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
12. But let it be supposed, that they continually _watch and pray_,
and so do _not enter into this temptation_; that they constantly set a
watch before their mouth, and keep the door of their lips: suppose they
exercise themselves herein, that _all_ their _conversation may be in
grace seasoned with salt, and meet to minister grace to the hearers_:
yet do they not daily slide into useless discourse, notwithstanding all
their caution? And even when they endeavour to speak for God, are their
words pure, free from unholy mixtures? Do they find nothing wrong in
their very _intention_? Do they speak merely to please God, and not
partly to please themselves? Is it wholly, to do the will of God, and
not their own will also? Or, if they begin with a single eye, do they
go on _looking unto Jesus_, and talking with him all the time they are
talking with their neighbour? When they are reproving sin, do they feel
no anger or unkind temper to the sinner? When they are instructing the
ignorant, do they not find any pride, any self-preference? When they
are comforting the afflicted, or provoking one another to love and to
good works, do they never perceive any inward self-commendation, “Now
you have spoke well?” Or any vanity, a desire that others should think
so, and esteem them on the account? In some or all of these respects,
how much sin _cleaves_ to the best conversation even of believers? The
conviction of which is another branch of the repentance which belongs
to them that are justified.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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