The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 03 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 03 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
7. Thus are all men _Atheists in the world_. But Atheism itself does
not screen us from _idolatry_. In his natural state, every man born
into the world is a rank idolater. Perhaps indeed we may not be such in
the vulgar sense of the word. We do not, like the idolatrous Heathens,
worship molten or graven images. We do not bow down to the stock of
a tree, to the work of our own hands. We do not pray to the angels
or saints in heaven, any more than to the saints that are upon the
earth. But what then? We _have set up_ our _idols in_ our _hearts_:
and to these we bow down and worship them: we worship ourselves, when
we pay that honour to ourselves which is due to God only. Therefore all
_pride_ is idolatry: it is ascribing to ourselves what is due to God
alone. And altho’ pride was not made for man, yet where is the man that
is born without it? But hereby we rob God of his unalienable right, and
idolatrously usurp his glory.
8. *But pride is not the only sort of idolatry, which we are all by
nature guilty of. _Satan_ has stamped his own image on our heart in
_self-will_ also. _I will_, said he, before he was cast out of heaven,
_I will sit upon the sides of the north_. I will do my own will and
pleasure, independently on that of my Creator. The same does every man
born into the world say, and that in a thousand instances. Nay, and
avow it too, without ever blushing upon the account, without either
fear or shame. Ask the man, “Why did you do this?” He answers, “Because
I had a mind to it.” What is this but, “Because it was my will;” that
is in effect, because the devil and I are agreed: because _Satan_ and
I govern our actions, by one and the same principle. The will of God
mean-time is not in his thoughts, is not considered in the least degree:
although it be the supreme rule of every intelligent creature, whether
in heaven or earth, resulting from the essential, unalterable relation,
which all creatures bear to their Creator.
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