N17286:284
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
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.
To be plain with you, I think nothing undoes men so much as complimenting and jesting in religion. Oh, if I were not sick myself of the same disease, with what tears should I mix this ink; and with what groans should I express these sad complaints; and with what heart's grief should I mourn over this universal deadness! Do the magistrates among us seriously perform their portion of the work? are they zealous for Gone? do they build up his house? are they tender of his honour? do they second the word? encourage the good? relieve the oppressed? compassionate the distressed? and fly at the face of sin and sinners, as being the disturbers of our peace, and the only cause of all our miseries? do they study how to do the utmost they can for GOD? to improve their power and parts, and wealth and honour, and all their interest for the greatest advantage to the kingdom of Christ, as men that must shortly give an account of their stewardship? Or do they build their own houses, and seek their advancements, and contest for their own honours, and do no more for Christ than needs they must, or than lies in their way, or than is put by others into their hands, or than stands with the pleasing of their friends, or with their worldly interest?
To be plain with you, I think nothing undoes men so much as complimenting and jesting in religion. Oh, if I were not sick myself of the same disease, with what tears should I mix this ink; and with what groans should I express these sad complaints; and with what heart's grief should I mourn over this universal deadness! Do the magistrates among us seriously perform their portion of the work? are they zealous for Gon? do they build up his house? are they tender of his honour? do they second the word? encourage the good? relieve the oppressed? compassionate the distressed? and fly at the face of sin and sinners, as being the disturbers of our peace, and the only cause of all our miseries? do they study how to do the utmost they can for GOD? to improve their power and parts, and wealth and honour, and all their interest for the greatest advantage to the kingdom of Christ, as men that must shortly give an account of their stewardship? Or do they build their own houses, and seek their advancements, and contest for their own honours, and do no more for Christ than needs they must, or than lies in their way, or than is put by others into their hands, or than stands with the pleasing of their friends, or with their worldly interest?