Puritan Classics

Excerpts from
The Saint's Everlasting Rest
Richard Baxter
The Duty of the People of God
to Excite Others to Seek this Rest
Hath God set before us such a glorious prize as the saint's rest,
and made us capable of such inoonceivable happiness? Why
1hen do notall the children of this kingdom exert themselves
moretohelpothersto1heenjoymentofit? Alas,howlitt1eare
poor souls about us beholden to most ofus! We seethe glory
of the kingdom, and they do not We see the misery of those
thatareoutofit,andtheydonot Weseethem wandering quite
outoftheway,andknow,iftheyholdon,theycannevercome
there, and they themselves discem it not And yet we will not
seriously show them their danger and enor, and help to bring
them into 1he way, that they may live. Alas, how few
Quistians are there to be fuund, that set themselves with all
their might to save souls! No thanks to us, if heaven be not
empty, and if the souls of our brethren perish not fur ever.
Considering how important this duty is to the glory of God,
and the happiness of men, I will show how it is to be
performed; why itis so much neglected; and then offer some
cousidel3tions to persuade to it
The duty of exciting and helping others to obtain the saint's
rest does not mean, that every man should tum a public
preacher, or that any should go beyond the bounds of their
particular callings; much less does it consist in promoting a
party spirit; and least of all in speaking against men's fiiults
behind their backs, and be silent before their faces. The duty
is of another nature, and consists of the following things; in
having our hearts affected with the misery of our brethrens'
souls, in taking all opportonities to instruct them in the way of
salvation, and in promoting their profit by public ordinances.
Ourheartsmustbe affected with 1he misery of our brethren's
souls. We must be compassionate towards 1hem, and yearn
aftertheirreoovery and salvation. Ifwe earnestly longed after
their conversion, and our hearts were solicitous to do them
good, it would set us to work and God would usually bless it
We must take all opportuoities we possibly can, to instruct
them how to attain salvation. If the person be ignorant, labor
to make him Wlderstand the chief happiness of man ; how far
he was once possessed of it; the covenant God thenmade with
him; how he broke it; what penalty he incurred; and what
misery he brought himself into. Teach him his need of a
Redeemer; how Quist did mercifully inteIpOse and pear the
penalty; . what the new covenant is; how men are dIawn to
Christ; and what are 1he riches and privileges which believers
haveinhim.Ifheisnotmovedbythesethings,thenshowhim
the excellency of the glory he neglects; the extremity and
eternityofthetormentsofthedamned;1hejusticeofenduring
them fur willfully refusing glace; the certainty, nearness, and
tenors of death and judgment; the vanity of all things below;
the sinfulness of sin; tile preciousness of Quist; the necessity
of regeneration, faith, and holiness, and the true nature of
them. If, after all, you find him entertaining false hopes, then
urge him to examines his state; show him the necessity of
doing so; help him in it; riorleave him till you have convinced
him of his misery, and remedy. Show him how vain and
destructive it is to join Quist and his duties, to compose his
justifying righteousness. Yet be sure to dIaw him to the use
of all means; such as hearing and reading the won!, calling
upon God, and associating with the godly; persuade him to
forsake sin, avoid all temptations to sin, especially evil
companions, and to wait patiently on God in the use of means,
as the way in which God will be fuund.
The Right Manner of Performing This Work
But because the manner of performing this work is of great
moment, obseJVe, therefore these mles: Enter upon it with
right intentions. Aim at the glory of God in the person's
salvation. Do it not to get a name, or esteem to thyself, or to
bring men to depend upon thee, or to get thee followers, but
May 1991 The Counsel of CbalCedOD 25
in obedience to Quist, in imitation of him, and tender love to and in public: You could not so eagerly follow the world, and
mens' souls. Do not as those, who labor to refoll)l their talk of nothing but the things of the world. If you were in
childreil or servants from such things as areagainsttheirowit Christ,yoo be a new creature; old things would be passed
profit or humor, but never seek to save their souls in the way , away, and all things would beoome new. You would have
which God hath appointed. ' newthoughts,newtalk,newcompany, new endeavors, and a
,. new conversation. Certainly without these, you cannever be
Doitspeedily. Asyouwouldnothavethemdelaytheirretum. saved: Youmaythink otberwise and hope better as long as
Do not you delay to seektheirretimI. While you arepwposing , you will, but your hopes will all decelvl;l you, and perish with
to teach and help him, the man goes iIi debt; wrath is you." Thus must you deal faithfully with men, if ever you
heaping up; sintaking root; custom fastens him; temptatious intend to do them good. It is not in CUIingmeus' souls, as in
to sinmultiply; conscience grows seared; the heart hardened; curing their hodies, where they must Iiot know their danger,
the Devil rules; Quist is shut out; the Spiritis resisted; is lest it hinder the cure. They ate here agentS in their own cure,
daily dishonore<!; His la,!" violated; He is without a serv3!lt. , andifthey knOwnottheirmisery,theywillneverbewaillt,nor
and that service from Him whichHeshouldhave; time ron on; , know their need of a Savior.
death anqjudgmentare atthe door; and whatifthe.man.die,
3nd drop into h,ell, while YQU,are pwposing to prevel\t it? If Dolt also seriously, zealously, and effectually , Labottomake
inthecaseofhisbodilydistress,youmustnotsaytohim, "Go, men knOw that heaven and hell are not matters to be played
and COme llgain, and will give, when thou hast it , . with, or passed over with a few careless thoughts. "It is most
by,th!;e (Proverbs 3:23); how much Iess may you C\elay the Certain, that one of these days thou sb3lt be ineverlastingjoy
ortonnent;anddothitnotawakenthee? Are there so few that
who negligently delayeth till his patient be dead, orpl\St cure. . find the way of life? So many that go the 'way of death? Is it
Lay by excuses then, and all lesser business, and "exhort one- , so hard to escape? So easy to miscarry? And yet do you sit
imQther daily, while it is called today; lest any be hardened still and trifle? What do you mean? The world is passing
through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebre,!"s 3:13). away: Its honors, and .profits, are fading, and
leaving you: Eternity is a little before YOll: God is just and
jealous: His threatenings are trUe: The great day will be ,
terrible: Time runs on: Your life is uncertain: You are far
behind: Your case is dangerous': If you die tomorrow, how
unready are you! With what terror will your souls go out of
Your bodies lAnd do you yetloiter? COnsider, God is all this
while waiting leisure: His patienCe beareth: His long-
suffeiingfurbeareth: Hismercy'entreatethyou: Ouistoffers
Conscience
Let your exhortation proceed from oompassion and loVe. To
jeer and scoff, to rail and vilify, is not a likely way to refonn
men, orconverlthem to God Go to poor sinners with tears iIi
youreyes,thattheymayseeyoubelievethemtobemiserable,
and that ydu, unfeignedly, pity their caSe . . Deal with iheniin '
earnest, humb!eentreatings. Letthemperceiveitisthedesire'
of your hearts to.do them good; that you have no othetend but
their evetlasting happiness; and that it is your seDse of their
danger, aDd your love totheirsouls, thatforcethyou to speiik;
even because you know the terrors of the Lord, and for fear
you should see themineternal tonnents. Saytothem."Friend,
YOll I seek no advantage of my own: The method to
please you, and kel;)p yoUr friendship, were to soothe you in
youtWilY; or let you alone, butlove will not suffer me to see
you perish, and be Iseeknothing atyourbands, butthat
which is necessary to your own happiness. It is yourself that
will,have the gam and comfort, if you oome to Clirist." If we
were thus to go to every ignorant, wicked neighbor, what
blessed fruit should we quickly see! " .
Doitwithallpossibleplainnessandfaithfulness. Donotmake
their sins less than they are, nor encourage them in a false
hope. If you see the case dangero1lS speakplainly; "Neighhor,
,t am afraid God hath not renewed your soul; I doUbt you are
. not yet recovered from the pcwerofSatantl) God; I doubt you
, have ,not chosen Christ above all, nor unfeignedly tiiken him
fOryour sovereigrtLbrd. If you had, Surely you would not so
disobey him, nOr neglect his worship in your family,
26 The CoUlisel of Chalcedon May 1991
. is accusing:' Satan waits to have you: Thisisyourtinle: Now
or nev\!r. Had you rather bum in hell than repenton earth?
Have Devils your tonnentors, thari "Quist your governor?
Will you renounce your part in God and glory, rather than,
renounce your sinsT 0 friends, what do you think of these
things? Godhathmadeyoumen; donotrenounce your reason
where you should chiefly use it" , Alas, it is not a few dull
words, between jest and earnest, between sleep and awake,
that will rouse a dead hearted sinner. If ahouse be on fire, you' '
will not make a cold oration on the nature and danger of fire;
butwillruri;andery:fire! :firel Tote1l amail(lfhissins as softly
asElididhis sons,orreprovehim as gently asJehoshaphatdid
Abab, ''Let not the king say sO", usually does as much hanD..
as good. Lothiless. to displease men makes us 'uDdo them; ..
Yet, lest yOu ron into extremes, I advise you to do it with
prudence and discretion. OIoose the fittest season. . DealllOt
with men when they are in a passion, or where they. will take
, it for a disgrace. When the eartl\ is soft, the ploughwill
Take a man when he is under affliction, or newly impressed
Wlderasennon. Ouistianfuitbfulnessrequiresus,notonlyto
do good when it falls in our way, but watch for opporttmities.
Suit yourself also to the quality and temper of the person. You
must deal with the ingenious, more by argument than
persuasion. There is need of both to the ignorant. The
affections of the convinced should be chiefly excited. The
obstinate must be shaIply reproved. The timorous must be
dealt with tenderly. Love, and plainness, and seriousness,
take with all; but words of terror some can scarce bear. Use,
also, the aptest expressions. Unseemly language makes the
hearers loathe the food they should live by; especially, if they
bemenofcurious ears, andcamalhearts. Letallyourreproofs
and exhortations be backed with the authority of God. Let
sinners be convinced that you speak not of your own head.
Tum them to the very chapter
and verse where their sin is
condemned, and their duty
commanded. Thevoiceofman
is contemptible, but the voice
of God is awful and terrible.
They may reject your words,
thatdare notrejectthe words of
theAbnighty. Befrequentwith
meninthisdutyofexhortation.
If we are always to pray, and
not to faint, because God will
have us importunate with
himself; the same course, no
doubt, will be most prevailing
with men. Therefore, we are
commanded to exhort one-
anotherdaily; and withalliong-
suffering. (Reb. 3: 13, II Tim.
4:2). The fire is not always brought out of the flint at one
stroke; nor mens' affections kindled at the first exhortation.
And if they were, yet if they be not followed, they will soon
grow cold again. Follow sinners with your lOving and earnest
entreaties, and give them no rest in their sin. This is true
charity, they way to save mens' souls, and will afford you
comfort upon review. Strive to bring all your exhortations to
an issue. If we speak the most convincing words, but all our
care is over with our speech, we shall seldom prosper in our
labors: ButGod usually blesses theirlabors, whose very heart
is set upon the conversion of their hearers, and who are
therefore inquiring after the success of their worle If you
reprove a sin, cease not till the sinner promises you to leave it,
and avoid the occasions of it If you are exhorting to a duty,
urge for a promise to set upon it presently . If you would draw
men to Quist, leave not, till you have made them confess the
misery oftheirpresentunregeoerate state,and the necessity of
Christ, and of a change, and have promised you to fall close
to the use of means. 0 that all Christians would take this
course with all their neighbors that are enslaved to sin, and
strangerstoChrist! Once more, besureyourexample exhorts
as well as your words. Let them see you constant in all the
duties you persuade them to. Let them see in your lives that
superiority to the world, which your lips recommend. Let
them see by your constant labors for heaven, that you indeed
believe what you would have them believe. A holy and
heavenly life is a continual pain to the consciences of sinners
around you, and continually solicits them to change their
course.
Besides the duty of private admonition, youmustendeavorto
help men to profit by the public ordinances. In order to that,
endeavor to procure for them faithful ministers, where they
are wanting. How shall they hear
without a preacher (Romans
10:4). Improve your interest and
diligeoce to this end, till your
prevail. Extend your purses to
the utmost Howmanysoulsmay
be savedbytheministry you have
procured? Itisahigherandoobler
charity, than relieving their
bodies. What abWldance of good
mightgreatmendo, if they would
support,inacademicaleducation,
such youth as they have first
carefully chosen for their
ingenuity and piety, till they
should be fit for the ministry?
And when a faithful ministry is
obtained, help poor souls to
receivethefruitofit. Drawthem
constantly to attend it Remind them often what they have
heard, and if it be possible,let them hear it repeated in their
families, or elsewhere. Promote their frequent meeting
together,besidespubliclyinthecongregation;notasaseparate
church, but as part of the church more diligent than the restin
redeeming time, and helping the souls of each other
heavenward. Labor also to keep the ordinances and ministry
inesteem. No man will be much wroughtonby that which he
despiseth. An Apostle says, "We beseech you, brethren, to
know them which labor among you, and are over you in the
Lord, and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in
lovefortheirworlc'ssake" (lThess.5:12,13). n
Richard Baxter (1615-1691) wrote The Saint's
Everlasting Rest in 1650 while pastor of
Kidderminster parish church. This book
established his fame among Puritan authors.
May 1991 Tbe Counsel of Cbalcedon 27