N17286:364
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.
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.
This is the first hinderance.
Wicked men also are great impediments to poor sinners when they should examine and discover their estates.
1. Their examples hinder much. When an ignorant sinner seeth all his friends and neighbours do as he doth, yea, the rich and learned as well as others, this is an exceeding great temptation to proceed in his security.