N17286:417
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 10: The Reason of the Saints Afflictions here.
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. X. The Reason of the Saints Afflictions here.
A Further use which we must make of the present doctrine is, To inform us why the people of GOD suffer so much in this life. What wonder? when you see their rest doth yet remain: they are not yet come to their resting place. We would all fain have continual prosperity, because it is pleasing to the flesh; but we consider not the unreasonableness of such desires. We are like children, who if they see any thing which their appetite desireth, cry for it: and if you tell them that it is unwholesome, or hurtful for them, they are never the more quieted; or if you go about to heal any sore that they have, they will not endure you to hurt them, though you tell them, that they cannot otherwise be healed; their sense is too strong for their reason, and therefore reason doth little persuade them. Even so it is with us when GOD is afflicting us: he giveth us reasons why we must bear it, so that our reason is oft convinced and satisfied, and yet we cry and complain still: it is not reason, but ease that we must have: spiritual remedies may cure the spirit's maladies; but that will not content the flesh.
A Further use which we must make of the present doctrine is, To inform us why the people of GOD suffer so much in this life. What wonder? when you see their rest doth yet remain: they are not yet come to their resting place. We would all fain have continual prosperity, because it is pleasing to the flesh; but we consider not the unreasonableness of such desires. We are like children, who if they see any thing which their appetite desireth, cry for it: and if you tell them that it is unwholesome, or hurtful for them, they are never the more quieted; or if you go about to heal any sore that they have, they will notendure you to hurt them, though you tell them, that they cannot otherwise be healed; their sense is too strong for their reason, and therefore reason doth little persuade them. Even so it is with us when GOD is affticting us: he giveth us reasons why we must bear it, so that our reason is oft convinced and satisfied, and yet we cry and complain still: it is not reason, but ease that we must have: spiritual remedies may cure the spirit's maladies; but that will not content the flesh.