N17286:33
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.
2. An end towards which he m•••th for rest. This can be only GOD. He that taketh any thing else for happiness, is out of the way the first step. The principal damning sin, is, to make any thing besides GOD our end or rest. And the first true saving act, is, to choose GOD only for our end and happiness.
3. A distance is pre-supposed from this end, else there can be no motion towards it. This sad distance is the case of all mankind since the fall: it was our GOD that we principally lost, and were shut out of his gracious presence; and since are said to be without him in the world: nay, in all men, at age, here is supposed, not only a distance, but also a contrary motion. When Christ comes with regenerating, saving grace, he finds no man sitting still, but all posting to eternal ruin; till, by conviction, he first brings them to a stand, and by conversion, turns first their hearts, and then their lives, to himself.
4. Here is pre-supposed the knowledge of the true ultimate end, and its excellency; and a serious intending it. For so the motion of the rational creature proceedeth: an unknown end, is no end; it is a contradiction. We cannot make that our end, which we know not; nor that our chief end which we know not, or judge not to be the chief good. Therefore where this is not known, that GOD is this end; there is no obtaining rest in any ordinary way, whatsoever may be in ways that by GOD are kept secret.