N17286:504
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.
Object. Some will further object, to put off this duty, that the party is so ignorant, or stupid, or careless, or rooted in sin, and hath been so oft exhorted in vain, that there is no hope.
I answer, How know you when there is no hope? Cannot GOD yet cure him? And have not many as far gone been cured? Should not a merciful physician use means while there is life? and is it not inhuman cruelty in you to give up your friend to the devil as hopeless, upon mere backwardness to your duty, or upon groundless discouragements? What if you had been so given up yourself when you were ignorant?
Object. But we must not cast pearls before swine, nor give that which is holy to dogs.
I answer, That is but a favourable dispensation of Christ for your own safety. When you are in danger of being torn in pieces, Christ would have you forbear: but what is that to you that are in no such danger? As long as they will hear, you have encouragement to speak, and may not cast them off as contemptuous swine.