N17286:390
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.
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⟩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.
2. Many a soul lieth long under doubting, through the imperfection of their very reason, and exceeding weakness of their natural parts. Grace doth usually rather employ our faculties on better objects, than add to the degree of their natural strength. Many honest hearts have such weak heads, that they know not how to perform the work of self-trial: they are not able to argue the case; they will acknowledge the premises, and yet deny the apparent conclusion. Or if they be brought to acknowledge the conclusion, yet they do but stagger in their concession, and hold it so weakly, that every assault may take it from them. If GOD do not some other way supply to these men the defect of their reason, I see not how they should have clear and settled peace.