N17286:728
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.
Another fit season for this heavenly duty, is, when the messengers of GOD summon us to die; when either our grey hairs, or our languishing bodies, or some such fore-runners of death, tell us that our change cannot be far off; when should we more frequently sweeten our souls with the believing thoughts of another life, than when we find that this is almost ended and when flesh is raising fears and terrors? Surely no m•n have greater need of supporting joys than dying men; and those joys must be fetched from our eternal joy.
It now follows that I speak a word of the fittest place. Though GOD is every where to be found, yet some places are more convenient than others.
1. As this is a private and spiritual duty, so it is most convenient that thou retire to some private place; our spirits had need of every help, and to be freed from every hinderance in the work. For occasional meditation I give thee not this advice; but for set and solemn duty, I advise, that thou withdraw thyself from all society, that thou mayst awhile enjoy the society of Christ.
And as I advise thee to a place of retiredness; so also that thou observe more particularly, what place or posture best agreeth with thy spirit; whether within door, or without; whether sitting still, or walking. I believe Isaac's example in this also, will direct us to the place and posture which will best suit with most, as it doth with me, viz. His walking forth to meditate in the field at the even-tide. And Christ's own example gives us the like direction. Christ was used to a solitary garden; and though he took his disciples thither with him, yet did he separate himself from them for more secret devotions.