N17286:363
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.
And, 1. we cannot doubt but Satan will do his part, to hinder us from such a necessary duty as this: if all the power he hath can do it, or all the means and instruments which he can raise up. He is loth the godly should have that assurance, and advantage against corruption, which faithful self-examination would procure them; and for the ungodly he knows, if they should once fall close to this they would find out his deceits, and their own danger. If they did but faithfully perform this duty, he were likely to lose most of his subjects. If the snare be not hid, the bird will escape it: Satan knows how to angle for souls, better than to show them the hook or line, and to fright them away with a noise, or with his own appearance.
And, 1. we cannot doubt but Satan will do his part, to hinder us from such a necessary duty as this: if all the power he hath can do it, or all the means and instruments which he can raise up. He is loth the godly should have that assurance, and advantage against corruption, which faithful self-examination would procure them; and for the ungodly he knows, if they should once fall close to this they would find out his deceits, and their own danger. If they did but faithfully perform this duty, he were likely to lose most of his subjects. If the snare be not hid, the bird will escape it: Satan knows how to angle for souls, better than to shew them the hook or line, and to fright them away with a noise, or with his own appearance.
Therefore he labours to keep them from a searching ministry; or to keep the minister from helping them to search: or to take off the edge of the word, that it may not pierce, or to turn away their thoughts, or possess them with prejudice: Satan is acquainted with all the preparations of the minister; he knows when he hath provided a searching sermon, fitted to the state and necessity of an hearer; and therefore he will keep him away that day, if it be possible, or else cast him asleep, or steal away the word by the cares and talk of the world, or some way prevent its operation.