breaking fall; but all spiritual knowledg of him, and true disposition towards such a felicity. Man hath now a heart too suitable to his estate: A low state, and a low spirit. And (as some expound that of Luk. 18.8.) when the Son of God comes with Recovering Grace, and discoveries and p. 2tenders of a spiritual and eternal Happiness and Glory, he findes not faith in man to beleeve it. But as the poor man that would not beleeve that any one man had such a sum as an hundred pound, it was so far above what he possessed: So man will hardly now beleeve, that there is such a Happiness as once he had, much less as Christ hath now procured. When God would give the Israelites his Sabbaths of Rest, in a Land of Rest, he had more ado to make them beleeve it, then to overcome their enemies, and procure it for them: And when they had it, only as a small intimation & earnest of a more incomparably glorious Rest through Christ, they stick there, and will yet beleeve no more then they do possess, but sit down and say, as the Glutton at the feast, Sure there's no other Heaven but this. Or if they do expect more by the Messiah, it is only the increase of their earthly felicity. The Apostle bestows most of this Epistle against this distemper, and clearly and largely proves unto them, That it's the end of all Ceremonies and Shadows, to direct them to Jesus Christ the Substance; and that the Rest of Sabbaths and Canaan, should teach them to look for a further Rest, which indeed is their Happiness. My Text is his Conclusion after divers Arguments to that end; a Conclusion so useful to a Beleever, as containing the ground of all his comforts, the end of all his duty and sufferings, the life and sum of all Gospel-promises, and Christian-priviledges, that you may easily be satisfied why I have made it the subject of my present Discourse. What more welcome to men, under personal afflictions, tiring duty, successions of sufferings, then Rest? What more welcom news to men under publick calamities, unpleasing employments, plunderings, losses, sad tydings &c. (which is the common case) then this of Rest? Hearers, I pray God your attentions, intention of spirit, entertainment, and improvement of it, be but half answerable to the verity, necessity and excellency of this Subject, and then you will have cause to bless God, while you live, that ever you heard it, as I have, that ever I studied it.

[§. 2.] THe Text is, as you may see, the Apostles Assertion in an entire proposition, with the concluding illative, The Subject is Rest; The Predicate, It yet Remains to the people of God. Its requisite p. 3we say somewhat briefly; 1. For Explication of the terms. 2. Of the Subject of them.

Therefore] i. e. It clearly follows from the former Argument [There Remains] 1. In order of speaking; As the Consequence follows the Antecedent, or the Conclusion the Premises; So there Remains a Rest, or it remains that there is another Rest. 2. But rather in order of being: As the bargain remains after the earnest, the performance after the promise, the Anti-type after the Type, and the ultimate end after all the means; so there remains a Rest: [To the People of God] God hath a two-fold people within the Church: One his only by a common vocation [Heb. 10.30. Micah 2.8. 2 Pet. 2.20. Joh 2.23. Heb 6.4, 5, 6. Heb. 10.29, 30] , by an external acceptation of Christ, and covenanting, sanctified by the blood of the Covenant so far, as to be separated from the open enemies of Christ, and all without the Church, therefore not to be accounted common and unclean in the sence as Jews and Pagans are; but holy, and Saints in a larger sence, as the Nation of the Jews, and all Proselited Gentiles were holy before Christs coming: These are called Branches in Christ not bearing fruit, [Joh. 15.2, 6.] and shall be cut off, &c. for they are in the Church, and in him, by the foresaid profession, and external Covenant, but no further. There are in his Kingdom things that offend, [Mat: 13.41.] and men that work iniquity, which the Angels at the last day shall gather out, and cast into the Lake of fire: There are fishes good and bad in his net, and tares with wheat in his field: The son of Perdition is one of those given to Christ by the Father, [Joh. 17.12.] though not as the Rest; these be not the people of God my Text speaks of. 2. But God hath a Peculiar People, that are his by special vocation, cordial acceptation of Christ, internal, sincere covenanting, sanctified by the blood of the Covenant, and Spirit of Grace, so far, as not only to be separated from open Infidels, but from all unregenerate Christians being Branches in Christ, bearing fruit; and for these remains the Rest in my Text.

p. 31. To be Gods people by a forced Subjection, i. e. under his dominion, is common to all persons, even open enemies, yea Devils; this yeelds not comfort.

2. To be his by a verbal Covenant and profession, and external Call, is common to all in and of the visible Church, even Traytors, and secret enemies; yet hath this many priviledges, as the external seals, means of grace; common mercies, but no interest in this Rest.

p. 43. But to be his by election, union with Christ, and special interest (as before mentioned) is the peculiar property of those that shall have this Rest.

[§. 3.] Quest. BUt is it to a determinate number of persons by name, or onely to a people thus and thus qualified, viz. persevering Beleevers, without determining by Name who they are?

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To my dearly beloved Friends, the Inhabitants of the Burrough and Forreign OF…
To the Right Worshipful Sir Thomas Rous Baronet, with the Lady Jane Rous his VVife.
SECT. I.p. 1
SECT. II.p. 2
SECT. III.p. 4
SECT. IV.p. 4
DEFINITION.p. 6
SECT. V.p. 7
§. 6. Q. Whether to make Salvation our end be not mercenary? or…p. 8
SECT. VII.p. 8
SECT. VIII.p. 9
SECT. IX.p. 10
SECT. X.p. 11
SECT. VI.p. 14
SECT. XI.p. 18
SECT. XII.p. 18
§. 5.SECT. V.p. 72
SECT. III.§ 3.p. 81
SECT. IV.§. 4.p. 83
SECT. V.§ 5.p. 87
SECT. VI.§. 6.p. 91
SECT. VII.§ 7.p. 97
SECT. VIII.§ 8.p. 101
§ 9.SECT. IX.p. 106
SECT. X.§ 10.p. 107
§ 11.SECT. XI.p. 108
§ 12.SECT. XII.p. 110
§ 13.SECT. XIII.p. 112
§ 14.SECT. XIIII.p. 116
SECT. XV.p. 121
SECT. XVI.§ 16.p. 125
§ 17.SECT. XVII.p. 128
SECT. XVIII.§ 18.p. 129
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§ 20.SECT. XX.p. 132
§ 1.SECT. I.p. 134
SECT. II.§ 2.p. 137
§ 4.SECT. IIII.p. 154
§ 6.SECT. VI.p. 160
The Conclusion.p. 164
To my dearly beloved Friends, The Inhabitants of BRIDGNORTH, Both Magistrates and People.…
TO THE READER.
SECT. I.p. 167
SECT. II.p. 169
§ 3.SECT. III.p. 170
SECT. IIII.§ 4.p. 171
§ 5.SECT. V.p. 172
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§ 1.SECT. I.p. 174
SECT. II.§ 2.p. 179
SECT. IIII.§ 1.p. 191
SECT. III.p. 197
§ 4.SECT. IV.p. 206
§. 5.SECT. V.p. 208
§. 6.SECT. VI.p. 210
SECT. III.§ 3.p. 217
SECT. I.§. 1.p. 221
SECT. II.§. 2.p. 225
SECT. III.§. 3.p. 229
§. 4.SECT. IV.p. 230
§. 2.SECT. II.p. 238
SECT. IV.§. 4.p. 243
SECT. V.§. 5.p. 245
§. 7▪ SECT. VII.p. 248
SECT. VIII.§. 8.p. 249
§. 1.SECT. I.p. 252
To my dearly beloved Friends, The Inhabitants of the City of COVENTRY, Both Magistrates…
SECT. I.§. 1.p. 263
Use First. Shewing the unconceivable misery of the ungodly in their…p. 265
§. 3.SECT. III.p. 268
§. 4.SECT. IV.p. 270
§. 5.SECT. V.p. 272
SECT. VI.§. 6.p. 273
§. 1.SECT. I.p. 276
SECT. II.§. 2.p. 279
SECT. III.§. 3.p. 279
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SECT. V.§. 5.p. 283
SECT. VII.§. 7.p. 285
SECT. VIII.§. 8.p. 285
§. 9.SECT. IX.p. 286
SECT. X.§. 10.p. 287
SECT. XI.§. 11.p. 289
SECT. XII.§. 12.p. 291
SECT. XIII.§. 13.p. 293
§. 14.SECT. XIV.p. 294
§. 15.SECT. XV.p. 296
CHAP. III. They shall lose all things that are comfortable, as well…p. 299
§. 2.SECT. II.p. 300
§. 6.SECT. VI.p. 316
§ 4.SECT. IIII.p. 322
§. 7.SECT. VII.p. 326
SECT. IX.p. 155
§. 10.SECT. X.p. 332
LECT. XI.§. 11.p. 337
CHAP. V. The Second Vse, Reprehending the general neglect of this…p. 339
SECT. III.p. 151
SECT. I.p. 349
SECT. II.p. 150
SECT. IV.p. 352
SECT. V.p. 352
SECT. VI.p. 353
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SECT. X.p. 155
SECT. XI.p. 356
SECT. XII.p. 357
SECT. XIII.p. 357
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SECT. XVIII.p. 361
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SECT. XX.p. 363
SECT. XXI.p. 364
SECT. XXII.p. 365
SECT. XXIII.p. 369
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SECT. XXV.p. 374
SECT. XXVI.p. 375
SECT. XXVII.p. 379
CHAP. VII. The third Vse. Perswading all men to try their Title to…p. 380
§. 9. Hinderances which keep many that do Examine from attaining…p. 400
CHAP. XI. An Exhortation to those that have got Assurance of this…p. 458
CHAP. XII. An advice to some more specially to help others to this…p. 501
§. 8.SECT. VIII.p. 510
§. 13.SECT. XIII.p. 540
SECT. XIV.§. 14.p. 541
SECT. XV.§. 15.p. 543
§. 16.SECT. XVI.p. 546
§. 17.SECT. XVII.p. 548
§. 18.SECT. XVIII.p. 550
TO MY Dearly beloved friends in the Lord, The Inhabitants of the Town of SHREWSBVRY, Both…
The Introduction.p. 555
SECT. I.§. 1.p. 559
§. 2.SECT. II.p. 560
§. 3.SECT. III.p. 562
§. 4.SECT. IV.p. 562
§. 5.SECT. V.p. 564
§. 6.SECT. VI.p. 564
§. 7.SECT. VII.p. 568
§. 1.SECT. I.p. 574
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§. 3.SECT. IIIp. 576
§. 4.SECT. IV.p. 578
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§. 8.SECT. VIII.p. 582