The Saints' Everlasting Rest - Richard Baxter

came down and died, and in whom the angels of God rejoice. Such souls will
bless you here and hereafter; God will have much glory by it; the church will
be multiplied and edified by it; your own soul will enjoy more improvement
and vigor in the divine life, more peace of conscience, more rejoicing in
spirit. Of all the personal mercies that I ever received, next to the love of
God in Christ to my own soul, I must most joyfully bless him for the
plentiful success of my endeavors upon others. O what fruits, then, might I
have seen, if I had been more faithful! I know we need be very jealous of our
deceitful hearts on this point, lest our rejoicing should come from our pride.
Naturally we would have the praise of every good work ascribed to
ourselves; yet to imitate our Father in goodness and mercy, and to rejoice in
the degree of them we attain to, is the duty of every child of God. I therefore
tell you my own experience, to persuade you, that if you did but know what a
joyful thing it is, you would follow it night and day through the greatest
discouragements.
Up, then, every man that hath a tongue, and is a servant of Christ, and do
something of your Master's work. Why hath he given you a tongue, but to
speak in his service? And how can you serve him more eminently than in
laboring for the salvation of souls? He that will pronounce you blessed at the
last day, and invite you to "the kingdom prepared for you," because you "fed
him, and clothed him, and visited him," in his poor members, will surely
pronounce you blessed for so great a work as bringing souls to his kingdom.
He that saith, "the poor you have always with you," hath left the ungodly
always with you, that you might still have matter to exercise your charity
upon. If you have the heart of a Christian or of a man, let it yearn towards
your ignorant, ungodly neighbors. Say, as the lepers of Samaria, "We do not
well; this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace." Hath God
had so much mercy on you, and will you have no mercy on your poor
neighbors? But as this duty belongs to all Christians, so especially to some,
according as God hath called them to it, or qualified them for it to them,
therefore, I will more particularly address the exhortation:
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