N17286:319
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.
This is the constant language of Christ: and which shall I follow, GOD or men; yea, and that the worst and most wicked men? Shall I think that every ignorant worldly sot, that can only call a man a Puritan, knows more than Christ, or can tell GOD how to mend the scriptures? Let them bring all the seeming reason they can against the holy, violent striving of the saints; and this sufficeth me to confute them all, that GOD is of another mind, and he hath commanded me to do much more than I do: and though I could see no reason for it, yet his will is reason enough to me: I am sure GOD is worthy to govern us, if we were better than we are. Who should make laws for us, but he that made us? And who should mark out the way to heaven, but he that must bring us thither? And who should determine on what conditions we shall be saved, but he that bestows the gift of salvation? So that let the world, or the flesh, or the devil, speak against a holy laborious course, this is my answer, GOD hath commanded it.
This is the constant language of Christ: and which shall I follow, GOD or men; yea, and that the worst and most wicked men? Shall I think that every ignorant worldly sot, that can only call a man a Puritan, knows more than Christ, or can tell GOD how to mend the scriptures? Let them bring all the seeming reason they can against the holy, violent striving of the saints; and this sufficeth me to confute them all, that GOD is of another mind, and he hath commanded me to do much more than I do: and though I could see no reason for it, yet his will is reason enough to me: I am sure GOD is worthy to govern us, if we were better than we are. Who should make laws for us, but he that made us? And who should mark out the way to heaven, but he that must bring us thither? And who should determine on what conditions we shall be saved, but he that bestows the gift of solvation? So that let the world, or the flesh, or the devil, speak against a holy laborious course, this is my answer, GOD hath commanded it.
14. Moreover, it is a course that all men in the world either do, or will approve of. There is not a man that ever was, or is, or shall be, but shall one day justify the diligence of the saints. And who •••ld not go that way, which every man shall applaud?