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
4. And as he knows _all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of
him with whom we have to do_, so he sees himself, naked, stript of all
the fig-leaves which he had sewed together, of all his poor pretences
to religion or virtue, and his wretched excuses for sinning against
God. He now sees himself, like the ancient sacrifices, τετραχηλισμένον,
cleft in sunder, as it were, from the neck downward, so that all within
him stands confest. His heart is bare, and he sees it is all sin,
_deceitful above all things, desperately wicked_; that it is altogether
corrupt and abominable, more than it is possible for tongue to express:
that there dwelleth therein no good thing, but unrighteousness and
ungodliness only; every motion thereof, every temper and thought, being
only evil continually.
5. And he not only sees, but feels in himself, by an emotion of soul
which he cannot describe, that for the sins of his heart, were his life
without blame, (which yet it is not, and cannot be: seeing _an evil
tree cannot bring forth good fruit_) he deserves to be cast into _the
fire that never shall be quenched_. He feels, that the _wages_, the
just reward _of sin_, of his sin above all, _is death_; even the second
death, the death which dieth not, the destruction of body and soul in
hell.
6. * Here ends his pleasing dream, his delusive rest, his false peace,
his vain security. His joy now vanishes as a cloud: pleasures, once
loved delight no more. They pall upon the taste; he loaths the nauseous
sweet; he is weary to bear them. The shadows of happiness flee away,
and sink into oblivion. So that he is stript of all, and wanders to and
fro, seeking rest, but finding none.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account