The Saints Everlasting Rest, Treatise 2 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
SECT. I.
WE are next to proceed to the confirmation of this Truth,§. 1. Confirmation from other Scriptures. which though it may seem needless, in regard of its own clearness and certainty, yet in regard of our distance and infidelity, nothing more necessary. But you will say, To whom will this endeavour be usefull? They who believe the Scriptures are convinced already;The Truth confirmed from other Scriptures. and for those who believe it not, how will you convince them? Answ. But sad experience tels us, that those tha… believe, do believe but in part, and therefore have need of further confirmation; and doubtless God hath left us Arguments sufficient to convince unbelievers themselves, or else how should we preach to Pagans? Or what should we say to the greatest part of the world, that acknowledg not the Scriptures? Doubtless the Gospel should be preacht to them; and though we have not the gift of miracles to convince them of the truth, as the Apostles had, yet we have arguments demonstrative and clear, or else our preaching to them would be vain, we having nothing left but bare affirmations.
Though I have all along confirmed sufficiently by testimony of Scripture what I have said, yet I will here briefly add thus much more; That the Scripture doth clearly assert this Truth in these six wayes.
1Affirming the Saints to have been predestinate to this glory.1. It affirms, That this Rest is fore-ordained for the Saints, and the Saints also fore-ordained to it. Heb. 11.16. God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a City. 1 Cor. 2.9. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived what God hath prepared for them that love him: which I conceive must be meant of these preparations in heaven; for those on earth are both seen and conceived, or else how are they enjoyed? Mat. 20.23. To sit on Christs right and left hand in his Kingdom, shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. And themselves are called Vessels of mercy, before prepared unto glory. Rom 9.23. And in Christ we have obtained the inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him, who worketh all things after to the counsel of his own will. Ephes. 1.11. And whom he thus predestinateth, them he glorifieth. Rom. 8.30. For he hath from the beginning chosen them to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth. 2 Thes. 2.13.
And though the intentions of the vnwise and weak may be frustrated, and without counsel purposes are disappointed (Prov. 15.22.) yet the thoughts of the Lord shall surely come to passe, and as he hath purposed, it shall stand.Isa. 14.24. The Counsel of the Lord standeth, for ever, and the thoughts of his heart to all generations: Therefore, blessed are they whose God is the Lord, and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Psal. 33.11, 12. Who can bereave his people of that Rest which is designed them by Gods eternall purpose?
SECT. II.
SEcondly,2That it is procured for them by the blood of Christ. the Scripture tels us, that this Rest is Purchased, as well as Purposed for them; or that they are redeemed to this Rest. In what sense this may be said to be purchased by Christ, I have shewed before, viz. Not as the immediate work of his sufferings (which was the payment of our debt, by satisfying the Law) but as a more remote, though most excellent fruit; even the effect of that power, which by his death he procured to himself. He himself for the suffering of death, was crowned with glory; yet did he not properly die for himself, nor was that the direct effect of his death.Paul Hobson. Some of those Teachers who are gone forth of late, do tell us, as a piece of their new discoveries, that Christ never purchased Life and Salvation for us, but purchased us to Life and Salvation *I confesse the later is the more proper expression, and oftner used in the Scriptures.: Not understanding that they affirm and deny the same thing in severall expressions. What difference is there betwixt buying liberty to the prisoner, and buying the prisoner to liberty? betwixt buying life to a condemned malefactor, and buying him to life? Or betwixt purchasing Reconciliation to an enemy, and purchasing an enemy to Reconciliation? But in this last they have found a difference, and tell us, that God never was at enmity with man, but man only at enmity with God, and therefore need not be reconciled: Directly contrary to Scripture, which tels us that God hateth all the workers of iniquity,Exod. 23.22. Psal. 11.5. Psal. 5.5. Isa. 63.10. Lam. 2.5. and that he is their enemy. And though there be no change in God, nor any thing properly called Hatred, yet it sufficeth that there is a change in the sinners relation, and that there is something in God which cannot better be expressed or conceived, then by these termes of enmity and hatred: And the enmity of the Law against a sinner, may well be called the enmity of God. However, this differenceth betwixt enmity in God, and enmity in us; but not betwixt the sense of the forementioned expressions. So that whether you will call it purchasing life for us, or purchasing us to life, the sense is the same, viz. By satisfying the Law, and removing impediments, to procure us Title to, and Possession of this Life.
It is then by the blood of Jesus that we have entrance into the Holyest. Heb. 10.19. Even all our entrance to the fruition of God, both that by faith and prayer here, and that by full possession hereafter. Therefore do the Saints sing forth his praises, who hath Redeemed them out of every Nation by his blood, and made them Kings and Priests to God, Rev. 5.9.10.
Whether that, foreign in Eph. 1.14. which is translated, the Redemption of the purchased profession, do prove this or not; yet I see no appearance of truth in their exposition of it,Paul Hobson. who (because they deny that salvation is purchased by Christ) do affirme that its Christ himself who is there called the Purchased possession. Therefore did God give his Son, and the Son give his life, and therefore was Christ lift up on the Cross, as Moses lift up the Serpent in the Wilderness, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, John. 3.15, 16. So then I conclude, either Christ must loose his blood and sufferings,I…a. 53.11. and never see of the travaile of his soul, but all his pains and expectation be frustrate, or els there remaineth a Rest to the people of God.
§ 3.SECT. III.
3It is promised to them.THirdly, And as this Rest is purchased for us, so is it also promised to us: As the Firmament with the Stars, so are the sacred pages bespangled with the frequent intermixture of these Divine engagements. Christ hath told us that it is his will, that those who are given to him should be where he is, that they may behold the Glory which is given him of the Father, John 17.24. so also Luke 12.32. Fear not little flock, it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. q. d. Fear not all your enemies rage, fear not all your own unworthiness, doubt not of the certainty of the guift▪ for it is grounded on the good pleasure of your Father, Luke 22.29. I appoint to you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me a Kingdom: That ye may eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom. But because I will not be tedious in the needless confirming an acknowledged truth, I refer you to the places here cited. 2 Thes. 1.7. Heb. 4.1, 3. Mat. 25.34. & 13.43. 2 Tim. 4.18. Jam. 2.5. 2 Pet. 1.11. 2 Thes. 1.5. Acts 14.22. Luke 6.20, & 13.28, 29. 1 Thess. 2.12. Mat. 5.12. Mark 10.21. & 12.25. 1 Pet. 1.4. Heb. 10.34 & 12.23. Col. 1.5. Phil. 3.20, 21. Heb. 11.…6. Eph. 1.…0. 1 Cor. 15. Rev. 2.7, 11, 17, &c.
SECT. IIII.§ 4.
FOurthly,4The means and motions towards it do prove that there is such an end. All the means of Grace, and all the workings of the Spirit upon the soul, and all the gracious actions of the Saints, are so many evident Mediums to prove, that there remaineth a Rest to the people of God. If it be an undeniable maxime, that God and nature do nothing in vaine; then is it as true of God and his Grace. All these means and motions, implie some End to which they tend, or else they cannot be called means, nor are they the motions of Wisdom or Reason. And no lower End then this [Rest] can be imagined. God would never have commanded his people to repent and beleeve, to fast and pray, to knock and seek, and that continually, to read and study, to conferr and meditate, to strive and labor, to run and fight, and all this to no purpose. Nor would the Spirit of God work them to this, and create in them a supernaturall power, and enable them and excite them to a constant performance; were it not for this end whereto it leads us. Nor could the Saints reasonably attempt such employments, nor yet undergo so heavy sufferings, were it not for this desirable end. But whatsoever the folly of man might do, certainly Divine Wisdom cannot be guilty of setting awork such fruitless motions. Therefore whereever I read of duty required, whenever I finde the Grace bestowed, I take it as so many promises of Rest. The Spirit would never kindle in us such strong desires after Heaven, nor such a love to Jesus Christ, if we should not receive that which we desire and love. He that sets our feet in the way of Peace (Luke 1.79.) will undoubtedly bring us to the end of Peace. How neerly is the means and end conjoyned, *Mr. Burroughs thinks this is meant of the violence of persecution▪ but Lukes phrase co…uteth thatMat. 11.12. The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force, or (as Luke 16.16.) every man presseth into it. So that the violence apprehends the Kingdom. Those whom he causeth to follow him in the regeneration, he will sure provide them Thrones of judgement, Mat. 19.28.
§ 5.SECT. V.
5So do the beginnings, f…tasts▪ earnests and sealsFIfthly, Scripture further assures us, that the Saints have the beginnings, foretasts, earnest, and Seals of this Rest here: And may not all this assure them of the full possession? The very Kingdom of God is within them, Luke 17.21. They here (as is before said) take it by force. They have a beginning of that knowledg which Christ hath said is eternall life, John 17.3. I have fully manifested that before, that the Rest and Glory of the people of God, doth consist in their Knowing, Loving, Rejoycing, and Praising; and all these are begun (though but begun) here: therefore doubtless so much as we here know God; so much as we Love, Rejoyce and Praise, so much we have of Heaven on earth, so much we enjoy of the Rest of Souls. And do you think that God will give the Beginning, where he never intends to give the End? Nay God doth give his people oftentimes, such foresights and foretasts of this same Rest, that their spirits are even transported with it, and they could heartly wish they might be present there. Paul is taken up into the third Heaven, and seeth things that must not be uttered. The Saints are kept by the power of God through faith unto that salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time, wherein they can greatly Rejoyce even in temptations: 1 Pet. 1.5, 6. And therefore the Apostle also tells us, That they who now see not Christ, nor ever saw him; yet love him, and Believing do Rejoyce in him, with joy unspeakable and full of Glory: Receiving the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls, 1 Pet. 1.8.9. Observe here. First, How God gives his people this foretasting joy. Secondly, How this joy is said to be full of Glory, and therefore must needs be a beginning of the Glory. Thirdly, How immediatly upon this there follows, Receiving the end of their Faith, the Salvation of the soul. And Paul also brings in the Justified, Rejoycing in hope of the Glory of God, Rom. 5.2. And I doubt not but some poor Christians amongst us, who have little to boast of appearing without, have often these foretasts in their souls. And do you think God will Tantalize his people? Will he give them the first fruits, and not the crop? Doth he shew them Glory to set them a longing, and then d…ny them the actuall fruition? Or doth he lift them up so neer this Rest, and give them such rejoycings in it,2 Cor. 1.22. & 5.5. and yet never bestow it on them? It cannot be. Nay doth he give them the earnest of the inheritance? Eph. 1.14. And Seal them with the Holy Spirit of promise? Eph. 1.13. And yet will he deny the full possession? These absurdities may not be charged on an ordinary man, much less on the Faithfull and Righteous God.
SECT. VI.§. 6.
SIxthly,6Some have entered it already. And Lastly, The Scripture mentioneth particularly and by name, those who have entered into this Rest. As Henoch, who was taken up to God. So Abraham, Lazarus, the thief that was crucified with Christ, &c. And if there be a Rest for these, sure there is a Rest for all believers.