The Saints' Everlasting Rest - Richard Baxter

object of it is goodness. Here, Christian, is the soul-reviving part of thy
work. Go to thy memory, thy judgment and thy faith, and from them produce
the excellencies of thy rest; present these to thy affection of love, and thou
wilt find thyself, as it were, in another world. Speak out, and love can hear.
Do but reveal these things, and love can see. It is the brutish love of the
world that is blind; divine love is exceedingly quicksighted. Let thy faith
take hold of thy heart, and show it the sumptuous buildings of thy eternal
habitation, and the glorious ornaments of thy father's house, even the
mansions Christ is preparing, and the honors of his kingdom; let thy faith
lead thy heart into the presence of God, and as near as thou possibly canst,
and say to it, "Behold the Ancient of Days, the Lord Jehovah, whose name
is, I AM: this is he who made all the worlds with his word, who upholds the
earth, who rules the nations, who disposes of all events, who subdues his
foes, who controls the swelling waves of the sea, who governs the winds, and
causes the sun to run its race, and the stars to know their courses. This is he
who loved thee from everlasting, formed thee in the womb, gave thee this
soul, brought thee forth, showed thee the light, and ranked thee with the chief
of his earthly creatures; who endued thee with thy understanding, and
beautified thee with his gifts; who maintains thy life and all its comforts, and
distinguishes thee from the most miserable and vilest of men. O here is an
object worthy of thy love! Here shouldst thou even pour out thy soul in love!
Here it is impossible for thee to love too much! This is the Lord who hath
blessed thee with his benefits, ‘spread thy table in the sight of thine enemies,
and made thy cup overflow!' This is he whom angels and saints praise, and
the heavenly host for ever magnify!" Thus do thou expatiate on the praises of
God, and open his excellencies to thine heart, till the holy fire of love begins
to kindle in thy breast.
If thou dost not yet feel thy love burn, lead thy heart farther, and show it
the Son of the living God, whose name is "Wonderful, Counsellor, the
mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace:" show it the King of
saints on the throne of his glory, "the First and the Last; who is, and was, and
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