N17286:303
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.
Now the talents which we have received are many and great: the means which we have enjoyed are very many, and very precious. What people breathing on earth, have had plainer instructions, or more forcible persuasions, or constant admonitions, in season and out of season? Sermons, till we have been weary of them: and sabbaths, till we profaned them! Excellent books in such plenty, that we knew not which to read! What people have had GOD so near them as we have had? Or have seen Christ, as it were, crucified before their eyes, as we have done? What people ⟨p. 143⟩have had heaven and hell, as it were, opened unto them, as we? Scarce a day wherein we have not had some spur to put us on. What speed then should such a people make for heaven? How should they fly that are thus winged? And how swiftly should they sail that have wind and tide to help them? Believe it, brethren, GOD looks for more from England, than from most nations in the world; and for more from you that enjoy these helps, than from the dark untaught congregations of the land. A small measure of grace beseems not such a people; nor will an ordinary diligence in the work of GOD, excuse them.
6. vigour of our affections and actions should be answerable to the great cost bestowed upon us, and to the deep engaging mercies which we have received from GOD. Surely we owe more service to our master, from whom we have our maintenance, than we do to a stranger, to whom we were never beholden.
O the cost that GOD hath been at for our sakes? The riches of sea and land, of heaven and earth, hath he poured out unto us. All our lives have been filled up with mercies: we cannot look back upon one hour of it, or one passage in it, but we may behold mercy. We feed upon mercy, we wear mercy upon our backs, we tread upon mercy; mercy within us, mercy without us for this life, and for that to come. O the rate deliverances that we have partaken of, both national and personal! How oft, how seasonably, how fully have our prayers been heard, and our fears removed? What large catalogues of particular mercies can every christian rehearse? To offer to number them would be as endless a task, as to number the stars, or the sands of the shore.