The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 05 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 05 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
Bear him always in your mind; teach your thoughts to reverence him in
every place; for there is no place where he is not.
13. God keepeth a _book_ of life, wherein all the actions of all men
are written; your name is there, my child; and when you die, this book
will be laid open before men and angels; and according as your actions
are there found, you will either be received to the happiness of those
holy men who have died before you, or be turned away among wicked
spirits, that are never to see God any more.
Never forget this book, my son; for it is written, it must be opened,
you must see it, and you must be tried by it. Strive therefore to fill
it with your good deeds, that the hand-writing of God may not appear
against you.
God, my child, is all _love_ and _wisdom_, and _goodness_; and every
thing that he has made, and every action that he does, is the effect
of them all. Therefore you cannot please God, but so far as you
strive to walk in love, wisdom and goodness. As all wisdom, love, and
goodness proceeds from God; so nothing but love, wisdom, and goodness
can lead to God.
When you love that which God loves, you act with him, you join
yourself to him; and when you love what he dislikes, then you oppose
him, and separate yourself from him. This is the true and the right
way; think what God loves, and do you love it with all your heart.
14. First of all, my child, worship and adore God, think of him
magnificently, speak of him reverently, magnify his providence, adore
his power, frequent his service, and pray unto him constantly.
Next to this, love your neighbour, which is all mankind, with such
tenderness and affection as you love yourself. Think how God loves
all mankind, how merciful he is to them, how tender he is of them, how
carefully he preserves them, and then strive to love the world as God
loves it.
God would have all men to be happy, therefore do you _will_ and desire
the same. All men are great instances of divine love, therefore let
all men be instances of your love.
But above all, my son, mark this: never do any thing through strife,
or envy, or emulation, or vain-glory. Never do any thing in order to
excel other people, but in order to please God, and because it is his
will, that you should do every thing in the best manner that you can.
For if it is once a pleasure to you to excel other people, it will
by degrees be a pleasure to you, to see other people not so good as
yourself.
Banish therefore every thought of _pride_ and _distinction_,
and accustom yourself to rejoice in all the excellencies of your
fellow-creatures, and be as glad to see any of their good actions as
your own.
For as God is well pleased with their well-doings, as with yours; so
you ought to desire, that every thing that is wise, and holy, and good,
may be performed in as high a manner by other people, as by yourself.
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