The Oxford Methodists : $b Memoirs of the Rev. Messrs. Clayton, Ingham, Gambold, Hervey, and Broughton, with biographical notices of othersTyerman, L. (Luke)
History
The Oxford Methodists : $b Memoirs of the Rev. Messrs. Clayton, Ingham, Gambold, Hervey, and Broughton, with biographical notices of others
“You are pleased to ask, How the Holy Ghost convinced me of
self-righteousness, and drove me out of my false rests? Indeed,
sir, I cannot precisely tell. The light was not instantaneous,
but gradual. It did not flash upon my soul, but arose like the
dawning day. A little book, wrote by _Jenks_, upon Submission
to the Righteousness of God, was made serviceable to me. Your
Journals, dear sir, and Sermons, especially that sweet Sermon
upon ‘What think ye of Christ?’ were a means of bringing me to
a knowledge of the truth. And another excellent piece has been,
and I hope will be, as so much precious eye-salve to my dim and
clouded understanding,—I mean ‘_Marshall’s_ Gospel Mystery of
Sanctification.’
“These,—blessed be He, who is a light to them that sit in
darkness!—have, in some degree, convinced me of my former
errors. I now begin to see, that, I have been labouring in
the fire, and wearying myself for very vanity, while I have
attempted to establish my own righteousness. I trusted I knew
not what, while I trusted in some imaginary good deeds of
my own. These are no hiding-place from the storm. They are
a refuge of lies. If I had the meekness of Moses, and the
patience of Job, the zeal of Paul, and the love of John, I
durst not advance the least plea to everlasting life on this
footing. But as for my own beggarly performances,—wretched
righteousness,—gracious, adorable Emmanuel!—I am ashamed; I
am grieved, that I should thrust them into the place of Thy
Divine, Thy inconceivable precious obedience!
“My schemes are altered. I now desire to work in my blessed
Master’s service, not _for_, but, _from_ salvation. I believe,
that, Jesus Christ, the Incarnate God, is my Saviour; that, He
has done all which I was bound to perform; and suffered all
that I was condemned to sustain; and, so, has procured a full,
final, and everlasting salvation for a poor damnable sinner. I
would now fain _serve_ Him who has _saved_ me. I would glorify
Him before _men_, who has justified me before _God_. I would
study to please Him in holiness and righteousness all the days
of my life. I seek this blessing, not as a _condition_, but,
as a _part_,—a choice and inestimable _part_ of that complete
salvation, which Jesus has purchased for me.
“Now, if at any time, I am fervent in devotion,—seem to be in
a gracious frame,—or am enabled to abound in the works of the
Lord,—I endeavour to put no confidence in these bruised reeds,
but to rest upon the Rock of Ages. Not in these, most blessed
Jesus, but in Thy robes of righteousness, let me be found, when
‘God shall call the heavens from above, and the earth, that, He
may judge His people.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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