N17286:586
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.
To these ends, 1. Be sure to keep them, at least, so long at school, till they can read English. It is a thousand pities a reasonable creature should look upon a bible, as upon a stone, or a piece of wood. 2. Get them bibles and good books, and see that they read them. 3. Examine them often what they learn. 4. Especially spend the LORD'S day in this work, and see that they spend it not in sports and idleness. 5. Show them the meaning of what they read and learn. 6. Acquaint them with, and keep them in company, where they may learn good, and keep them out of that company that would teach them evil. 7. Be sure to cause them to learn some catechism, containing the chief heads of divinity.
To these ends, 1. Be sure to keep them, at least, so long at school, till they can read English. It is a thousand pities a reasonable creature should look upon a bible, as upon a stone, or a piece of wood. 2. Get them bibles and good books, and see that they read them. 3. Examine them often what they learn. 4. Especially spend the LORD'S day in this work, and see that they spend it not in sports and idleness. 5. Shew them the meaning of what they read and learn. 6. Acquaint them with, and keep them in company, where they may learn good, and keep them out of that company that would teach them evil. 7. Be sure to cause them to learn some catechism, containing the chief heads of divinity.
The heads of divinity which you must teach them first, are these:
1. That there is one only GOD, who is a spirit, invisible, infinite, eternal, almighty, good merciful, true, just, holy. 2. That this GOD is one in three, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 3. That he is the Maker, Maintainer, and Lord of all. 4. That man's happiness consisteth in the enjoying of this GOD, and not in fleshly pleasure, profits, or honours. 5. That GOD made the first man upright and happy, and gave him a law to keep, with condition, that if he kept it perfectly, he should live happy for-ever; but if he broke it, he should die. 6. That man broke this law, and so forfeited his welfare, and became guilty of death as to himself, and all his posterity. 7. That Christ the Son of GOD did here interpose, and prevent the full execution, undertaking to die instead of