N17286:400
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 9: Containing Directions to Examination, and some Marks of Trial.
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.
CHAP. IX. Containing Directions to Examination, and some Marks of Trial.
I WILL not stand here to lay down the directions necessary for preparation to this duty, because you may gather them from what is said concerning the hinderances: for the contraries of those hinderances will be the most necessary helps. Only before you set upon it, I advise you to the observation of these rules.
1. Come not with too peremptory conclusions of yourselves before-hand. Do not judge too confidently before you try. 2. Be sure to be so well acquainted with the scripture, as to know what is the tenor of the covenant of grace, and what are the conditions of justification and glorification, and consequently what are sound marks to try thyself by. 3. Be a constant observer of the temper and motions of thy heart: most of the difficulty of the work doth lie in true and clear discerning of it. Be watchful in observing the actings both of grace and corruption, and the circumstances of their actings: as, how frequent? how violent? how strong or weak were the outward incitements? how great or small the impediments? what delight, or loathing, or fear, or reluctancy did go with those acts?