The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 02 (of 32) — John Shaqi
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
8. *But when he is born of God, born of the Spirit, how is the manner
of his existence changed? His whole soul is now sensible of God, and he
can say by sure experience, _Thou art about my bed, and about my path_;
I feel thee _in all my ways_. Thou _besettest me behind and before, and
layest thy hand upon me_. The Spirit or breath of God is immediately
inspired, breathed into the new-born soul. And the same breath, which
comes from, returns to God: as it is continually received by faith,
so it is continually rendered back by love, by prayer, and praise,
and thanksgiving: love and praise and prayer being the breath of every
soul which is truly born of God. And by this new kind of spiritual
respiration, spiritual life is not only sustained, but increased day
by day; together with spiritual strength and motion and sensation. All
the senses of the soul being now awake, and capable of _discerning_
spiritual _good and evil_.
9. *_The eyes of his understanding_ are now _open_, and he _seeth him
that is invisible_. He sees what is _the exceeding greatness of his
power_, and of his love toward them that believe. He sees that God is
merciful to him a sinner; that he is reconciled through the Son of his
love. He clearly perceives both the pardoning love of God, and all his
_exceeding great and precious promises_. God _who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, hath shined_, and doth shine, _in_ his _heart,
to enlighten him with the knowledge of the glory of_ God, _in the face
of_ Jesus Christ. All the darkness is now passed away, and he abides in
the light of God’s countenance.
10. *His ears are now opened, and the voice of God no longer calls in
vain. He hears and obeys the heavenly calling: he _knows the voice of
his Shepherd_. All his spiritual senses being now awakened, he has a
clear intercourse with the invisible world. And hence he knows more and
more of the things which before _it could not enter into his heart to
conceive_. He now knows what the peace of God is: what is joy in the
Holy Ghost: what the love of God which is shed abroad in the hearts of
them that believe in him through _Christ Jesus_. Thus the veil being
removed, which before intercepted the light and voice, the knowledge
and love of God, he who is born of the Spirit, _dwelleth in love,
dwelleth in_ God, _and_ God _in him_.
II. 1. Having considered the meaning of that expression, _whosoever is
born of_ God, it remains in the second place to enquire, in what sense
he _doth not commit sin_.
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