N17286:236
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 3: They shall lose all Things that are comfortable, as well as Heaven.
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.
I would not have thee despair of the sufficiency of the blood of Christ to save thee, if thou believe, and heartily obey him; nor of the willingness of GOD to pardon and save thee, if thou be such a one: nor yet absolutely of thy own salvation, because while there is life and time, there is hope of thy conversion, and so of thy salvation; nor would I draw thee to despair of finding Christ, if thou do but heartily seek him: but this is the despair that I would persuade thee to, as thou lovest thy soul; that thou despair of ever being saved, except thou be born again; or of seeing GOD, without holiness; or escaping perishing, except thou suddenly repent; or of ever having part in Christ, except ⟨p. 110⟩thou love him above father, mother, or thy own life; or of ever truly loving GOD, or being his servant, while thou lovest the world, and servest it.
These things I would have thee despair of, and whatever else GOD hath told thee shall never come to pass. And when thou hast sadly searched into thy own heart, and findest thyself in any of these cases, I would have thee despair of ever being saved in that state thou art in. This kind of despair is one of the first steps to heaven.
Consider, if a man be quite out of his way, what must be the first means to bring him in again? Why a despair of ever coming to his journey's end in the way that he is in. If his home be eastward, and he be going westward, as long as he hopes he is in the right, he will go on: and as long as he goes on hoping, he goes further amiss. Therefore when he meets with somebody that assures him that he is clean out of his way, and brings him to despair of coming home except he turn back again; then he will return, and then he may hope.
Consider, if a man be quite out of his way, what must be the first means to bring him in again? Why a despair of ever coming to his journey's end in the way that he is in. If his home be eastward, and he be going westward, as long as he hopes he is in the right, he will go on: and as long as he goes on hoping, he goes further amiss. Therefore when he meets with somebody that assures him that he is clean out of his way, and brings him to despair of coming home except he turn back again; then he wil return, and then he may hope.