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. Now weep for your sins, and mourn after God till he turns your
heaviness into joy. And even then weep with them that weep: and for
them that weep not for themselves. Mourn for the sins and miseries
of mankind: and see, but just before your eyes, the immense ocean of
eternity, without a bottom or a shore; which has already swallowed
up millions of millions of men, and is gaping to devour them that yet
remain. See here the house of God, eternal in the heavens; there, hell
and destruction without a covering. And thence learn the importance of
every moment, which just appears, and is gone for ever!
8. Now add to your seriousness, meekness of wisdom. Hold an even scale
as to all your passions, but in particular, as to anger, sorrow and
fear. Calmly acquiesce in whatsoever is the will of God. Learn in
every state wherein you are, therewith to be content. Be mild to the
good: be gentle toward all men; but especially toward the evil and the
unthankful. Beware not only of outward expressions of anger, such as
calling thy brother _Raca_, or thou fool! but of every inward emotion
contrary to love, tho’ it go no farther than the heart. Be angry at sin,
as an affront offered to the Majesty of heaven; but love the sinner
still: like our Lord, who _looked round about upon_ the Pharisees _with
anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts_. He was grieved
at the sinners, angry at the sin. Thus _be_ thou _angry and sin not_.
9. *Now do thou hunger and thirst, not for _the meat that perisheth,
but for that which endureth unto everlasting life_. Trample under
foot the world and the things of the world: all these riches, honours,
pleasures. What is the world to thee? Let the dead bury their dead:
but follow thou after the image of God. And beware of quenching that
blessed thirst, if it is already excited in thy soul, by what is
vulgarly called religion, a poor, dull farce, a religion of form, of
outside show, which leaves the heart still cleaving to the dust, as
earthly and sensual as ever. Let nothing satisfy thee but the power of
godliness, but a religion that is spirit and life; the dwelling in God
and God in thee; the being an inhabitant of eternity; the entering in
by the blood of sprinkling _within the veil_, and _sitting in heavenly
places with Christ Jesus_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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