N17286:493
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. With many also pride is a great impediment. If it were to speak to a great man, they would do it, so it would not displease him. But to go among a company of ignorant beggars, or mean persons, and to sit with them in a smoky nasty cottage, and there to exhort them from day to day; where is the person ⟨p. 219⟩that will do it? Many will much rejoice if they have been instruments of converting a gentleman (and they have good cause) but for the common multitude, they look not after them: as if GOD were a respectre of the persons of the rich, or the souls of all were not alike to him. Alas, these men little consider how long Christ did stoop to us! When the GOD of glory comes down in flesh to worms, and goeth preaching up and down among them from city to city. Not the silliest women that he thought too low to confer with: few rich, and noble, and wise are called. It is the poor that receive the glad tidings of the gospel.
6. With many also pride is a great impediment. If it were to speak to a great man, they would do it, so it would not displease him. But to go among a company of ignorant beggars, or mean persons, and to sit with them in a smoaky nasly cottage, and there to exhort them from day to day; where is the person ⟨p. 219⟩that will do it? Many will much rejoice if they have been instruments of converting a gentleman (and they have good cause) but for the common multitude, they look not after them: as if GOD were a respecter of the persons of the rich, or the souls of all were not alike to him. Alas, these men little consider how long Christ did stoop to us! When the GOD of glory comes down in flesh to worms, and goeth preaching up and down among them from city to city. Not the silliest women that he thought too low to confer with: few rich, and noble, and wise are called. It is the poor that receive the glad tidings of the gospel.
Object. O but, saith one, I am of so weak parts, that I am unable to manage an exhortation; especially to men of strong parts and understanding.