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
5. Let us thus endeavour to establish the law in ourselves: not sinning,
_because we are under grace_, but rather using all the power we receive
thereby, _to fulfil all righteousness_. Calling to mind, what light we
received from God, while his Spirit was convincing us of sin, let us
beware we do not put out that light; what we had then attained let us
hold fast. Let nothing induce us to build again what we have destroyed;
to resume any thing, small or great, which we then clearly saw was not
for the glory of God, or the profit of our own soul: or to neglect any
thing, small or great, which we could not then neglect, without a check
from our own conscience. To increase and perfect the light which we
had before, let us now add the light of faith. Confirm we the former
gift of God, by a deeper sense of whatever he had then shewn us; by
a greater tenderness of conscience, and a more exquisite sensibility
of sin. Walking now with joy and not with fear, in a clear, steady
sight of things eternal, we shall look on pleasure, wealth, praise,
all the things of earth, as on bubbles upon the water: counting nothing
important, nothing desirable, nothing worth a deliberate thought, but
only what is _within the veil_, where _Jesus sitteth at the right hand
of God_.
6. Can _you_ say, _Thou art merciful to_ my _unrighteousness: my sins
thou rememberest no more_? *Then for the time to come, see that you fly
from sin, as from the face of a serpent. For how exceeding sinful does
it appear to you now? How heinous above all expression? On the other
hand, in how amiable a light do you now see the holy and perfect will
of God? Now therefore labour that it may be fulfilled, both in you, by
you, and upon you. Now watch and pray that you may sin no more, that
you may see and shun the least transgression of his law. You see the
motes which you could not see before, when the sun shines into a dark
place. In like manner, you see the sins which you could not see before,
now the Sun of Righteousness shines in your heart. Now then do all
diligence to walk in every respect, according to the light you have
received. Now be zealous to receive more light daily, more of the
knowledge and love of God, more of the Spirit of Christ, more of his
life, and of the power of his resurrection. Now use all the knowledge,
and love, and life, and power you have already attained. So shall you
continually go on from faith to faith. So shall you daily increase in
holy love, till faith is swallowed up in sight, and the law of love
established to all eternity.
SERMON XXXVII.
THE NATURE OF ENTHUSIASM.
ACTS xxvi. 24.
_And Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, Thou art beside
thyself._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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