The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 01 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 01 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
5. Now self-will, as well as pride, is a species of idolatry: and both
are directly contrary to the love of God. The same observation may be
made, concerning _the love of the world_. But this likewise even true
believers are liable to feel in themselves; and every one of them does
feel it, more or less, sooner or later, in one branch or another. It
is true, when he first passes from death unto life, he desires nothing
more but God. He can truly say, _All my desire is unto thee, and unto
the remembrance of thy name. Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there
is none upon earth that I desire beside thee!_ But it is not so always.
In process of time he will feel again, (tho’ perhaps only for a few
moments) either _the desire of the flesh, or the desire of the eye,
or the pride of life_. Nay, if he does not continually watch and pray,
he may find _lust_ reviving, yea, and thrusting sore at him that he
may fall, ’till he has scarce any strength left in him. He may feel
the assaults of _inordinate affection_, yea a strong propensity to
_love the creature more than the Creator_: whether it be a child, a
parent, an husband or wife, or _the friend that is as his own soul_.
He may feel in a thousand various ways, a desire of earthly things or
pleasures. In the same proportion he will forget God, not seeking his
happiness in him, and consequently being a _lover of pleasure more than
a lover of God_.
6. If he does not keep himself every moment, he will again feel _the
desire of the eye_, the desire of gratifying his imagination, with
something great, or beautiful, or uncommon. In how many ways does this
desire assault the soul? Perhaps with regard to the poorest trifles,
such as dress, or furniture: things never designed to satisfy the
appetite of an immortal spirit. Yet how natural is it for us, even
after we _have tasted of the powers of the world to come_, to sink
again into these foolish, low desires of things, that perish in
the using? How hard is it, even for those, who know in whom they
have believed, to conquer but one branch of the desire of the eye,
curiosity? Constantly to trample it under their feet? To desire nothing,
merely because it is new?
7. And how hard is it even for the children of God wholly to conquer
_the pride of life_? St. _John_ seems to mean by this nearly the same
with what the world terms the sense of honour. This is no other than a
desire of and delight in _the honour that cometh of men_: a desire and
love of praise, and (which is always joined with it) a proportionable
_fear of dispraise_. Nearly allied to this is _evil shame_: the being
ashamed of that wherein we ought to glory. And this is seldom divided
from the _fear of man_, which brings a thousand snares upon the soul.
Now where is he even among those that seem strong in faith, who does
not find in himself a degree of all these evil tempers? So that even
these are but in part _crucified to the world_: for the evil root still
remains in their heart.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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