N17286:434
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.
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 deare•t friend, or child, or wife, or my health itself.
I answer it seemeth GOD hath hit the right vein, where thy most inflamed, distempered blood did lie: ⟨p. 191⟩it is his constant course to pull down men's idols, and take away that which is dearer to them than himself. There it is that his jealousy is kindled; and there it is that the soul is most endangered. If GOD should have taken from thee that which thou canst let go for him, and not that which thou canst not; or have afflicted thee where thou canst bear it, and not where thou canst not; thy idol would neither have been discovered nor removed; this would neither have been a sufficient trial to thee, nor a cure, but have confirmed thee in thy idolatry.
I answer it seemeth GOD hath hit the right vein, where thy most instamed, distempered blood did lie: ⟨p. 191⟩it is his constant course to pull down men's idols, and take away that which is dearer to them than himself. There it is that his jealousy is kindled; and there it is that the soul is most endangered. If GOD should have taken from thee that which thou canst let go for him, and not that which thou canst not; or have afflicted thee where thou canst bear it, and not where thou canst not; thy idol would neither have been discovered nor removed; this would neither have been a sufficient trial to thee, nor a cure, but have confirmed thee in thy idolatry.