N17286:537
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
Part 2 › Chapter 12: An Advice to some more particularly to help others to this Rest.
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.
2. The second and chief word of advice that I would give you, is this: do not think that all your work is in studies, and in the pulpit. I confess that is great; but, alas! it is but a small part of your task. You are shepherds and must know every sheep, and what is their disease, and mark their strayings, and help to cure them, and fetch them home.
O learn of Paul, Acts xx. 19, 20.31. to preach publicly, and from house to house, night and day with tears. Let there not be a soul in your charge that shall not be particularly instructed and watched over. Go from house to house daily, and enquire how they grow in knowledge and holiness, and on what grounds they build their hopes of salvation; and whether they talk uprightly and perform the duties ⟨p. 238⟩of their several relations, and use the means to increase their abilities. See whether they daily worship GOD in their families, and set them in a way, and teach them how to do it: confer with them about the doctrines and practice of religion, and how they receive and profit by public teaching, and answer all their carnal objections; keep in familiarity with them that you may maintain your interest in them, and improve all your interest for GOD. See that no seducers creep in amongst them, or if they do, be diligent to countermine them, and preserve your people from the infection of heresies and schisms; or if they be infected, be diligent to procure their recovery; not with passion and lordliness, but with patience and condescension: as Masculus did by the Anabaptists, visiting them in prison, where the magistrate had cast them, and there instructing and relieving them; and though they reviled him when he came, and called him a false prophet and antichristian seducer that thirsted for their blood, yet he would not so leave them, till at last by his meekness and love he had overcome them, and recovered many to the truth, and to unity with the church.