N17286:633
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.
Do you not think (except men are stark devils) that it would be a harder matter to entice a man to sin, when he lies a dying, than it was before? If the devil, or his instruments, should then tell him of a cup of sack, of merry company, or of a stage-play, do you think he would then be so taken with the motion? If he should then tell him of riches, or honours, or show him cards, or dice, or a whore, would the temptation (think you) be as strong as before? Would he not answer, Alas! what is all this to me, who must presently appear before GOD, and give account of all my life, and straightways be in another world? Why, if the apprehension of the nearness of eternity will work such strange effects upon the ungodly, and make them wiser than to be deceived so easily, as they were wont to be in time of health; what effects would it work in thee, if thou couldst always dwell in the views of GOD, and in lively thoughts of thine everlasting state? Surely, a believer, if he improve his faith, may have truer apprehensions of the life to come, in the time of his health, than an unbeliever hath at the hour of his death.
Do you not think (except men are stark devils) that it would be a harder matter to entice a man to sin, when he lies a dying, than it was bef•re? If the devil, or his instruments, should then tell him of a cup of sack, of merry company, or of a stage-play, do you think he would then be so taken with the m•tion? If he should then tell him of riches, or honours, or shew him cards, or dice, or a whore, would the temptation (think you) be as strong as before? Would he not answer, Alas! what is all this to me, who must presently appear before GOD, and give account of all my life, and straightways be in another world? Why, if the apprehension of the nearness of etern•ty will work such strange effects upon the ungodly, and make them wiser than to be deceived so easily, as they were wont to be in time of health; what effects would it work in thee, if thou couldst always dwell in the views of GOD, and in lively thoughts of thine everlasting state? Surely, a believer, if he improve his faith, may have truer apprehensions of the life to come, in the time of his health, than an unbeliever hath at the hour of his death.