The Saints' Everlasting Rest - Richard Baxter

put to all thy strength, and be a Christian indeed: I know not then what can
hinder thy happiness. As far as thou art gone from God, seek him with all thy
heart, and no doubt thou shalt find him. As unkind as thou hast been to Jesus
Christ, seek him heartily, obey him unreservedly, and thy salvation is as sure
as if thou hadst it already. But, full as Christ's satisfaction is, free as the
promise is, large as the mercy of God is, if thou only talk of these when thou
shouldst eagerly entertain them, thou wilt be never the better for them: and if
thou loiter when thou shouldst labor, thou wilt lose the crown. Fall to work,
then, speedily and seriously, and bless God that thou hast yet time to do it.
To show that I urge thee not without cause, I will here add a variety of
animating considerations. Rouse up thy spirit, and, as Moses said to Israel,
"set thy heart unto all the words which I testify unto thee this day; for it is
not a vain thing, because it is your life." May the Lord open thy heart, and
fasten his counsel effectually upon thee!
1. Consider how reasonable it is that our diligence should be answerable
to the ends we aim at, to the work we have to do, to the shortness and
uncertainty of our time, and to the contrary diligence of our enemies.
The ends of a Christian's desire and endeavors are so great that no
human understanding can comprehend them. What is so excellent, so
important, or so necessary as the glorifying of God, the salvation of our own
and other men's souls, by escaping the torments of hell, and possessing the
glory of heaven? And can a man be too much affected with things of such
moment? Can he desire them too earnestly, or love them too strongly, or
labor for them too diligently? Do not we know, that if our prayers prevail
not, and our labor succeeds not, we are undone for ever?
The work of a Christian here is very great and various. The soul must be
renewed; corruptions must be mortified; customs, temptations, and worldly
interests must be conquered; flesh must be subdued; life, friends, and credit
99