N17286:298
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 6: An Exhortation to Seriousness in seeking Rest.
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.
Judge then yourselves, whether men that have so much business lying upon their hands, should not bestir them? And whether it be their wisdom either to delay, or to loiter?
3. Consider, our diligence should be quickened, because of the shortness and uncertainty of the time allotted us for the performing of all this work, and the many and great impediments which we meet with. Yet a few days, and we shall be here no more. Time passeth on: many diseases are ready to assault us; we that now are preaching, and hearing, and talking, and walking, must very shortly be carried, and laid in the dust, and there left to the worms in darkness and corruption; we are almost there already; it is but a few days, or months, or years, and what is that when once they are past? We know not whether we shall have another sermon, or sabbath, or hour. How then should those bestir them for their everlasting rest, who know they have so short a space for so great a work? Besides, every step in the way hath its difficulties; the gate is strait, and the way narrow: the righteous themselves are scarcely saved. Scandals and discouragements will be still cast before us; and can all these be overcome by slothful endeavours?
4. Moreover, our diligence should be answerable to the diligence of our enemies in seeking our destruction. For if we sit still while they are plotting and labouring; or if we be lazy in our defence, while they ⟨p. 142⟩are diligent in assaulting us, you may easily conceive how we are likely to speed. How diligent is Satan in all kinds of temptations? Therefore, be sober and vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. How diligent are all the ministers of Satan? False teachers, scorners at godliness, malicious persecutors, all unwearied; and our inward corruption the most busy and diligent of all: whatever we are about; it is still resisting us; depraving our duties, perverting our thoughts, dulling our affections to good, exciting them to evil: and will a feeble resistance serve our turn? Should we not be more active for our own preservation, than our enemies for our ruin?