N17286:774
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 3 › Chapter 8: Some Advantages and Helps, for raising the Soul by Meditation.
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. There is yet another way by which we may make our senses serviceable to us, and that is, by comparing the objects of sense with the objects of faith; and so forcing sense to afford us that medium, from whence we may conclude the transcendent worth of glory, by arguing from sensitive delights as from the less to the greater. And here for your further assistance, I shall furnish you with some of these comparative arguments.
And 1. You must strongly argue with your hearts, from the corrupt delights of sensual men. Think then with yourselves, when you would be sensible of the […]: is it such a delight to a sinner to do wickedly? And will it not be delightful indeed to live with GOD? Hath a drunkard such delight in his cups and companions, that the very fears of damnation will not make him forsake them? Sure then there are high delights with GOD! If the way to hell can afford such pleasure, what are the pleasures of the saints in heaven?
And 1. You must strongly argue with your hearts, from the corrupt delights of sensual men. Think then with yourselves, when you would be sensible of the 〈…〉: is it such a delight to a sinner to do wickedly? And will it not be delightful indeed to live with GOD? Hath a drunkard such delight in his cups and companions, that the very fears of damnation will not make him forsake them? Sure then there are high delights with GOD! If the way to hell can afford such pleasure, what are the pleasures of the saints in heaven?
2. Compare also the delights above, with the lawful delights of sense. Think with thyself, how sweet is food to my taste when I am hungry! Especially, as Isaac said, that which my soul loveth. What delight hath the taste in some pleasant fruits, in some well relished meats! O what delight then must my soul have in feeding upon Christ the living bread! and in eating with him at his table in his kingdom! How pleasant is drink in the extremity of thirst! Then how delightful will it be to my soul to drink of that fountain of living water, which whoso drinks shall thirst no more!