N17286:416
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.
The second mark which I shall give thee, to try whether thou be an heir of rest, is this:
As thou takest GOD for thy chief good, so, Thou dost heartily accept of Christ for thy only Saviour and Lord to bring thee to this rest. The former mark was the sum of the first and great command of the law of nature, [Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.] This second mark is the sum of the come and or condition of the gospel, [Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved.] And the performance of these two is the whole sum or essence of godliness and christianity. Observe therefore the parts of this mark, which is but a definition of faith.
1. Dost thou find that thou art naturally a lost, condemned man, for thy breach of the first covenant? And believe that Jesus Christ is the mediator who hath made a sufficient satisfaction to the law? And hearing in the gospel that he is offered without exception ⟨p. 184⟩unto all, dost thou heartily consent that he alone shall be thy Saviour? And no further trust to thy duties and works, than as conditions required by him, and means appointed in subordination to him? Not looking at them as in the least measure able to satisfy the course of the law, or as a legal righteousness, nor any part of it? But art content to trust thy salvation on the redemption made by Christ?