N17286:838
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.
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?
Sixthly, It will make them fearful and unwilling to die: for who would go to a GOD, or a place that he hath no delight in? Or who would leave his pleasure here, except it were to go to better? But if men take delight in GOD whilst they live, they will not tremble at the tidings of death.