N17286:217
The saints everlasting rest
The saints everlasting rest: or, A treatise of the blessed state of the saints in their enjoyment of God in glory: extracted from the works of Mr. Richard Baxter, by John Wesley, M.A. late fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.
Philadelphia: printed by Prichard & Hall, 1790
Part 2 › Chapter 2: The Aggravation of the Loss of Heaven to the Ungodly.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
7. Yet much more will it add unto their torment, when they consider that all this was their own doings, and that they wilfully procured their own destruction: had they been forced to sin, it would much abate the rage of their consciences, or if they were punished for another man's transgressions: or if any other had been the chief author of their ruin: but to think, that it was the choice of their own wills, and that GOD had set them in so free a condition, that none in the world could have forced them to sin against their wills, this will be a griping thought. What (thinks this wretched creature) had I not enemies enough in the world, but I must be an enemy to myself? GOD would neither give the devil, nor the world, so much power over me, as to force me to commit the least transgression. If I had not consented, their temptations had been in vain; they could but entice me, it was myself that yielded, and did the evil; and I must needs lay hands upon my own soul, and imbrue my hands in my own blood. Who should pity me, who pitied not myself, and who brought all this upon mine own head? Never did GOD do me any good, or offer me any for the welfare of my soul, but I resisted him: he hath heaped mercy upon me, and renewed one deliverance after another, to entice my heart to him, and yet was I never heartily willing to serve him: he hath gently chastised me, and made me groan under the fruit of my disobedience, and yet, though I promised largely in my affliction, I was never unfeignedly willing to obey him.
Thus will it gnaw the hearts of these wretches, to remember that they were the cause of their undoing; and that they wilfully and obstinately persisted in their rebellion, and were mere volunteers in the service of the devil. They would venture, they would go on, they would not hear him that spoke against it: GOD called to them to hear and stay, but they would ⟨p. 104⟩not: men called, conscience called, and said to them, (as Pilate's wise) have nothing to do with that h•••ful sin; for I have suffered many things because of it; •ut they would not hear; their will was their law, their rule, and their ruin.