The Saints Everlasting Rest, Dedication 2 – Treatise 1
To the Right Worshipful Sir Thomas Rous Baronet, with the Lady Jane Rous his VVife.
Right Worshipful,
THis First Part of this Treatise was written under your Roof, and therefore I present it not to you as a gift, but as your own: Not for your Protection, but for your Instruction and Direction; (for I never perceived you possessed with that evil spirit, which maketh men hear their Teachers as their Servants, to censure their Doctrine, or be humored by them, rather then to learn.) Nor do I intend this Epistle for the publishing of your Vertues: You know to whose judgment you stand or fall. It is a small thing to be judged by mans judgment: If you be sentenced as Righteous at the Bar of Christ, and called by him the Blessed of his Father; it matters not much, by what name or title you are here called. All Saints are low in their own esteem, and therefore thirst not to be highly esteemed by others: He that knows what Pride hath done in the World, and is now doing, and how close that hainous sin doth cleave to all our Natures, will scarce take him for a friend, who will bring fewel to the fire, nor that breath for amicable, which will blow the coal. Yet he that took so kindly a womans box of oyntment, as to affix the History to his Gospel, that where-ever it was read, that good Work might be remembred, hath warranted me by his example, to annex the mention of your Favors to this Treatise, which have many times far exceeded in cost that which Judas thought too good for his Lord. And common ingenuity commandeth me thankfully to acknowledg, That when you heard I was suddenly cast into extream weakness, you sent into several Counties to seek me in my quarters, and missing of me, sent again, to fetch me to your house, where for many moneths I found a Hospital, a Physitian, a Nurse, and real Friends, and (which is more then all) daily and importunate Prayers for my recovery; and since I went from you, your kindnesses still following me in aboundance: And all this for a man that was a stranger to you, whom you had never seen before, but among Souldiers, to burden you: And for one that had no witty insinuations for the extracting of your favors, nor impudency enough to return them in flatteries; yea, who had such obstructions betwixt his heart and his tongue, that he could scarce handsomly express the least part of his thankfulness; much less able to make you a requital. The best return I can make of your love, is in commending this Heavenly Duty to your Practice; wherein I must intreat you to be the more diligent and unwearied, because as you may take more time for it then the poor can do, so have you far stronger temptations to divert you; it being extreamly difficult for those that have fulness of all things here, to place their happiness really in another life, and to set their hearts there, as the place of their Rest; which yet must be done by all that will be saved. Study Luke 12.16. to 22. and 16.19, 25. Matth. 6.21. How little comfort do all things in this world afford to a departing soul? My constant prayer for you to God shall be, That all things below may be below him in your heart, and that you may throughly master and mortifie the desires of the flesh, and may daily live above in the Spirit, with the Father of Spirits, till you arrive among the perfected Spirits of the Just.
Your much obliged Servant Rich. Baxter.
The Contents of the First Part.
CHAP. I. THE Text explained. pag. 1, 2, 3
Qu. Doth this Rest remain to a determinate number of persons Elect? Or only to believers in generall? p. 4
Qu. Is it theirs only in possibility, or in certainty? p. 5
Chap. 2. The definition of Rest: And of this Rest. p. 6
Qu. Whether to make the obtaining of Rest, and avoiding misery, the end of our duties, be not Legall, or Mercenary? Answered. p 8 9
Chap. 3. Twelve things which are presupposed to this Rest. p. 12, &c.
Chap. 4. What this Rest containeth. 1. Cessation from all that motion, which is the means to attain the end. p. 20
2. Perfect freedom from all evill. p. 21
3. The highest-degree of personall Perfection▪ p. 22
4. Our nearest fruition of God, the chief Good. p. 23
5. A sweet and constant action of all the powers in this fruition. p 28
As 1. Of the Senses and Tongue, and whole Body. p. 29
2. Of the Soul. And 1. Vnderstanding; As 1. Knowledg. p. 30
2. Memory. p. 33
2. Affections, As by Love. p. 35
2. By Joy. p. 39
This Love and Joy will be mutuall. p. 41
Chap. 5. The four great antecedents, and preparatives to this Rest. p. 44
1. The coming of Christ. p. 45
2. Our Resurrection. p. 51
3. Our justification in the great Judgment. p. 57
4. Our solemn Coronation and Inthroning. p. 65
Chap. 6. This Rest tryed by nine Rules in Philosophy or Reason, and found by all to be the most excellent state in generall. p. 69
Chap. 7. The particular excellencies of this Rest. p. 76
1. Its the fruit of Christs blood, and enjoyed with the purchaser. ibid.
2. It is freely given us. p. 78
3. It is the Saints peculiar. p. 81
4. In association with Angels, and perfect Saints. p. 83
5. Yet its Joys immediate from God. p. 87
6. It will be a seasonable Rest. p. 91
7. And a sutable Rest, 1. To our Natures. 2. Desires. 3. Necessities. p. 97
8. A perfect Rest: 1. In the sincerity of it. 2. And universality. p. 101
1. Of good enjoyed. 2. And of the evill we are freed from▪ ibid.
We shall Rest, 1. From sin, and that 1. Of the Vnderstanding. p. 102
2. From sin of Will, Affection and Conversation. p. 105
2. From suffering. Particularly 1. From all doubts of Gods love. p. 106
2. From all sense of his displeasure. p. 107
3. From all Satans Temptations. p. 108
4. From temptations of the world and flesh. p. 110
5. From Persecutions and abuses of the world. p. 112
6. From our own divisions and dissentions. p. 116
7. From participating in our brethrens sufferings. p. 121
8. From all our own personall sufferings. p. 125
9. From all the labour and trouble of duty. p. 128
10 From the trouble of Gods absence. p. 129
9. As it will be thus perfect, so Everlasting. p. 129, &c.
Chap. 8. The People of God described: The severall parts of the description opened: and therein many weighty controversies briefly touched: And lastly, the description applyed, by way of examination. p. 134. to 164
The Contents of the Second Part.
CHAP. I. THE Certain truth of this Rest proved by Scripture. p. 167
Chap. 2. Perswasions to study and preach the divine authority of Scripture. p. 174
Chap. 3 Certain distinctions concerning Scripture. p. 184
Sixty Positions concerning Scriptures. ibid.
Chap. 4. The 1. Argument to prove Scripture the Word of God. p. 191
That arguing from Miracles, testified by man, is no Popish resolving our faith into humane testimony. p. 206
The excellency of this argument from Miracles. p. 208
What the sin against the Holy Ghost is? ibid.
The necessity of using humane Testimony. p. 210
The use of Church-governours and Teachers, and how far they are to be obeyed. p. 211
The excellent use of Antiquities for matter of fact. p. 213
Chap. 5. The 2. Argument to prove Scripture Gods Word. p. 214
Chap. 6. The 3. Argument to prove Scripture Gods Word. p. 221
Chap. 7. The 4. Argument to prove Scripture Gods Word. p. 235
Of extraordinary Temptations. p. 237
Of Apparitions. p. 238
Of Sate… is possessing and tormenting mens bodies. p. 241
Of Witches, and the devils compacts with them. p. 243
The necessity of a written Word. p. 245
Chap. 8. This Rest remaineth to none but the People of God. p. 252
Chap. 9. Whether separated Souls enjoy Rest before the Resurrection; Proved that they do in a great measure, by 20. Arguments. p. 257
The Contents of the Third Part.
CHAP. I. THE first Vse. Shewing the unconceivable misery of the wicked in their loss of this Rest. p. 265
The greatness of their loss. 1. They lose all the personall perfection of Soul and Body, which the Saints have. p. 268
2. They lose God himself. p. 270
3. They lose all those spirituall, delightfull affections by which the blessed do feed on God. p. 272
4. They lose the society of Angels and Saints. p. 273
Chap. 2. The aggravations of the wickeds loss of Heaven. p. 276
1. Their understandings will be cleared, to know its worth. p. 277
2. And also enlarged, to have deeper apprehensions of it. p. 279
3. Conscience will fully apply it to themselves. ibid.
4. Their effections will be more lively, and enlarged. p 281
5. Their memories strong, to feed their torment. p. 283
Ten things concerning their loss of this Rest, which it will for ever torment them to remember. p. 285 to 298
Chap. 3. Aggravations from the losses which accompany the loss of Rest. p. 299
1. They shall lose their present presumptuous conceit of Gods favour to them, and of their part in Christ. p. 300
2. They shall lose all their Hopes. p. 303
3. They shall lose their present ease and peace. p. 311
4. They shall lose all their carnall mirth. p. 315
5. And all their sensuall contentments and delights. p. 316
Chap. 4. The greatness of the damneds torments opened. p. 319
By eight aggravations of them. to p. 328
The certain truth of these torments. ibid.
The intollerableness of this loss and torment discovered, by ten questions. p. 332
Chap. 5. The second Vse. Reproving the generall neglect of this Rest, and exciting to the utmost diligence in seeking it. p. 339
1. To the worldly minded, that cannot spare time. p. 340
2. To the prophane, ungodly, presumptuous multitude. p. 343
3. To lazy, formall, self-deceiving Professors. p. 344
And of these, 1. To the opinionative hypocrite. 2. And the worldly hypocrite. ibid. p. 345
4. To the godly themselves, for their great negligence, Magistrates, Ministers, and People. p. 35…
Chap. 6. An exhortation to the greatest seriousness in seeking Rest. p. 349
Twenty lively rationall considerations to quicken us up to the greatest diligence that is possible. to p. 350
Ten more very quickening considerations. p. 365
Ten more very quickening, by way of question. p. 369
Ten more peculiar to the godly, to quicken them. p. 374
Chap. 7. The third Vse. Perswading all men to try their title to this Rest, and directing them in this tryall. p▪ 380
Self-examination defined, and explained. p. 386
The nature of Assurance, or certainty of Salvation opened: How much, and what the Spirit doth to the producing it: And what Scripture, what Knowledg, what Faith, what Holiness and Evidences, what Conscience or internall sense, and what Reason or discourse do in this work. p. 388
What the seal of the Spirit is? What the testimony of the Spirit? and what the testimony of Conscience? p. 391
Against the common distinction of certainty of Evidence, and of adherence. p. 392
That we are justified and beloved of God, is not properly to be believed; much less immediatly, and by all men. ibid.
That Assurance may be here attained, though not perfect Assurance. p. 393
Hinderances that keep from examination; 1. Satan. p 39…
2. Wicked men. p 397
3. Hinderances in our own hearts. p. 398
Hinderances of Assurance in those that do examine. p. 400
Further causes of want of Assurance among the most of the godly themselves. p. 402
1. Weakness and small measure of Grace. p. 403
2. Looking more what they are, then what they should do to be better. ibid.
3. Mistaking or confounding Assurance, and the joy of Assurance. p. 405
4. Ignorant of Gods way of conveying Assurance. p. 406
5. Expecting a greater measure then God usually giveth here. p. 407
6. Taking up comfort in the beginning on unsound, or uncertain grounds, when yet perhaps they have better grounds, and do not see them; and then when the weakness of their grounds appear, they cast away their comforts too, as if all were nought. p. 408
7. Imperfection of Reason, and naturall parts. p. 409
8. The secret maintaining some known sin. p. 410
9. Growing lazy in the spirituall part of duty, and not keeping graces in constant action. p. 411
10. Prevalency of Melancholy in the body. p. 414
Chap. 8. An Exhortation to examine our title to Rest. p. 415
Severall Motives. to p. 428
Chap. 9. A direction how to manage the work of Self-examination throughly, that it may succeed. p. 428
Two marks whereby you may infallibly Judg. p. 434
Chap. 10. The fourth Vse. The Reasons of the Saints afflictions in this life. p. 439
Some Considerations to help us to bear them joyfully, drawn from their reference to this Rest. p. 441
Some objections of the afflicted answered. p. 452
Chap. 11. An Exhortation to those that have got Assurance of this Rest, or title to it, to do all that possibly they can to help others to the like. p. 458
Here is shewed, 1. wherein the duty doth consist. p. 459
Directions are added for right performance. p. 464
Besides the great duty of private exhortation, we must help them to enjoy, use and improve the publique Ordinances. p. 475
2. The common Hinderances of faithfull endeavours to save mens souls. p. 482
Some objections against this duty, answered. p. 488
Motives to perswade all Christians to this duty. p. 491
Chap. 12. An advice to some, more especially to help others to this Rest: Prest largely on Ministers and Parents. p. 501
And 1. To men of ability. 2. Or interest. 3. Physitians. 4. Rich men, and men of Command. p. 504
5. To Ministers: Five means which they must use. p. 506
6. To Parents, and masters of Families. Severall Considerations to urge them to the performance. p. 527
Some of their objections answered. p. 537
Directions to Parents for teaching their Children. p. 546
The summe, or Fundamentals of Divinity, which Children and others must first be taught. p. 548
Some further Directions, only named. p. 550
The Contents of the Fourth Part.
CHAP. I. REproving our expectation of Rest on earth, with divers Reasons against it. p. 559
…hap. 2. Reproving our lothness to die, and go to our Rest. p. 574
The hainous aggravations of this sin. p. 575
Considerations against it, and to make us willing, and objections answered. p. 583
…hap. 3. A Directory for a heavenly life. 1. Reproof of our unheavenliness, and Exhortation to set our hearts above. p. 598
Twelve moving considerations to heavenly-mindedness. p. 604
…hap. 4. Seven great Hindrances of heavenliness to be avoided. p 645
…hap. 5. Ten general Helps to a heavenly life. p. 668
…hap. 6. The great duty of heavenly meditation described, and the Description explained. p. 686
…hap. 7. Directions, 1. Concerning the fittest Time for this Meditation. p. 696
2. Concerning the fittest Place. p. 712
3. Concerning the preparation of the heart to it. p. 714
Chap. 8. Of Consideration, and what power it hath to move the soul. p. 718
Chap. 9. What faculties and affections must be acted in this Contemplation. p. 724
By what objects, and considerations, and in what order. ibid.
More particularly: 1. The exercise of Judgment. p. 725
2. The acting of Faith. p. 728
3. The acting of Love. p. 731
4. The acting of Desire. p 736
5. The acting of Hope. p. 739
6. The acting of Courage, or holy Boldness and Resolution. p. 742
7. The acting of Joy. p. 744
Chap. 10. By what Actings of the soul to proceed to this work of heavenly Contemplation, beside Cogitation. p. 749
As 1. Soliloquy—Its parts and method. p 750
2. Speaking to God. p. 754
Chap. 11. Some advantages for raising and affecting the soul in its Meditations of Heaven — In generall, by making use of sense, or sensitive things. p 756
Particularly, 1. By raising strong suppositions from sense. p. 759
2. By comparing the objects of Sense, with the objects of Faith. p. 761
Twelve helps by comparison to be affected with the Joys of Heaven. p. 76…
Chap. 12. Direction how to manage and watch over the heart, whi… we are in this work of Contemplation. p. 781
Chap. 13. An abstract, or brief summe of all, for the help of the weak. p. 787
Chap. 14. An example of the acting of Judgment, Faith, Love, Joy, and Desire, by this duty of Heavenly Meditation. p. 790
The Conclusion, commending this duty, from its necessity and excellency. p. 83…