N17286:475
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.
6. Yet lest you run into extremes, I advise you to do it with discretion. Be as serious as you can; but yet with wisdom. And especially you must be wise in these things following:
1. In choosing the fittest season for your exhortation; not to deal with men when they are in a passion, ⟨p. 209⟩or where they will take it for a disgrace. Men should observe, when sinners are fittest to hear instructions. Physic must not be given at all times, but in season. It is an excellent example that Paul giveth us, Gal. ii. 2. He communicated the gospel to them, yet privately to them of reputation, lest he should run in vain. Some men would take this to be a sinful complying with their corruption, to yield so far to their pride and bashfulness, as to teach them only in private, because they would be ashamed to own the truth in public: but Paul knew how great a hinderance men's reputation is to their entertaining of the truth, and that the remedy must not only be fitted to the disease, but also to the strength of the patient, and that in so doing, the physician is not guilty of favouring the disease, but is praise-worthy for taking the right way to cure. Means will work easily if you take the opportunity; when the earth is soft, the plough will enter. Take a man when he is under affliction, or in the house of mourning, or newly stirred by some moving sermon, and then set it home, and you may do him some good. Christian faithfulness doth require us, not only to do good when it falls in our way, but to watch for opportunities. 2. Be wise also in suiting your exhortation to the quality and temper of the person. All meats are not for all stomachs: one man will vomit that up which another will digest. 1. If it be a learned, or ingenious rational man, you must deal more by convincing arguments, and less by passionate persuasions. 2. If it be one that is both ignorant and stupid, there is need of both. 3. If one that is convinced, but not converted, you must use most those means that rose the affections. 4. If they be obstinate and secure, you must reprove them sharply. 5. If they be of timorous, tender natures, they must be tenderly dealt with. Al cannot bear that rough dealing that some […]. Love