N17286:218
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.
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.
8. Lastly, It will yet make the wound in their consciences much deeper, when they shall remember, that it was not only their own doing, but that they were at so much cost and pains for their own damnation. What great undertakings did they engage into effect their ruin, to resist GOD, to conquer the Spirit, to overcome the power of mercies, judgments, and the word itself, to silence conscience? All this they did take upon them and perform. What a number of sins did they manage at once! What difficulties did they set upon! Even the conquering the power of reason itself. What dangers did they adventure on! Though they walked in continual danger of the wrath of GOD, and knew he could lay them in the dust in a moment; though they knew they lived in danger of eternal perdition, yet would they run upon all this. What did they forsake for the service of Satan, and the pleasures of sin? They forsook their GOD, their conscience, their best friends, their hopes of salvation.
Oh the labour that it costeth poor wretches to be damned! Sobriety they might have at a cheaper rate, and a great deal of health and ease too; and yet they will rather have gluttony and drunkenness, with poverty and shame and sickness, with the out-cries and lamentations of wife and children, and conscience itself. Contentedness they might have with ease and delight; yet will they rather have covetousness and ambition; though it cost them study, and cares, and fears, and labour of body and mind, and continual unquietness and distraction of spirit. Though their