N17286:734
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.
2. Be sure thou set upon this work with the greatest seriousness that possibly thou canst. Customariness here is a killing sin. There is no trifling in holy things; GOD will be sanctified of all that draw near him. These spiritual duties are the most dangerous, if we miscarry in them, of all. The more they advance the soul, being well used, the more they destroy it, being used unfaithfully; as the best meats corrupted are the worst.
To help thee therefore to be serious when thou settest on this work; First, labour to have the deepest apprehensions of the presence of GOD, and of the incomprehensible greatness of the majesty which thou approachest. Think with what reverence thou shouldst approach thy Maker: think thou art addressing thyself to him, that made the w••lds with the ⟨p. 338⟩word of his mouth; that upholds the earth as in the palm of his hand; that keeps the sun, and moon, and heaven in their courses; that bounds the raging sea with the sands, and saith, Hitherto go, and no further: thou art going to converse with him, before whom the earth will quake, and devils tremble; before whose bar thou must shortly stand, and all the world with thee, to receive their doom. O think, I shall then have lively apprehensions of his majesty: my drowsy spirits will then be wakened: why should I not now be roused with the sense of his greatness, and the dread of his name possess my soul.
To help thee therefore to be serious when thou settest on this work; First, labour to have the deepest apprehensions of the presence of GOD, and of the incomprehensible greatness of the majesty which thou appreachest. Think with what reverence thou shouldst approach thy Maker: think thou art addressing thyself to him, that made the w••lds with the ⟨p. 338⟩word of his mouth; that upholds the earth as in the palm of his hand; that keeps the sun, and moon, and heaven in their courses; that bounds the raging sea with the sands, and saith, Hitherto go, and no further: thou art going to converse with him, before whom the earth will quake, and devils tremble; before whose bar thou must shortly stand, and all the world with thee, to receive their doom. O think, I shall then have lively apprehensions of his majesty: my drowsy spirits will then be wakened: why should I not now be roused with the sense of his greatness, and the dread of his name possess my soul.