N17286:432
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.
Seeing then that the time of affliction, is the time of our most pure, spiritual, and heavenly joy, for the most part; why should a christian think it so bad a time? Is not that our best estate, wherein we have most of GOD? Why else do we desire to come to heaven? If we look for a heaven of fleshly delights, we shall find ourselves mistaken. Conclude then, that affliction is not so bad a state in our way to rest, as the flesh would make it. Are we wiser than GOD? Doth not he know what is good for us better than we? Or is he not as careful of our good, as we are of our own? Ah woe to us if he were not much more! And if he did not love us better than we love either him or ourselves!
Seeing then that the time of affliction, is the time of our most pure, spiritual, and heavenly joy, for the most part; why should a christian think it so bad a time? Is not that our best estate, wherein we have most of GOD? Why else do we desire to come to heaven? If we look for a heaven of fleshly delights, we shall find ourselves mistaken. Conclude then, that affliction is not so bad a state in our way to rest, as the flesh would make it. Are we wiser than GOD? Doth not he know what is good for us better than we? Or is he not as careful of our good, as we are of our own? Ah wo to us if he were not much more! And if he did not love us better than we love either him or ourselves!
But let us hear a little what it is that we can object.
1. Oh, saith one, I could bear any other affliction save this: if GOD had touched me in any thing else, I could have undergone it patiently; but it is my dearest friend, or child, or wife, or my health itself.
1. Oh, saith one, I could bear any other affliction save this: if GOD had touched me in any thing else, I could have undergone it patiently; but it is my dearet friend, or child, or wife, or my health itself.