N17286:797
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 9: How to manage and watch over the Heart through the whole Work.
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.
I would not have thee of the judgment of those who think that while they are so backward, it is better let it alone; and that if mere love will not bring them to the duty, the service is worse than the omission: these men understand not, First, that this argument would certainly cashier all spiritual obedience; nor do they understand well the corruptness of their own ⟨p. 372⟩natures; nor that their sinful undisposedness will not suspend the commands of God; not one sin excuse another; especially they little know the way of GOD to excite their affections; and that the love which should compel them, must itself be first compelled, in the same sense as it is said to compel: love I know is a most precious grace, and should have the chief interest in all our duties; but there are means appointed by GOD to procure this love; and shall I not use those means, till I can use them from love? that were to neglect the means, till I have the end. Must I not seek to procure love, till I have it already? There are means also for the increasing of love where it is begun, and means for exciting it where it lieth dull; and must I not use these means, till it is increased and excited? Fall upon the work, till thou art constrained to love; and then love will constrain thee to further duty.
I would not have thee of the judgment of those who think that while they are so backward, it is better let it alone; and that if mere love will not bring them to the duty, the service is worse than the omission: these men un•erstand not, First, that this argument would certainly cashier all spiritual obedience; nor do they understand well the corruptness of their own ⟨p. 372⟩natures; nor that their sinful undisposedness will not suspend the commands of God; not one sin excuse another; especially they little know the way of GOD to excite their affections; and that the love which should compel them, must itself be first compelled, in the same sense as it is said to compel: love I know is a most precious grace, and should have the chief interest in all our duties; but there are means appointed by GOD to procure this love; and shall I not use those means, till I can use them from love? that were to neglect the means, till I have the end. Must I not seek to procure love, till I have it already? There are means also for the increasing of love where it is begun, and means for exciting it where it lieth dull; and must I not use these means, till it is increased and excited? Fall upon the work, till thou art constrained to love; and then love will constrain thee to further duty.