N17286:300
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.
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?
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 refisting 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?
5. Our affections and endeavours should bear some proportion with the talents we have received, and means we have enjoyed.