N17286:837
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.
Secondly, It will make us have rare and unpleasing thoughts of GOD; for our thoughts will follow our love and delight. Did we more delight in GOD than in any thing below, our thoughts would as freely run after him, as they now run from him.
Thirdly, And it will make men have as rare and unpleasing speech of GOD; for who will care for talking of that which he hath no delight in? What makes men still talking of worldliness or wickedness, but that these are more pleasant to them than GOD?
Fourthly, Men will have no delight in the service of GOD, when they have no delight in GOD, nor any sweet thoughts of heaven, which is the end of their services. No wonder if such christians complain, that they are still backward to duty; that they have no delight in prayer, in sacraments, or in scripture itself: if thou couldst once delight in GOD, thou wouldst easily delight in duty; especially that which bringeth thee into the nearest converse with him; but till then, no wonder if thou be weary of all.
Fifthly, This want of heavenly delight will leave men under the power of every affliction; they will have nothing to comfort them, and ease them in their sufferings, but the empty, ineffectual pleasures of the flesh; and when that is gone, where then is their delight?