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. But some may possibly ask, Does not the apostle say, [31]_This is
the love of_ God, _that we keep his commandments_? Yea; and this is
the love of our neighbour also, in the same sense as it is the love
of God. But what would you infer from hence? That the keeping the
outward commandments is all that is implied in loving God with all
your heart, with all your mind, and soul, and strength, and in loving
your neighbour as yourself? That the love of God is not an affection
of the soul, but merely an _outward service_? And that the love of
our neighbour is not a disposition of heart, but barely a course of
_outward works_! To mention so wild an interpretation of the apostle’s
words, is sufficiently to confute it. The plain indisputable meaning of
that text is, _This is the_ sign or proof of the _love of_ God, of our
keeping the first and great commandment, to keep all the rest of his
commandments. For true love, if it be once shed abroad in our heart,
will constrain us so to do: since whosoever loves God with all his
heart, cannot but serve him with all his strength.
5. A second fruit then of the love of God, (so far as it can be
distinguished from it) is universal obedience to him we love, and
conformity to his will: obedience to all the commands of God, internal
and external: obedience of the heart and of the life, in every
temper, and in all manner of conversation. And one of the tempers most
obviously implied herein is, the being _zealous of good works_; the
hungring and thirsting to do good, in every possible kind, unto all
men; the rejoicing to _spend and be spent for them_, for every child
of man, not looking for any recompence in this world, but only in the
resurrection of the just.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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