N17286:711
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.
It is as ridiculous a question of them that […] Where scripture commands to pray so oft, or at […] hours? as if they asked, Where the scripture commands that the church stand in such a place? […] pulpit in such a place? or my seat in such a […] or where it commands a man to read the scriptures with a pair of spectacles?
It is as ridiculous a question of them that 〈…〉 Where scripture commands to pray so oft, or at 〈…〉 hours? as if they asked, Where the scripture commands that the church stand in such a place? 〈…〉 pulpit in such a place? or my seat in such a 〈…〉 or where it commands a man to read the scriptures with a pair of spectacles?
Most that I have known to argue against a stated time, have at last grown careless of the duty itself, and showed more dislike against the work than be time. If GOD gave me so much money or wealth, and tell me not how much in scripture such a poor man must have, nor how much my family, nor how much in clothes, and how much in expenses: is it not lawful, yea, and necessary, that I make the division myself, and allow to each the due portion? So if GOD doth bestow on me a day or week of time, and give me such and such work to do in this time, and tell me not how much I shall allot to each work; certainly I must make the division myself, and proportion it wisely and carefully too. Though GOD hath not told you at what hour you shall rise in the morning, or at what hours you shall eat and drink; yet your own reason, and experience will tell you, that ordinarily you should observe a stated time. Neither let the fear of customariness and formality deter you from this. This argument hath brought the LORD'S supper from once a week to once a quarter, or once a year; and it hath brought family duties with too many of late, from twice a day to once a week, or once a month.
Most that I have known to argue against a stated time, have at last grown careless of the duty itself, and sh•wed more dislike against the work than be time. If GOD gave me so much money or wealth, and tell me not how much in scripture such a poor man must have, nor how much my family, nor how much in clothes, and how much in expences: is it not lawful, yea, and necessary, that I make the division myself, and allow to each the due portion? So if GOD doth bestow on me a day or week of time, and give me such and such work to do in this time, and tell me not how much I shall allot to each work; certainly I must make the division myself, and proportion it wisely and carefully too. Though GOD hath not told you at what hour you shall rise in the morning, or at what hours you shall eat and drink; yet your own reason, and experience will tell you, that ordinarily you should observe a stated time. Neither let the fear of customariness and formality deter you from this. This argument hath brought the LORD'S supper from once a week to once a quarter, or once a year; and it hath brought family duties with too many of late, from twice a day to once a week, or once a month.