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
But men of other employments are, in their _particular_ ways, as much
obliged to act as the servants of God, and live wholly unto him in
their several callings.
This is the only difference between clergymen and people of other
callings.
*When it can be shewn, that men may be vain, covetous, sensual,
worldly-minded, or proud in the exercise of their worldly business,
then it will be allowable for _clergymen_ to indulge the same tempers
in their sacred professions. For, tho’ these tempers are most odious
and most criminal in _clergymen_, who, besides their baptismal vow,
have a second time devoted themselves to God, to be his servants, not
in the _common offices_ of life, but in the service of the most _holy_
things; and who are therefore to keep themselves as separate from the
_common_ life of other men, as a _church_ or an _altar_ is to be kept
separate from houses and tables of common use: yet as all Christians
are by their baptism _devoted_ to God, and made professors of holiness;
so are they all in their several callings to live as holy and heavenly
persons; doing everything in their _common_ life only in such a manner,
as it may be received by God, as a service done to him. For things,
spiritual and temporal, sacred and common, must, like _men_ and
_angels_, like _heaven_ and _earth_, all conspire in the glory of God.
4. *As there is but one _God_ and _Father of us all_, whose glory
gives light and life to every thing that lives, whose presence fills
all places, whose power supports all beings, whose providence ruleth
all events; so every thing that lives, whether in _heaven_ or _earth_,
whether they be _thrones_ or _principalities_, _men_ or _angels_, must
all, with one Spirit, live wholly to the praise and glory of this one
God and Father of them all. _Angels_ as _angels_, in their heavenly
ministrations, but _men_ as men, _women_ as women, _bishops_ as
bishops, _priests_ as priests, and _deacons_ as deacons; some with
things _spiritual_, and some with things _temporal_, offering to God
the daily sacrifice of a reasonable life, wise actions, purity of
heart, and heavenly affections.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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