The Saints' Everlasting Rest - Richard Baxter

outward duty with a part of thy heart while the remainder is absent, yet this
duty, above all, I am sure thou canst not. When thou shalt go into the mount
of contemplation, thou wilt be like the covetous man at the heap of gold,
who, when he might take as much as he could, lamented that he was able to
carry no more: thou wilt find as much of God and glory as thy narrow heart
is able to contain, and almost nothing to hinder thy full possession but the
incapacity of thy own spirit. Then thou wilt think, "O that this understanding
and these affections could contain more! It is more my unfitness than any
thing else that even this place is not my heaven. ‘God is in this place, and I
know it not.' This ‘mount is full of chariots and fire;' but mine eyes are shut,
and I cannot see them. O the words of love Christ hath to speak, and wonders
of love he hath to show, but I cannot hear them yet! Heaven is ready for me,
but my heart is unready for heaven." Therefore, reader, seeing thy enjoyment
of God in this contemplation much depends on the capacity and disposition
of thy heart, seek him here, if ever, with all thy soul. Thrust not Christ into
the stable and the manger, as if thou hadst better guests for the chief rooms.
Say to all thy worldly business and thoughts, as Christ to his disciples, "Sit
ye here, while I go and pray yonder;" or as Abraham to his servants, when he
went to offer Isaac, "Abide ye here, and I will go yonder and worship, and
come again to you." Even as "the priests thrust king Uzziah out of the
temple," where he presumed to burn incense, when they saw the leprosy
upon him; so do thou thrust those thoughts from the temple of thy heart,
which have the badge of God's prohibition upon them.
2. Be sure to enter upon this work with the greatest solemnity of heart
and mind. There is no trifling in holy things. "God will be sanctified in them
that come nigh him." These spiritual, excellent, soul-raising duties, are, if
well used, most profitable; but, when used unfaithfully, most dangerous.
Labor, therefore, to have the deepest apprehensions of the presence of God
and his incomprehensible greatness. If queen Esther must not draw near "till
the king hold out the sceptre," think, then with what reverence thou shouldst
approach Him who made the worlds with the word of his mouth, who
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