N17286:799
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.
4. Lastly, Be sure also to look to thy heart in this, that it cut not off the work before the time, and run not away through weariness, before it have leave. Thou shalt find it exceeding prone to this. Thou mayst easily perceive it in other duties: if in secret thou set thyself to pray, is not thy heart urging thee ⟨p. 373⟩still to cut it short? Dost thou not frequently find a motion to have done? Art thou not ready to be up, as soon almost as thou art down on thy knees? So it will be also in thy contemplations of heaven; as fast as thou gettest up thy heart, it will be down again; it will be weary of the work; it will be minding thee of other business to be done, and stop thy heavenly walk, before thou art well warm. What is to be done in this case also? Why the same authority and resolution which brought it to the work, and observed it in the work, must hold it to it, till the work be done. Stick to the work till thy graces be acted, thy affections raised, and thy soul refreshed with the delights above; or if thou canst not obtain these ends at once, ply it the closer the next time, and let it not go till thou feel the blessing. Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he comes, shall find so doing.
Thus I have directed you in this work of heavenly contemplation, and led you into the path where you may walk with GOD. But because I would bring it down to the capacity of the meanest, and help their memories who are apt to let slip the former particulars, I shall he e contract the whole, and lay it before you in a narrower compass. But still I wish thee to remember, it is the practice of a duty that I am directing thee in, and therefore if thou wilt not practise it, do not read it.
The sum is this, as thou makest conscience of praying daily, so do thou of meditation; and more especially on the joys of heaven. To this end, set apart one hour or half hour every day, wherein thou mayst lay aside all worldly thoughts, and with all possible seriousness and reverence, as if thou wert to speak with GOD himself, or to have a sight of Christ, or of that blessed place; so withdraw thyself into some