N17286:457
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.
So far am I from persuading therefore to this preposterous course, that I would advise you to oppose it wherever you meet with it. See that you never hear a man speaking against his neighbour behind his back (without some special cause or call) but presently rebuke him: ask him, whether he hath spoke those things in a way of love to his face? if he hath not, ask him, how he dare to pervert GOD'S prescribed order, who commandeth to rebuke our neighbour plainly, and to tell him his fault first in private, and then before witness, till he see whether he will be won, or not? And how he dare do as he would not be done by?
The duty therefore that I would press you to is of another nature, and it consisteth in these things following:
1. That you get your hearts affected with the misery of your brethren's souls: be compassionate towards them; yearn after their salvation. If you did earnestly long after their conversion, and your hearts were fully set to do them good, it would set you on work, and GOD would usually bless it. 2. Take all opportunities that possibly you can, to instruct and help them to the attaining of salvation. And lest you should not know how to manage this work, let me tell you more particularly what you are herein to do. 1. If it be an ignorant person you have to deal with, who is an utter stranger to the mysteries of religion, and to the work of regeneration, the first thing you have to do, is, to acquaint him with these doctrines: labour to make him understand wherein man's chief happiness doth consist; and how far he ⟨p. 199⟩was once possessed of it; and what law and covenant GOD then made with him; and how he broke it; and what penalty he incurred, and what misery he brought himself into thereby: teach him what need men had of a Redeemer; and how Christ in mercy did interpose, and bear the penalty, and what covenant now he hath made with man; and on what terms only salvation is now to be attained; and what course Christ taketh to draw men to himself; and what are the riches and privileges that believers have in him.