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
5. There is no station of life, nor any period of time, from the hour
of our first repenting and believing the gospel, till we are made
perfect in love, wherein this caution is not needful for every child of
God. For occasions of judging can never be wanting. And the temptations
to it are innumerable: many whereof are so artfully disguised, that we
fall into the sin, before we suspect any danger. And unspeakable are
the mischiefs produced hereby: always to him that judges another: thus
wounding his own soul, and exposing himself to the righteous judgment
of God: and frequently to those who are judged, whose hands hang down,
who are weakened and hindered in their course, if not wholly turned out
of the way, and caused to draw back even to perdition. Yea, how often,
when this _root of bitterness springs up_, are _many defiled thereby_:
by reason whereof the way of truth itself is evil spoken of, and that
worthy name blasphemed whereby we are called.
6. Yet it does not appear, that our Lord designed this caution, only
or chiefly for the children of God: but rather for the children of the
world, for the men who know not God. These cannot but hear of those,
who are not of the world, who follow after the religion above described:
who endeavour to be humble, serious, gentle, merciful and pure in heart;
who earnestly desire such measures of these holy tempers, as they have
not yet attained: and wait for them in doing all good to all men, and
patiently suffering evil. Whoever go but thus far, cannot be hid, no
more than _a city set upon a hill_. And why do not those, who _see_
their _good works, glorify their Father which is in heaven_? What
excuse have they, for not treading in their steps? For not imitating
their example, and being followers of them, as they are also of Christ?
Why, in order to provide an excuse for themselves, they condemn those
whom they ought to imitate. They spend their time in finding out their
neighbour’s faults, instead of amending their own. They are so busied
about others going out of the way, that themselves never come into it
at all: at least, never get forward, never go beyond a poor dead form
of godliness without the power.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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