N17286:334
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.
1. Quest. If you could grow rich by religion, or get lands and lordships thereby; or if you could get honour or preferment by it in the world; or could be ⟨p. 155⟩recovered from sickness by it, or could live for-ever in prosperity on earth; what kind of lives would you then lead, and what pains would you take in the service of GOD? And is not the Rest of the saints a more excellent happiness than all this?
2. Quest. If the law of the land did punish every breach of the sabbath, or every omission of family-duties, or secret duties, or every cold and heartless prayer, with death: if it were felony or treason to be negligent in worship, and loose in your lives; what manner of persons would you then be? and what lives would you lead? And is not eternal death more terrible than temporal?
3. Quest. If it were GOD's ordinary course to punish every sin with some present judgment, so that every time a man swears, or is drunk, or speaks a lie, or backbiteth his neighbour, he should be struck dead or blind, or lame, in the place: if GOD did punish every cold prayer, or neglect of duty with some remarkable plague; what manner of persons would you be? If you should suddenly fall down dead like Ananias and Sapphira with the sin in your hands; or the plague of GOD should seize upon you as upon the Israelites, while their sweet morsels were yet in their mouths: If but a mark should be set in the forehead of every one that neglected a duty, or committed a fin; what kind of lives would you then lead? And is not eternal wrath more terrible than all this?
3. Quest. If it were GOD's ordinary course to punish every sin with some present judgment, so that every time a man swears, or is drunk, or speaks a lie, or backbiteth his neighbour, he should be struck dead or blind, or lame, in the place: if GOD did punish every cold prayer, or neglect of duty with some remarkable plague; what manner of persons would you be? If you should suddenly fall down dead like Auanias and Sapphira with the sin in your hands; or the plague of GOD should seize upon you as upon the Israelites, while their sweet morsels were yet in their mouths: If but a mark should be set in the forehead of every one that neglected a duty, or committed a fin; what kind of lives would you then lead? And is not eternal wrath more terrible than all this?