N17286:628
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.
3. Consider, a heart in heaven will be a most excellent preservative against temptations, and a powerful means to save the conscience from the wounds of sin: GOD can prevent our sinning, though we be careless, and sometimes doth; but this is not his usual course; nor is this our safest way to escape. When the mind is either idle, or ill employed, the devil needs not a greater advantage: if he find but the mind empty, there is room for any thing that he will bring in; but when he finds the heart in heaven, what ⟨p. 284⟩hope that his motions should take? Let him entice to any forbidden course, the soul will return Nehemiah's answer, I am doing a great work, and cannot come, Neh. vi. 3. Several ways will this preserve us against temptation. First, By keeping the heart employed. Secondly, By clearing the understanding, and confirming the will. Thirdly, By pre-possessing the affections. Fourthly, By keeping us in the way of GOD's blessing.
First, By keeping the heart employed: when we are idle, we tempt the devil to tempt us; as it is an encouragement to a thief, to see your doors open, and nobody within; and as we use to say, Careless persons make thieves; so it will encourage Satan, to find your hearts idle: but when the heart is taken up with GOD, it cannot have time to hearken to temptations: it cannot have time to be lustful and wanton, ambitious or worldly.
If you were but busied in your lawful callings, you would not be so ready to hearken to temptations: much less if you were busied above with GOD: will you leave your plough and harvest in the field? Or leave the quenching of a fire in your houses, to run hunting of butterflies? Would a judge rise, when he is sitting upon life and death, to go and play among the boys in the streets? No more will a christian, when he is busy with GOD, give ear to the alluring charms of Satan. The love of GOD is never idle; it worketh great things where it truly is; and when it will not work, it is not love. Therefore being still thus working, it is still preserving.