The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 05 (of 32) — John Shaqi
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
10. I don’t mean this comparison betwixt people seemingly good and
professed _rakes_ but betwixt people of sober lives. Let us take an
instance in two modest women: let it be supposed that one of them
is careful of times of devotion, thro’ a sense of duty; and that the
other is at church seldom or often, just as it happens. Now it is a
very easy thing to see this difference betwixt these persons. But,
can you find any farther difference betwixt them? Can you find that
their _common life_ is of a different kind? Are not the _tempers_,
and _customs_, and _manners_, of the one, of the same kind as of
the other? Do they live as if they belonged to different worlds, had
different views in their heads, and different rules and measures of
all their actions? Have not they the same _goods_ and _evils_? Are
they not pleased and displeased in the _same manner_, and for the same
things? Do they not live in the same course of life? Does one seem
to be of this world, looking at the things that are temporal, and
the other to be of another world, looking wholly at the things that
are eternal? Does the one live in pleasure, delighting herself in
_shew_ or _dress_, and the other live in _self-denial_, renouncing
every thing that looks like vanity, either of _person_, _dress_, or
_carriage_? Does the one trifle away her time? And does the other
study all the arts of improving it, living in prayer and watching, and
such good works as may make all her time turn to her advantage, and be
placed to her account at the last day? Is the one careless of expence,
and glad to adorn herself with every costly ornament of dress? And
does the other consider her fortune as a talent given her by God,
which is to be improved religiously, and no more to be spent in vain
and needless ornaments than it is to be buried in the earth?
Where must you look, to find one person of religion differing in
this manner from another that has none? And yet if they do not differ
in these things, can it with any sense be said, the one is a _good_
Christian, and the other not?
11. Take another instance among the men. _Leo_ has a great deal of
good nature, has kept what they call _good_ company, hates every thing
that is _false_ and _base_, is very generous to his friends; but has
concerned himself so little with religion, that he hardly knows the
difference betwixt a _Jew_ and a _Christian_.
_Eusebius_, on the other hand, has had early impressions of religion,
and buys books of devotion. He can talk of all the _feasts_ and
_fasts_ of the church, and knows the _names_ of most men that have
been eminent for piety. You never hear him swear, and when he talks
of religion, he talks of it as a matter of great concern.
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