The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 02 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 02 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
6. *Next to these are the good-natured, good sort of men: who live an
easy, harmless life, neither troubling themselves with outward sin, nor
with inward holiness: men who are remarkable neither one way nor the
other; neither for religion nor irreligion: who are very regular both
in public and private; but don’t pretend to be any stricter than their
neighbours. A minister of this kind breaks, not one, or a few only of
the least commandments of God; but all the great and weighty branches
of his law, which relate to the power of godliness: and all that
require us to _pass the time of our sojourning in fear_, to _work
out our salvation with fear and trembling_; to have our _loins always
girt and our lights burning_; to strive or _agonize to enter in at the
strait gate_. And he _teaches men so_, by the whole form of his life,
and the general tenor of his preaching: which uniformly tends to sooth
those in their pleasing dream, who imagine themselves Christians and
are not; to persuade all who attend upon his ministry, to sleep on and
take their rest. No marvel therefore if both he and they that follow
him, wake together in everlasting burnings.
7. *But above all these, in the highest rank of the enemies of the
gospel of _Christ_, are they who openly and explicitly _judge the law_
itself, and _speak evil of the law_: who teach men to break (λῦσαι· to
dissolve, to loose, to untie the obligation of) not one only, whether
of the least, or of the greatest, but all the commandments at a stroke:
who teach, without any cover, in so many words, “What did our Lord
do with the law? He abolished it.” “There is but one duty, which is
that of believing.” “All commands are unfit for our times.” “From any
demand of the law no man is obliged now to go one step, to give away
one farthing, to eat or omit one morsel.” This is indeed carrying
matters with a high hand. This is withstanding our Lord to the face,
and telling him, that he understood not how to deliver the message on
which he was sent. O Lord, lay not this sin to their charge! Father,
forgive them; for they know not what they do!
8. *The most surprizing of all the circumstances, that attend this
strong delusion, is that they who are given up to it really believe,
that they honour _Christ_, by overthrowing his law, and that they are
magnifying his office, while they are destroying his doctrine! Yea,
they honour him just as _Judas_ did, when he _said, Hail, Master, and
kissed him_. And he may as justly say, to every one of them, _Betrayest
thou the Son of man with a kiss_? It is no other than betraying him
with a kiss, to talk of his blood and take away his crown: to set light
by any part of his law, under pretence of advancing his gospel. Nor
indeed can any one escape this charge, who preaches faith in any such
manner, as either directly or indirectly tends, to set aside any branch
of obedience: who preaches _Christ_ so as to disannul, or weaken in any
wise the least of the commandments of God.
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