The Saints' Everlasting Rest - Richard Baxter

them, "Friend, what is the state of thy soul? Is it regenerate, sanctified and
pardoned, or not?" He would say, as Cain of Abel, "I know not; am I my
soul's keeper? I hope well; I trust God with my soul; I shall speed as well as
other men do; I thank God I never made any doubt of my salvation." Thou
hast cause to doubt, because thou didst never doubt; and yet more, because
thou hast been so careless in thy confidence. What do thy expressions
discover but a wilful neglect of thy own salvation? as a ship-master that
should let his vessel alone, and say, "I will venture it among the rocks, and
waves, and winds; I will trust God with it; it will speed as well as other
vessels." What horrible abuse of God is this, to pretend to trust God, to cloak
their own wilful negligence! If thou didst really trust God, thou wouldst also
be ruled by him, and trust him in his own appointed way. He requires thee to
give "diligence to make thy calling and election sure," and so trust him. He
hath marked out a way in scripture by which thou art charged to search and
try thyself, and mayest arrive at certainty. Were he not a foolish traveller that
would hold on his way when he does not know whether he be right or wrong;
and say, "I hope I am right; I will go on, and trust in God?" Art thou not
guilty of this folly in thy travel to eternity? not considering that a little
serious inquiry whether thy way be right, might save thee a great deal of
labor, which thou bestowest in vain, and must undo again, or else thou wilt
miss of salvation and undo thyself.
How canst thou think or speak of the great God without terror, as long as
thou art uncertain whether he be thy father or thy enemy, and knowest not
but all his perfections may be employed against thee? or of Jesus Christ,
when thou knowest not whether his blood hath purged thy soul; whether he
will condemn or acquit thee in judgment; or whether he be the foundation of
thy happiness, or stone of stumbling to break thee and grind thee to powder?
How canst thou open the Bible and read a chapter, but it should terrify thee?
Methinks every leaf should be to thee as Belshazzar's writing on the wall,
except only that which draws thee to try and reform. If thou readest the
promises, thou knowest not whether they shall be fulfilled to thee. If thou
113