N17286:72
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 1 › Chapter 4: The four great Preparatives to our Rest.
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.
HAVING thus showed you a small glimpse of that resemblance of the saints rest, which I had seen in the gospel-glass; it follows, that we proceed to view a little the blessed properties of this rest. And why doth my trembling heart draw back? Surely the LORD is not now so inaccessible, nor the way so blocked up, as when the law and curse reigned. Wherefore, finding the flaming sword removed, I shall look again into the paradise of our GOD.
HAVING thus shewed you a small glimpse of that resemblance of the saints rest, which I had seen in the gospel-glass; it follows, that we proceed to view a little the blessed properties of this rest. And why doth my trembling heart draw back? Surely the LORD is not now so inaccessible, nor the way so blocked up, as when the law and curse reigned. Wherefore, finding the flaming sword removed, I shall look again into the paradise of our GOD.
And first, let us consider the great preparations: for the porch of this temple is exceeding glorious. Let us observe, 1. The most glorious coming of the Son of GOD. 2. His raising our bodies, and uniting them again with the soul. 3. His solemn proceedings in their judgment, where they shall be justified before all the world. ⟨p. 32⟩4. His enthroning them in glory.
1. And well may the coming of CHRIST be reckoned with those ingredients that compound this precious rest: for to this end it is intended; and to this end it is of apparent necessity. For his people's sake he sanctified himself to his office: for their sake he came into the world, suffered, died, rose, ascended: and for their sake it is that he will return. To this end will CHRIST come again to receive his people to himself, That where he is, they may be also.