N17286:469
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.
I am ashamed to hear some lazy hypocritical wretches revile their poor ignorant neighbours, and separate from their company, and judge them unfit for their society, before ever they once tried them with this compassionate exhortation! O you little know what a prevailing course this were like to prove! And how few of the vilest drunkards or swearers would prove so obstinate, as wholly to reject or despise the exhortations of love! I know it must be ⟨p. 204⟩GOD that must change men's hearts! but I know also that GOD worketh by means, and when he meaneth to prevail with men, he usually fitteth the means accordingly, and stirreth up men to plead with them in a prevailing way, and so setteth in with his grace, and maketh it successful. Certainly, those that have tried can tell you by experience, that there is no way so prevailing with men, as the way of compassion and love. So much of these as they discern in your exhortation, usually so much doth it succeed with their hearts; and therefore I beseech those that are faithful, to practise this course. Alas, we see most people among us, yea those that would seem godly, cannot bear a reproof that comes not in meekness and love! if there be the least passion, or relish of disgrace in it, they are ready to spit in your face. Yea, if you do not sweeten your reproof with fair words, they cannot digest it, but their heart will rise up against you, instead of a thankful submission and a reformation. O that it were not too evident that the Pharisee is yet alive in the breasts of many thousands that seem religious, even in this one point of bearing plain and sharp reproof! Thy bind heavy b•r•••• and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's should […]; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers, Matt. xxiii. 4. So far are they from doing, in this, as they would be done by.
I am ashamed to hear some lazy hypocritical wretches revile their poor ignorant neighbours, and separate from their company, and judge them unfit for their society, before ever they once tried them with this compassionate exhortation! O you little know what a prevailing course this were like to prove! And how few of the vilest drunkards or swearers would prove so obstinate, as wholly to reject or despise the exhortations of love! I know it must be