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
31. Together with pride there will naturally arise an unadvisable
and unconvincible spirit. So that into whatever error or fault
the _Enthusiast_ falls, there is small hope of his recovery. For
reason will have little weight with him (as has been justly and
frequently observed) who imagines he is led by an higher guide, by
the immediate wisdom of God. And as he grows in pride, so he must
grow in unadvisableness and in stubbornness also. He must be less and
less capable of being convinced, less susceptible of persuasion; more
and more attached to his own judgment and his own will, ’till he is
altogether fixt and immovable.
32. Being thus fortified both against the grace of God, and against
all advice and help from man, he is wholly left to the guidance of his
own heart, and of the king of the children of pride. No marvel then
that he is daily more rooted and grounded in contempt of all mankind,
in furious anger, in every unkind disposition, in every earthly and
devilish temper. Neither can we wonder at the terrible outward effects,
which have flowed from such dispositions in all ages: even all manner
of wickedness, all the works of darkness, committed by those who called
themselves Christians, while they wrought with greediness such things,
as were hardly named even among the Heathens.
Such is the nature, such the dreadful effects, of that many-headed
monster _Enthusiasm_! From the consideration of which, we may now draw
some plain inferences, with regard to our own practice.
33. And, first, If _Enthusiasm_ be a term, tho’ so frequently used, yet
so rarely understood, take _you_ care, not to talk of you know not what,
not to use the word, till you understand it. As in all other points,
so likewise in this, learn to think before you speak. First, know the
meaning of this hard word; and then use it, if need require.
34. But if so few, even among men of education and learning, much more
among the common sort of men, understand this dark, ambiguous word,
or have any fixt notion of what it means: then, secondly, Beware of
judging or calling any man an _Enthusiast_ upon common report. This
is by no means a sufficient ground, for giving any name of reproach to
any man: least of all is it a sufficient ground, for so black a term
of reproach as this. The more evil it contains, the more cautious you
should be, how you apply it to any one: to bring so heavy an accusation
without full proof, being neither consistent with justice nor mercy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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