N17286:389
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 8: Further Causes of doubting among Christians.
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. One great cause of doubting and uncertainty, is, the weakness of our grace. A little grace is next to none. Small things are hardly discerned. Most content themselves with a small measure of grace, and do not follow on to spiritual strength and manhood. They believe so weakly, and love GOD so little, that they can scarce find whether they believe and love at all. Like a man in a swoon, whose pulse and breathing is so weak, that they can hardly be perceived whether they move at all, and consequently whether the man be alive or dead.
The chief remedy for such would be, to follow on their duty, till their graces be increased: ply your work: wait upon GOD in the use of his prescribed means, and he will undoubtedly bless you with increase. Oh that christians would bestow most of that time in getting more grace, which they bestow in anxious doubtings whether they have any or none; and that they would lay out those serious affections in praying, and seeking to Christ for more grace, which they bestow in fruitless complaints! I beseech thee, take this advice as from GOD! and then, when thou believest strongly, and lovest fervently, thou canst not doubt whether thou believe and love or not; no more ⟨p. 176⟩than a man that is burning hot can doubt whether he be warm: or a man that is strong and lusty can doubt whether he be alive.
The chief remedy for such would be, to follow on their duty, till their graces be increased: ply your work: wait upon GOD in the use of his prescribed means, and he will undoubtedly bless you with increase. Oh that christians would bestow most of that time in getting more grace, which they bestow in anxious doubtings whether they have any or none; and that they would lay out those serious affections in praying, and seeking to Christ for more grace, which they bestow in fruitless complaints! I beseech thee, take this advice as from GOD! and then, when thou believest strongly, and lovest servently, thou canst not doubt whether thou believe and love or not; no more ⟨p. 176⟩