N17286:43
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
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. III. What this Rest containeth.
1. THERE is contained in this Rest.
1. A cessation from motion or action. Not from all action, but of that which implies the absence of the end. When we have obtained the haven, we have done sailing: when we are at our journey's end, we have done with the way. Therefore prophesying ceaseth, tongues fail, and knowledge shall be done away; that is, so far as it was imperfect. There shall be no more prayer, because no more necessity, but the full enjoyment of what we prayed for. Neither shall we need to fast, and weep and watch any more, being out of the reach of sin and temptations. Nor will there be use for instructions and exhortations: preaching is done: the ministry of man ceaseth: sacraments useless: the labourers called in, because the harvest is gathered: the unregenerate past hope, the saints past fear, for-ever. Much less shall there be any need of labouring for inferior ends, as here we do; seeing they shall all devolve themselves into the ocean of the ultimate end, and the lesser good be swallowed up in the greatest.
2. This rest containeth a perfect freedom from all the evils that accompany us through our course, and which necessarily follow our absence from the chief good: besides our freedom from those eternal flames, which the neglecters of Christ must endure. There is no such a thing as grief and sorrow known there: nor is there such a thing as a pale face, a languid body, feeble joints, unable infancy, decrepit age, peccant humours, painful sickness, griping fears, consuming care, nor whatsoever deserves the name of evil. Indeed a gale of groans and sighs, a stream of tears, accompanied us to the very gates, and there bid us farewell for-ever. We did weep and lament, when the world did rejoice; but our sorrow is turned into joy, and our joy shall no man take from us.