N17286:407
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.
1. Every soul that hath a title to this rest, doth place his happiness in it, and make it the ultimate end of his soul. This is the first mark; which is so plain a truth, that I need not stand to prove it. For this rest consisteth in the full and glorious enjoyment of GOD: and he that maketh not GOD his ultimate end, is in heart a pagan and vile idolater.
Let me ask then; dost thou truly account it thy chief happiness to enjoy the LORD in glory, or dost thou not? Canst thou say with David, The Lord is my portion? And whom have I in heaven, but thee? And whom in earth that I desire in comparison of thee? If thou be an heir of rest, it is thus with thee. Tho' the flesh will be pleading for its own delights, and the world will be creeping into thine affection, yet in thy ordinary, settled, prevailing judgment and affections, thou preferrest GOD before all things in the world.
1. Thou makest him the end of thy desires and endeavours: the very reason why thou hearest and prayest, why thou desirest to live and breathe on earth, is this, that thou mayst seek the LORD. Thou seekest first the kingdom of GOD and its righteousness: tho' thou dost not seek it so zealously as thou shouldst; yet hath it the chief of thy desires and endeavours: and nothing else desired or preferred before it.