The Saints' Everlasting Rest - Richard Baxter

great business in the world is to glorify God and obtain salvation. Are these
doctrines seen in our practice? or rather, do not our works deny what our
words confess?
But, however our assistance and principles excite us to our work, we are
sure we can never do too much. Could we "do all, we are unprofitable
servants;" much more when we are sure to fail in all. No man can obey or
serve God too much. Though all superstition, or service of our own devising,
may be called a "being righteous over much;" yet, as long as we keep to the
rule of the world, we can never be righteous too much. The world are mad
with malice when they think that faithful diligence in the service of Christ is
foolish singularity. The time is near, when they will easily confess that God
could not be loved or served too much, and that no man can be too earnest to
save his soul. We may easily do too much for the world, but we cannot for
God.
4. Let us further consider that it is the nature of every grace to promote
diligence, that trifling in the way to heaven is lost labor, that much precious
time is already misspent, and that in proportion to our labor will be our
recompense.
See the nature and tendency of every grace. If you loved God, you
would think nothing too much that you could possibly do to serve him and
please him. Love is quick and impatient, active and observant. If you loved
Christ, you would keep his commandments, nor accuse them of too much
strictness. If you had faith, it would quicken and encourage you. If you had
the hope of glory, it would, as the spring in the watch, set all the wheels of
your souls a-going. If you had the fear of God, it would rouse you out of
your slothfulness. If you had zeal, it would inflame, and "eat you up." In
what degree soever thou art sanctified, in the same degree thou wilt be
serious and laborious in the work of God.
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