Produced by Cindy Horton, Chris Pinfield and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) Transcriber's Note: Apparent typographical errors have been corrected. Small capitals have been converted to full capitals. Italic font is indicated by _underscores_. The use of hyphens has been rationalised. Paragraphs in smaller font have been indented. The references to the Gospel of John, in footnote 200, are unclear. THE SAINT'S EVERLASTING REST; OR, A TREATISE OF THE BLESSED STATE OF THE SAINTS IN THEIR ENJOYMENT OF GOD IN HEAVEN. Written by the reverend, learned, and pious _MR. RICHARD BAXTER_. Abridged BY BENJAMIN FAWCETT. M. A. I think it of great service to the souls of men, to call them to the notice and use of such a Treatise as this; and to bring such old and excellent writings out of oblivion and the dust. _Baxter's Preface to Scudder's Christian's Daily Walk._ PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG, Charlestown, Mass. 1811. TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE BOROUGH AND FOREIGN OF KIDDERMINSTER. BOTH MAGISTRATES AND PEOPLE. _My dear Friends_, There are obvious reasons for prefixing your names to this Book. It contains the substance of what was first preached in your parish-church, and was first published from the press with a dedication to your worthy ancestors. Your trade and manufactures can never render your town so famous, as the name and writings of Mr. Baxter have already made it, both in this island, and in many remote parts of the Protestant world. His intimate and important relation to Kidderminster, and the years he abode in it, afforded him the most delightful reflection as long as he lived. Long experience has enabled me to testify for you, that, notwithstanding your share in those common distinctions, which so unhappily divide fellow-protestants, you possess a most unusual degree of candor and friendship for each other. Thus you shew, that Kidderminster has not totally lost the amiable spirit which it imbibed more than a century ago. There are no excellencies personal or relative, no species of domestic or public happiness, no beauties of civil or religious life, but what will be naturally promoted by a care to secure to ourselves an interest in the _rest which remaineth to the people of God_. They are the people for whom alone that rest is designed, both by the promises of God, and by the purchase of the Son of God. A care to secure that rest to ourselves, is _the one thing needful_. But neither this people, nor this care, you well know, are the peculiarities of any age, or of any party. If the inhabitants of Kidderminster formerly excelled in this care, you must allow, that it was their greatest glory. And this, more than any improvements of trade, or increasing elegancies of life, will be the greatest glory of their successors.