Richard Baxter

Be of good cheer, Christian. The time is near when God and you shall be near, and as near as you can desire. You will dwell in his family.. in his presence. You will be his child, and he will be your Father. You shall be an heir of his Kingdom.

Marvel not, Christian, how it can be eternal life to know God and Jesus Christ. To enjoy God and Christ is eternal life, and the soul’s enjoying is in knowing. They that savour only of earth, and consult with flesh, think it a poor happiness to know God. But we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him who is true. And we are in him that is true, even in his Son, Jesus Christ. this is the true God, and eternal life
—Richard Baxter.

As Abraham saw Christ’s day and rejoiced, so we, in our most forlorn state, see that day when Christ shall give us rest and therein rejoice, I beseech you, Christian, for the honour of the Gospel, and for your soul’s comfort, leave not this heavenly art to be learned when in your greatest extremity you have most need to use it. He who with Stephen “sees the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,” will comfortably bear the shower of stones. “The joy of the Lord is our strength,” and that joy must be drawn from the place of our joy. If we walk without our strength, how long are we likely to endure?
—Richard Baxter “The Saint’s Everlasting Rest”

One thing contained in heavenly rest is the ceasing from the means of grace. We have obtained the haven, we have done sailing.. When the workman receives his wages, it is implied that he has done his work. When the workman receives his wages, it is implied that he has done his work. When we are at our journey’s end, we have done with the way…There shall be no more prayer because there shall be no more necessity but the full enjoyment of what we h ave prayed for. Neither shall we n eed to fast, and watch, and weep any more, being out of the reach of sin and temptation… The labourers are called in because the harvest is gathered, the tares burned, and the work finished; the unregenerate past hope, and the saints past fear, for ever.
—Richard Baxter

True morality, or the Christian ethics, is the love of God and man, stirred up by the Spirit of Christ, through faith, and exercised in works of piety, justice, charity, and temperance…. Take heed that you lose not that common love which you own to mankind.
—Richard Baxter

To profit or benefit others, is a duty belonging to  all men… Love towards God cannot consist without this charity towards our neighbour… neither can any true religion.
—William Ames

A man is not so prone to live according to the truth he knows except it deeply affect him, so neither doth his soul enjoy its sweetness, except speculation do pass to affection. The understanding is not the whole soul, and therefore cannot do the whole work… The understanding must take in truths, and prepare them for the will, and it must receive them and commend them to the affections;… the affections, are, as it were, the bottom of the soul.
—Richard Baxter

Marvel not, Christian, how can it be eternal  life to know God and Jesus Christ. To enjoy God and Christ in eternal life, and the soul’s enjoying is in knowing. They that savour only of earth, and consult with flesh, think it a poor happiness to know God But we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him who is true. And we are in him  that is true, even in his Son, Jesus Christ.  This is the true God, and eternal life.
—Richard Baxter “Saint’s Everlasting Rest”

Be acquainted with this heavenly work, and thou wilt in some degree be acquainted with God: thy joys will be spiritual, prevalent, and lasting, according to the nature of their blessed object; thou wilt have comfort in life and death; when thou hast neither wealth, nor health, nor the pleasure of this world, yet wilt thou have comfort; without the presence or help of any friend, without a minister, and without a book, when all means are denied thee, or taken from thee, yet mayest thou have vigorous, real comfort. Thy graces will be mightily active, and victorious; and daily joy, which is thus fetched from heaven, will be thy strength. Thou wilt be as one that stands on the top of an exceeding high mountain; he looks down on the world as if it were quite below him–fields and woods, cities and towns, seem to him but little spots. Thus despicably wilt thou look on all things here below. The greatest princes will seem but as grasshoppers; the busy, contentious, covetous world, but as  a heap of ants. Men’s threatenings will be no terror to thee, nor the honours of this world any strong enticement; temptations will be more harmless, as having lost their strength; and afflictions less grievous as having lost their sting; and every mercy will be better known, and better relished.
—Richard Baxter

One thing contained in heavenly rest is the ceasing from the means of grace. We have obtained the haven, we have done sailing. When the workman receives his wages, it is implied that he has done his work. When we are at our journey’s end, we have done with the way… There shall be no more prayer because there shall be no more necessity but the full enjoyment of what we have prayed for. Neither shall we need to fast, watch, and weep any more, being out of the reach of sin and temptation… The labourers are called in because the harvest is gathered, the tares burned, and the work finished; the unregenerate past hope, and the saint’s past fear, for ever.
—-Richard Baxter “The Saint’s Everlasting Rest”

If the Lord of glory can stoop so low as to set his heart on sinful dust, we should easily be persuaded to set our hearts on Christ and glory, and to ascend to him in our daily affections who so much condescends to us. Christian, do you not perceive that the heart of God is set upon you, and that he still cares for you with tender love, even when you forget both yourself and him? Is he not following you with daily mercies, moving upon your soul, providing for your body, preserving both? Does he not bear you continually in the arms of love and promise that all shall work together for your good?
—Richard Baxter “The Saints Everlasting Rest”

This is the Christian of the right stamp, and all about him are better because of him… For my part, I had rather have the company of a heavenly-minded Christian than  that of the most learned disputants or princely commanders.
A soul that does not set its affections on things above disobeys the commands, and loses the most gracious and delightful discoveries of the Word of God…
As heaven is the perfection of all our mercies, so the promises of it in the gospel are are the very souls of the Gospel… It has pleased our Father to open his counsel and let us know the very intent of his heart, that our joy might be full and that we might live as the heirs of such a kingdom… And shall we now overlook all? Shall we live in earthly cares and sorrows, and rejoice no more in these discoveries, than if the Lord has never revealed them?
—-Richard Baxter “The Saints Everlasting Rest”

We shall rest from our sin, but not from worship; from suffering and sorrow but not from joy…
This is that joy which was procured by sorrow, that crown which was procured by the cross. My Lord wept that my tears might be wiped away; he bled that I might now rejoice; he was forsaken that I might not now be forsaken; he then died, that I might now live. Oh, free mercy that can exalt so vile  a wretch! Free to me, though dear to Christ.
—Richard Baxter, “The Saints Everlasting Happiness”

What a pity that Christians should ever meet together without some talk of their meeting in heaven or of the way to it, before they part. Pity that so much time is spent in vain conversation and useless disputes, and not a serious word of heaven among them… If a Felix will tremble when he hears his judgment powerfully represented, why should not the believer be revived when he hears his eternal rest described? Wicked men can be delighted in talking together of their wickedness. Should not Christians be delighted in talking of Christ, and the heirs of heaven in talking of their inheritance?
—Richard Baxter, “The Saints Everlasting Rest.”

When a worldly man will talk of nothing but the world, and a politician of state affairs and a mere scholar of human learning, and a common professor of his duties, the heavenly man will be speaking of heaven, and the strange glory his faith has seen, and our speedy and blessed meeting there. How refreshing and useful are his expressions! How his words pierce and melt the heart, and transform hearers into other men.
—Richard Baxter, “The Saints Everlasting Rest.”

This is the Christian of the right stamp, and all about him are better because of him…For my part, I had rather have the company of a heavenly minded Christian that that of the most learned disputants or princely commanders.
A soul that does not set its affections on things above disobeys the commands, and loses the most gracious and delightful discoveries of the word of God…
As heaven is the perfection of all our mercies, so the promises of it in the Gospel are the very souls of the Gospel…It has pleased our Father to open his counsel and let us know the very intent of his heart, that our joy might be full and that we might live as the heirs of such a kingdom…. And shall we now overlook all? Shall we live in earthly cares and sorrows, and rejoice no more in these discoveries than if the Lord has never revealed them.
—Richard Baxter

All things are beautiful and excellent in their season…I have always found that the fittest time [to meditate] for myself is the evening, from sunset to twilight…The Lord’s Day is exceedingly seasonable for this exercise. When should we more seasonably contemplate our rest, than on that day of rest which typifies it to us.
What fitter time to converse with our Lord than on the Lord’s day? What fitter time to ascend to heaven than on that on which he arose from from earth and fully triumphed over death and hell? The fittest temper for a true Christian is, like John, to “be in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.”
–Richard Baxter, “The Saints Everlasting Rest.”

Has Christ the highest place in your heart and affections?

All things must come to their perfection by degrees. The strongest man must first be a child. The greatest scholar must first begin with the alphabet. The tallest oak was once an acorn. This life is our infancy. Would we be perfect in the womb, or born at full stature? If our rest was here, most of God’s providence’s would be useless…if we were happy, innocent and perfect, what use was their for the glorious work of our sanctification, justification, and future salvation? If we lacked nothing, we would not depend on God so closely, nor call upon him so earnestly.
–Richard Baxter, “The Saints everlasting Rest”

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Everyone must give an account of his stewardship. Every talent of time, health, wit, mercies, afflictions, means, warnings, must be reckoned for. The sins of youth, those which they had forgotten, and their secret sins, shall all be laid before angels and men. They shall see the Lord Jesus, whom they neglected and whose word they disobeyed…now sitting to judge them.
There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus…If our Judge condemn us not, who shall?
What inexpressible joy, that our dear Lord, who loves our souls, and whom our souls love, shall be our judge. Will a man fear to be judged by his dearest friend?
—Richard Baxter, “Saints Everlasting Rest”

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Give this heavenly contemplation a stated time…Let it be frequent as well…to prevent shyness between God and your soul. Frequent association breeds familiarity, and familiarity increases love and delight.
—Richard Baxter, “Saints Everlasting Rest.”

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As Christ is anointed both King and Priest, so under him are his people made to God both kings and priests, to reign and offer praises for ever. The crown of righteousness, which was reserved for them, shall by the Lord–the righteous Judge–be given them at that day. They have been faithful unto death, and therefore he will give them a crown of life…He prepared the kingdom for us, and then prepared us for the kingdom. This is the preparation of his counsel and decree…not only from the promise after Adam’s fall, but from eternity.
–Richard Baxter, “The Saints Everlasting Rest.”

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Take heed of a proud and lofty spirit. There is such an antipathy between this sin and God that you will never get your heart near him, nor get him near your heart, as long as this prevails in it. If it cast the angels out of heaven, it must needs keep your heart from heaven…It cast our first parents out of paradise…and will certainly keep our hearts from paradise…
Fellowship with God will keep men low, and that lowliness will promote their fellowship. When a man is used to be much with God and taken up with the study of his glorious attributes, he abhors himself in dust and ashes. And that self-abhorrence is his best preparative to obtain admittance to God again.
—Richard Baxter “The Saints Everlasting Rest.”

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God has promised us a crown of glory, and promised to set it shortly on our heads, yet we will not so much as think of it…By believing are we “filled with joy and peace,” and no longer than we continue believing. It is in hope the saints rejoice, and no longer than they continue hoping. God’s Spirit works comfort in us by setting our own spirits at work upon the promises, and raising our thoughts to the place of our comforts… He does not kindle our joys while we are idle, or taken up with other things …Learn the art of heavenly-mindedness …A heart in heaven will be a most excellent preservative against the temptations to sin.
—Richard Baxter, “The Saints Everlasting Rest.”

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Be convinced that heaven is the only treasure and happiness, and labour to know what a treasure and happiness it is. If you do not believe it to be the chief good, you will never set your heart upon it… If Eve once supposes she sees more worth in the forbidden fruit than in the love and enjoyment of God, no wonder if it have more of her heart than God. If your judgment once prefer the delights of the flesh before the delights of the presence of God, it is impossible that your hearts should be in heaven. As it is in ignorance of the emptiness of things below that makes men so over-value them, so it is ignorance of the high delights above which is the cause that men so little and mind them.
—Richard Baxter, “The Saints Everlasting Rest.”

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When one comes to oneself, in a proper frame of mind, the conscience is stricken, and the soul smitten with sorrow over the failure. The realization that we must repent afterwards should make us to avoid that which causes so much shame and sorrow.
–Richard Baxter

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He is not drowning His sheep when He washeth them, nor killing them when He is shearing them. But by this He showeth that they are His own; and the newborn sheep do most visibly bear His name or mark, when it is almost worn out and scarce discernible on them that have the longest fleece.
—Richard Baxter

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Be of good cheer, Christian. The time is near when God and you shall be near, as near as you can desire. You will dwell in his family… in his presence. You will be his child, and he your Father. You shall be an heir of his Kingdom.
–Richard Baxter, “The Saint’s Everlasting Rest.”

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The diligent keeping of your hearts in heaven will maintain the vigour of all your graces, and put life into all your duties. The heavenly Christian is the lively Christian…We run so slowly, and strive so lazily, because we so little mind the prize.
—Richard Baxter

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A lustful thought is from the same defiled puddle, as actually filthiness; and the thought is but passing to the action: it is but the same in its minority, tending to maturity.
—-Richard Baxter

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Avoid frequent disputes about lesser truths, and a religion that lies only in opinons… He whose religion is all in his opinions will be most frequently and zealously speaking his opinions, and he whose religion lies in the knowledge and love of God and Christ will be most delightfully speaking of that happy time when he shall enjoy them. He is a rare and precious Christian who is skilful to benefit from well known truths. Therefore, let me advise you who aspire after a heavenly life not to spend much of your thoughts, time, zeal, or speech upon disputes that less concern your souls. When hypocrites are feeding on husks, or shells, feed on the joys above. —Richard Baxter

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Another ingredient of this rest is the highest degree of the saints personal perfection, both of body and soul…The principal part of this rest is our nearest enjoyment of God, the chief Good…If I should tell a worldling what the holiness and spiritual joys of the saints are on earth, he cannot know because grace cannot be clearly known without grace. How much less could he conceive it, should I tell him of this glory!
—Richard Baxter

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The work of conversion is the great thing that we must first strive at, labour with all our might to effect…He that will let a sinner go to hell for want of speaking to him doth set less by souls than the Redeemer of souls did, and less by his neighbour than rational charity will allow him to do by his greatest enemy. Therefore brethren, whomsoever you neglect not the most miserable..ply this great work of converting souls, whatever else you leave undone!
–Richard Baxter

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