The Saints' Everlasting Rest 4: The People Who Receive the Saints' Rest
The heavenly rest is designed for "the people of God," as the text identifies them (Heb. 4:9). They are chosen by God "before the foundation of the world" (Eph. 1:4). They are but a part of humanity. They are fewer than the world imagines, yet not as few as some narrow-minded people think.
These people are born again. It is as impossible to be t ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 5: The Misery of Those Who Lose the Saints' Rest
If you, reader, are a stranger to Christ and to the holy nature and life of His people, and if you live and die in this condition, let me tell you that you will never partake of the joys of heaven or have the least taste of the saints' everlasting rest.
I must repeat the sinister words of Judges 8:20, "I have a message to you from God." Do you r ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 6: The Necessity of Seeking the Saints' Rest
Why don't people seek this wonderful rest more enthusiastically? You would think that if a person heard even once about such a tremendous possibility, and if he believed what he heard, that he would almost forget to eat and drink, and would care for nothing else but how to secure this treasure. And yet people who hear of it daily and profess to bel ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 7: The Title to the Saints' Rest
If there is such a glorious rest awaiting only the people of God, why do most people neglect the certainty of their title to it? What strange madness is it that allows people to live happily while uncertain of their destiny? I would think that we would want above all else to be fully assured of our being heirs of the kingdom. If a person has a law ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 8: The Duty of Helping Others to Seek the Saints' Rest
Has God set before us such a wonderful possession as the saints' everlasting rest, and made us capable of such unimaginable happiness? Why, then, don't all of the children of this kingdom exert themselves more to help others to enjoy it? We see the glory of the kingdom, while others around us do not. We see the misery of those that are out of it, w ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 9: The Possession of the Saints' Rest is Not on Earth
We have not yet come to our resting place. How foolish it is to expect it here. What Christian doesn't deserve this correction? All of us would like continual prosperity, because it is so pleasing to the flesh; but we don't consider how unreasonable such a desire is. When we enjoy lovely homes, money, property, and income, or even the necessary mea ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 10: The Suburbs of Heaven
If there is such a wonderful rest remaining for us, why don't we think about it more? Has the eternal God provided us such a hope, and promised to take us up to dwell with Himself; and is it not worth thinking about? Do we believe this, and yet forget it and neglect it? Why does God condemn earthly-mindedness and command, "Set your affection on thi ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 11: Hindrances to a Heavenly Life on Earth
If you value a heavenly life upon earth, I must charge you to avoid some dangerous hindrances.
LIVING IN ANY KNOWN SIN is a great impediment to a heavenly life. If this be your situation, I dare say that heaven and your soul are strangers. These beams in your eye (Matthew 7:4) will not let you look to heaven. They will be a cloud between you and ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 12: How to Seek the Saints' Rest While on Earth
Be convinced of the value of heaven, for if you do not believe it to be the greatest treasure, you will never set your heart upon it. This conviction must sink into your heart, for if it is only an intellectual opinion it will have little motivational power.
Endeavor to remember how near your rest is. We are more aware of that which we think is ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 13: Directions for Heavenly Contemplation
Meditation is the means by which the soul digests truth for its nourishment and strength. It was God's command to Joshua, "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein" (Josh. 1:8). As digestion turns food into health, so me ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 14: Four Aids to Heavenly Contemplation
Having set your heart in tune, we now come to the music itself. Having acquired an appetite, approach the feast. Come, for all things are now ready. Heaven and Christ and the eternal glory are before you.
Four factors promote heavenly contemplation. The first factor is consideration. By this I mean the reading over and repeating of God's reasoni ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 15: How to Persevere in Heavenly Contemplation
The hardest part of heavenly meditation is bringing it into clear focus. It is easier to think about "heaven" as an abstract idea than to concentrate on the real heaven. Faith meets tremendous resistance in trying to view that which is supernatural. It grows tired quickly. The objects of faith are far off, but those of our physical senses are near. ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 16: Heavenly Meditation
Now, reader, according to the directions already given, conscientiously practice meditation as well as prayer. Do it daily if possible. Retire into some private place at the most convenient time, and lay aside all worldly thoughts. With all possible seriousness and reverence look up towards heaven. Remember there is your everlasting rest. Study its ...read
The Saints' Everlasting Rest 17: Concluding Encouragements
I have given you, dear reader, my best advice for maintaining a heavenly life. If you cannot meditate as systematically and completely as I have recommended, then do it as you can. Just be sure to do it seriously and frequently. Become friendly with this heavenly work, and you will, in some degree, become friendly with God. Your joys will be spirit ...read
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The Special Duties of Children and Youth Towards God
From: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XII
THOUGH I put your duty to your parents first, because it is first learned, yet your duty to God immediately is your greatest and most necessary duty. Learn these following precepts well.
Direct. I. Learn to understand the covenant and vow which in ...read
The Special Duties of Children Towards their Parents
From: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XI., pp. 454-457
THOUGH precepts to children are not of so much force as to them of riper age, because of their natural incapacity, and their childish passions and pleasures which bear down their weak degree of reason; yet somewhat is to be said to them, ...read
The Special Duties of Parents For Their Children
From: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. X., pp. 449-454
OF how great importance the wise and holy education of children is, to the saving of their souls, and the comfort of their parents, and the good of church and state, and the happiness of the world, I have partly told you before; but no ma ...read
Richard Baxter