N17286:638
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.
4. Consider, the diligent keeping of your hearts on heaven, will preserve the vigour of all your graces, and put life into your duties. It is the heavenly christian, that is the lively christian: it is our strangeness to heaven that makes us so dull: it is the end that quickens all the means; and the more frequently and clearly this end is beheld, the more vigorous will all our motions be. How doth it make men unweariedly labour, and fearlessly venture, when they do but think of the gainful prize! How will the soldier hazard his life, and the mariner pass through storms and waves! How cheerfully do they compass sea and land, when they think of an uncertain perishing treasure! O what life then would it put into a christian's endeavours, ⟨p. 289⟩if he would frequently think of his everlasting treasure! We run so slowly, and strive so lazily, because we so little mind the prize. When a christian hath been tasting the hidden manna, and drinking of the streams of the paradise of GOD, what life doth this put into him! How fervent will his spirit be in prayer, when he considers that he prays for no less than heaven!
4. Consider, the diligent keeping of your hearts on heaven, will preserve the vigour of all your graces, and put life into your duties. It is the heavenly christian, that is the lively christian: it is our strangeness to heaven that makes us so dull: it is the end that quickens all the means; and the more frequently and clearly this end is beheld, the more vigorous will all our motions be. How doth it make men unweariedly labour, and fearlessly venture, when they do but think of the gainful prize! How will the soldier hazard his life, and the mariner pass through storms and waves! How cheerfully do they compass sea and land, when they think of an uncertain perishing treasure! O what life then would it put into a christian's endeavours, ⟨p. 289⟩if he would frequently think of his everlasting treasure! We run so slowly, and strive so lazily, because we so little mind the prize. When a christian hath been tasting the hidden manna, and drinking of the streams of the paradise of GOD, what life doth this put into him! How servent will his spirit be in prayer, when he considers that he prays for no less than heaven!