N17286:607
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 3 › Chapter 1: Reproving our Expectations of Rest on Earth.
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.
First, Our rest is only in the full obtaining our ultimate end; but that is not to be expected in this life. Is GOD to be enjoyed in the best reformed church here, as he is in heaven? You confess he is not; how little of GOD, (not only) the multitude of the blind world, but sometimes the saints themselves enjoy! And how poor comforters are the best ordinances and enjoyments without GOD! Should a traveller take up his rest in the way? No, because his home is his journey's en•. When you have all that creatures and means ⟨p. 269⟩can afford, have you that you sought for? Have you that you believe, pray, suffer for? I think you dare not say so. Why then do we once dream of resting here? We are like little children strayed from home; and GOD is now fetching us home; and we are ready to turn into any house, stay and play with every thing in our way, and sit down on every green bank, and much ado there is to get us home.
First, Our rest is only in the full obtaining our ultimate end; but that is not to be expected in this life. Is GOD to be enjoyed in the best reformed church here, as he is in heaven? You confess he is not; how little of GOD, (not only) the multitude of the blind world, but sometimes the saints themselves enjoy! And how poor comforters are the best ordinances and enjoyments without GOD! Should a traveller take up his rest in the way? No, because his home is his journey's en•. When you have all that creatures and means ⟨p. 269⟩can afford, have you that you sought for? Have you that you believe, pray, suffer for? I think you dare not say so. Why then do we once dream of resting here? We are like little children strayed from home; and GOD is now fetching us home; and we are readly to turn into any house, stay and play with every thing in our way, and sit down on every green bank, and much ado there is to get us home.
Secondly, As we have not yet obtained our end, so are we in the midst of labours and dangers; and is there any resting here? What painful work doth lie upon our hands! Look to our brethren, to our souls, to GOD; and what a deal of work in respect of each of these, doth lie before us! And can we rest in our labours? Indeed we may ease ourselves sometimes in our troubles; but that is not the rest we are now speaking of; we may rest on earth, as the ark is said to rest in the midst of Jordan, Josh. iii. 13. Or as the angels of heaven are desired to turn in, and rest them on earth.