N17286:468
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.
3. Let thy exhortation proceed from compassion and love, and let the manner of it clearly show the person thou dealest with, that it does. It is not jeering, or scorning, or reproaching a man for his fault, ⟨p. 203⟩that is a likely way to work his reformation: nor is it the right way to convert him to GOD, to rail at him, and vilify him with words of disgrace. Men will take them for their enemies that thus deal with them: and the words of an enemy are little persuading. Lay by your passion therefore, and go to poor sinners with tears in your eyes, that they may see you indeed believe them to be miserable; and that you unfeignedly pity their case: deal with them with earnest humble entreatings. Let them see that your very bowels yearn over them, and that it is the very desire of your hearts to do them good: let them perceive that you have no other end but the procuring their everlasting happiness; and that it is your sense of their danger, and your love to their souls that forces you to speak; even because you know the terrors of the LORD, and for fear lest you should see them in eternal torments. Say to them, Why, friend, you know it is no advantage of my own that I seek. The way to please you, and to keep your friendship, were to sooth you in your own way, or to let you alone; but love will not suffer me to see you perish, and be silent; I seek nothing at your hands, but that which is necessary to your own happiness. It is yourself that will have the gain and comfort, if you come in to Christ. If men would thus go to every ignorant wicked neighbour they have, and thus deal with them, O what blessed fruit should we quickly see!
3. Let thy exhortation proceed from compassion and love, and let the manner of it clearly shew the person thou dealest with, that it does. It is not jeering, or scorning, or reproaching a man for his fault, ⟨p. 203⟩that is a likely way to work his reformation: nor is it the right way to convert him to GOD, to rail at him, and vilify him with words of disgrace. Men will take them for their enemies that thus deal with them: and the words of an enemy are little persuading. Lay by your passion therefore, and go to poor sinners with tears in your eyes, that they may see you indeed believe them to be miserable; and that you unfeignedly pity their case: deal with them with earnest humble entreatings. Let them see that your very bowels yearn over them, and that it is the very desire of your hearts to do them good: let them perceive that you have no other end but the procuring their everlasting happiness; and that it is your sense of their danger, and your love to their souls that forces you to speak; even because you know the terrors of the LORD, and for fear lest you should see them in eternal torments. Say to them, Why, friend, you know it is no advantage of my own that I seek. The way to please you, and to keep your friendship, were to sooth you in your own way, or to let you alone; but love will not suffer me to see you perish, and be silent; I seek nothing at your hands, but that which is necessary to your own happiness. It is yourself that will have the gain and comfort, if you come in to Christ. If men would thus go to every ignorant wicked neighbour they have, and thus deal with them, O what blessed fruit should we quickly see!