N17286:437
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.
I answer, 1. Is it nothing that he hath promised, it shall work for thy good? Rom. viii. 28. and that with the affliction he will make a way to escape? that he will be with thee in it? and deliver thee in the fittest manner and season?
2. Is it not enough that thou art sure to be delivered at death, and that with so full a deliverance? Oh, what cursed unbelief doth this discover in our hearts! That we would be more thankful to be turned back again into the stormy sea of the world, than to be safely and speedily landed at our rest! And would be more glad of a few years inferior mercies at a distance, than to enter upon the eternal inheritance with Christ! Do we call GOD our chief good, and heaven our happiness? and yet is it no mercy or deliverance to be taken hence, and put into that possession?
Object. 3. Oh, but saith another, if my affliction did not disable me for duty, I could bear it; but it maketh me useless and utterly unprofitable.
Answ. 1. For that duty which tendeth to thy own benefit, it doth not disable thee; but is the greatest help that thou canst expect. Thou usest to complain of coldness, and dullness, and worldliness, and security: if affliction will not help thee against all these, by warning, quickening, rousing thy spirit, I know not what will. Sure thou wilt repent throughly, and pray fervently, and mind GOD and heaven more seriously, either now or never.