N17286:391
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.
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.
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 stragger 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.
3. Another common cause of doubting and discomfort, is, the secret maintaining some known sin.
When a man liveth in some unwarrantable practice, and GOD hath oft touched him for it, and yet he continueth it; it is no wonder if this person want both assurance and comfort. One would think that a soul that is so tender as to tremble, should be as tender of sinning: and yet sad experience telleth us that it is frequently otherwise: I have known too many such, that would complain and yet sin, and accuse themselves, and yet sin still, yea and despair, and yet proceed in sinning: and all arguments and means could not keep them from the wilful committing of that sin again and again, which yet they themselves did think would prove their destruction. Yea, some will be carried away with those sins that seem most contrary to their dejected temper. I have known them that