N17286:839
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.
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.
If GOD would persuade you now to make conscience of this duty, and help you in it by the blessed influence of his Spirit, you would not change your lives with the greatest prince on earth. But I am afraid, if I may judge of your hearts by the backwardness of my own, that it will prove a hard thing to persuade you to the work. Pardon my jealousy; it is raised upon too many and sad experiments. What say you? Do you resolve on this heavenly course or no? Will you let go all your sinful pleasures, and daily seek these higher delights? I pray thee, reader, consider of it, and resolve on the work before thou goest further. Let thy family perceive, let thy neighbours perceive, let thy conscience perceive, yea, let GOD perceive it, that thou art a man that hast thy conversation in heaven. GOD hath now offered to be thy daily delight; thy neglect is thy refusal. Take heed what thou dost: refuse this, and refuse all: thou must have heavenly delights, or none that are lasting. GOD is willing thou shouldst daily walk with him, and fetch in consolation from the everlasting fountain: if thou be unwilling, bear the loss; and when thou liest dying, then seek for comfort where thou canst. O how is the unseen GOD neglected, and the unseen glory forgotten! and all for want of that faith which is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things that are not seen.