N17286:248
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 4: The Greatness of the Torments of the Damned discovered.
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.
2. The place or state of torment, is purposely ordained for the glorifying GOD's justice. As all the works of GOD are great and wonderful, so those above all, which are specially intended for the eminent advancing of some of his attributes. When he will glorify his power, he makes the worlds. The comely order of all, and singular creatures, declare his wisdom. His providence is shown, in sustaining all things and maintaining order, and attending his excellent ends, amongst the confused, perverse, tumultuous agitations of a world of wicked, foolish self-destroying miscreants. When a spark of his wrath doth kindle upon the earth, the whole world, save only eight persons, are drowned, Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim, are burnt with fire from heaven to ashes. The sea shuts her mouth upon some. The earth doth open and swallow others. The pestilence destroyeth them by thousands. The present deplorable state of the Jews may fully testify this to the world. And yet the glorifying of the two great attributes, of mercy and justice, is intended most eminently for the life ⟨p. 115⟩to come. As therefore when GOD will purposely glorify his mercy, he will do it in a way that is now beyond the comprehension of the saints that must enjoy it; so that the blood of his Son, and the enjoyment of himself immediately in glory, shall not be thought too high an honour for them: so also, when the time comes that he will purposely manifest his justice, it shall appear to be indeed the justice of GOD. The everlasting flames of hell will not be thought too hot for the rebellious; and when they have there burned through millions of ages, he will not repent him of the evil which is befallen them. Oh, woe to the soul that is thus set up for a b••t, for the wrath of the Almighty to shoot at! and for a bush that must burn in the flames of his jealously, and never be consumed!
2. The place or state of torment, is purposely ordained for the glorifying GOD's justice. As all the works of GOD are great and wonderful, so those above all, which are specially intended for the eminent advancing of some of his attributes. When he will glorify his power, he makes the worlds. The comely order of all, and singular creatures, declare his wisdom. His providence is shewn, in sustaining all things and maintaining order, and attending his excellet ends, amongst the confused, perverse, tumultuous agitations of a world of wicked, foolish self-destroying miscreants. When a spark of his wrath doth kindle upon the earth, the whole world, save only eight persons, are drowned, Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim, are burnt with fire from heaven to ashes. The sea shuts her mouth upon some. The earth doth open and swallow others. The pestilence destroyeth them by thousands. The present deplorable state of the Jews may fully testify this to the world. And yet the glorifying of the two great attributes, of mercy and justice, is intended most eminently for the life