The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 01 (of 32)

Name: The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 01 (of 32)
Author: Wesley, John

Wesley, John

Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century

11. For indeed, what probability, what possibility rather, (speaking
after the manner of men) is there that _Christianity, Scriptural
Christianity_, should be again the religion of this place? That all
orders of men among us should speak and live as men _filled with the
Holy Ghost_? By whom should this _Christianity_ be restored? By those
of you that are in authority? Are you convinced then, that this is
_Scriptural Christianity_? Are you desirous it should be restored? And
do ye not count your fortune, liberty, life, dear unto yourselves, so
ye may be instrumental in the restoring it? But suppose ye have this
desire, who hath any power proportioned to the effect? Perhaps some of
you have made a few faint attempts, but with how small success? Shall
_Christianity_ then be restored by young, unknown, inconsiderable men?
I know not whether ye yourselves could suffer it. Would not some of you
cry out, “Young man, in so doing thou reproachest us?” But there is no
danger of your being put to the proof; so hath _iniquity overspread us
like a flood_. Whom then shall God send? The famine, the pestilence,
(the last messengers of God to a guilty land) or the sword? _The armies
of the |Romish| aliens_, to _reform_ us into our first love? Nay,
_rather let us fall into thy hand, O Lord, and let us not fall into
the hand of man_.

Lord, save or we perish! Take us out of the mire that we sink not!
O help us against these enemies, for vain is the help of man. Unto
thee all things are possible. According to the greatness of thy power,
preserve thou those that are appointed to die; and preserve us in the
manner that seemeth to thee good; not as we will, but as thou wilt.




                               SERMON V.

                        JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH.

                             ROMANS iv. 5.

  _To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth
    the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness._


1. HOW a sinner may be justified before God, the Lord and judge of
all, is a question of no common importance, to every child of man. It
contains the foundation of all our hope; in as much as while we are
at enmity with God, there can be no true peace, no solid joy, either
in time or in eternity. What peace can there be, while our own heart
condemns us? And much more, he that _is greater than our heart and
knoweth all things_? What solid joy, either in this world or that to
come, while _the wrath of God abideth on us_?

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

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

11. For indeed, what probability, what possibility rather, (speaking
after the manner of men) is there that _Christianity, Scriptural
Christianity_, should be again the religion of this place? That all
orders of men among us should speak and live as men _filled with the
Holy Ghost_? By whom should this _Christianity_ be restored? By those
of you that are in authority? Are you convinced then, that this is
_Scriptural Christianity_? Are you desirous it should be restored? And
do ye not count your fortune, liberty, life, dear unto yourselves, so
ye may be instrumental in the restoring it? But suppose ye have this
desire, who hath any power proportioned to the effect? Perhaps some of
you have made a few faint attempts, but with how small success? Shall
_Christianity_ then be restored by young, unknown, inconsiderable men?
I know not whether ye yourselves could suffer it. Would not some of you
cry out, “Young man, in so doing thou reproachest us?” But there is no
danger of your being put to the proof; so hath _iniquity overspread us
like a flood_. Whom then shall God send? The famine, the pestilence,
(the last messengers of God to a guilty land) or the sword? _The armies
of the |Romish| aliens_, to _reform_ us into our first love? Nay,
_rather let us fall into thy hand, O Lord, and let us not fall into
the hand of man_.

Lord, save or we perish! Take us out of the mire that we sink not!
O help us against these enemies, for vain is the help of man. Unto
thee all things are possible. According to the greatness of thy power,
preserve thou those that are appointed to die; and preserve us in the
manner that seemeth to thee good; not as we will, but as thou wilt.




                               SERMON V.

                        JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH.

                             ROMANS iv. 5.

  _To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth
    the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness._


1. HOW a sinner may be justified before God, the Lord and judge of
all, is a question of no common importance, to every child of man. It
contains the foundation of all our hope; in as much as while we are
at enmity with God, there can be no true peace, no solid joy, either
in time or in eternity. What peace can there be, while our own heart
condemns us? And much more, he that _is greater than our heart and
knoweth all things_? What solid joy, either in this world or that to
come, while _the wrath of God abideth on us_?

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 01 (of 32)

The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 01 (of 32)

No reviews yet