N17286:573
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.
O what a terrible reckoning will many poor men have, when Christ shall plead his cause, and judge them! May not he say, I made the way to worldly honours inaccessible to you, that you might not look after it for yourselves, or your children: but heaven I set open, that you might have nothing to discourage you: I confined riches and honours to a few; but my blood and salvation I offered to all, that none might say, I was not invited: I tendered heaven to the poor, as well as the rich: I made no exception against the meanest beggar; why then did you not come yourselves, and bring your children, and teach them the way to the eternal inheritance? Do you say you were poor? Why, I did not set heaven to sale for money; I called those that had nothing, to take it freely; only on condition they would take me for their Saviour and LORD, and give up themselves to me in obedience and love.
What can you answer Christ, when he shall thus convince you? Is it not enough that your children are poor and miserable here, but you would have them be worse for everlasting? If your children were beggars, yet if they were such beggars as Lazarus, they may be conveyed by angels into the presence of GOD. But believe it, as GOD will save no man because he is a gentleman, ⟨p. 253⟩so will he save no man because he is a beggar. GOD hath so ordered it in his providence, that riches are common occasions of men's damnation, and will you think poverty a sufficient excuse? The hardest point in all our work is to be weaned from the world, and in love with heaven; and if you will not be weaned from it, that have nothing in it but labour and sorrow, you have no excuse. The poor cannot have time, and the rich will not have time, or they are ashamed to be so forward: the young think it too soon, and the old too late; and thus most men instead of being saved, have somewhat to say against their salvation; and when Christ sendeth to invite them, they say, I pray thee have me excused. O unworthy guests of such a blessed feast, and worthy to be turned into everlasting burnings!