Friday, July 25, 2008

A Taste of Eternity

Richard Baxter was a Puritan Pastor in England from 1615-1691. He wrote many books, which were, essentially, a collection of his sermons. The little paperback, Aim High, is a paraphrase and serious abridgment of his much larger book, The Saints' Everlasting Rest. He writes, as most Puritans do, with headings, sub-headings, and about 10 points under each sub-heading, so that by the time you get to the last point, you almost forget what he was trying to prove.
Although it is verbose, even this abridged version gives you perspective about the brevity of this life in the light of eternity. No one could doubt the pastoral heart of Baxter, or his own love for the Saviour. An eleven year old boy who was dying, asked to have some of Mr. Baxter's book, so that he could "read a little more of eternity before I go to it."
The first five paragraphs of Chapter One are so moving, I've copied them and want them read at my funeral, whenever that may be. (It follows this blog).
They are written from the perspective of a soul newly arrived in glory and reflecting on the journey and the destination he almost missed out on. I can't read it without crying. Sadly, in this day of spiritual illiteracy, few will take the time and energy required to read any of the Puritans, especially the more intellectual writers, like John Owen. But this little volume is well worth the effort. Believers are missing out on great comfort by avoiding their rich heritage.

"From heaven's height the soul surveys the Promised Land. Looking back on earth, the soul views the dreary wilderness through which it passed. To stand on Mount Memory, comparing heaven with earth, fills the soul with unimaginable gratitude, and makes it exclaim:
'Is this the inheritance that cost so much as the blood of Christ? No wonder! O blessed price! Is this the result of believing? Have the gales of grace blown me into such a harbour? Is this where Christ was so eager to bring me? O praise the Lord! Is this the glory of which the Scriptures spoke, and of which ministers preached so much? I see the Gospel is indeed good news!
Are all my troubles, Satan's temptations, the world's scorns and jeers, come to this? O vile, nature, that resisted so much, and so long, such a blessing! Unworthy soul, is this the place you came to so unwillingly? Was duty tiresome? Was the world too good to lose? Could you not leave all, deny all, and suffer anything for THIS? Were you loathe to die to come to this? O false heart, you had almost betrayed me to eternal flames and lost me this glory! Are you not ashamed now, my soul, that you ever questioned that Love which brought you here? Are you not sorry that you ever quenched His Spirit's prompting or misinterpreted His providence, or complained about the narrow road that brought you to such a destination?
Now you are sufficiently convinced that your blessed Redeemer was saving you, as well when he crossed your desires, as when he granted them; when he broke your heart, as when he bound it up. No thanks to you, unworthy self, for this crown; but to God be the glory for ever!'"

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