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
For as sure as Jesus Christ was wisdom and holiness; as sure as he
came to make us like himself, so sure is it, that none keep to their
Christian profession, but they who, to the utmost of their power,
live a wise, and holy, and heavenly life. This, and this alone, is
Christianity; universal holiness in every part of life, a heavenly
wisdom in all our actions, not conforming to the spirit and temper of
the world, but turning all worldly enjoyments into means of piety and
devotion.
18. And if it be the happiness and glory of a _bishop_ to live in this
Spirit, full of these holy tempers, doing every thing as unto God, it
is as much the glory and happiness of all men and women, whether young
or old, to live in the same Spirit. And whoever can find any reasons
why an _ancient bishop_ should be intent upon divine things, turning
all his life into the highest exercises of piety and devotion, will
find them so many reasons why he should, to the utmost of his power,
do the same himself.
If you say that a _bishop_ must be an eminent example of Christian
holiness, because of his high and sacred calling, you say right. But
if you say, that it is more to his advantage to be exemplary, than
it is yours, you greatly mistake. For there is nothing to make the
highest degrees of holiness desirable to a bishop, but what makes them
equally desirable to every _young person_ of every family.
For an exalted piety, and the religious use of every thing, is as much
the glory and happiness of one state of life as it is of another.
*Do but fancy what a spirit of piety you would have in the _best
bishop_ in the world, how you would have him _love_ God, how you would
have him _imitate_ the life of our Saviour and his apostles, how you
would have him live _above_ the world, _shining_ in all the instances
of a _heavenly life_, and then you have found out that Spirit, which
you ought to make the spirit of your own life.
I desire every reader to dwell awhile upon this reflection, and
perhaps he will find more conviction from it than he imagines. Every
one can tell how good and pious he would have some people to be; every
one knows how wise and reasonable a thing it is in a _bishop_, to
be entirely above the world, and be an eminent example of Christian
perfection. As soon as you think of a _wise and ancient bishop_, you
fancy some exalted degree of piety, a living example of all those holy
tempers which you find described in the gospel.
19. Now if you ask yourself, what is the happiest thing for a _young
clergyman_ to do? You must be forced to answer, that nothing can be so
happy and glorious for him, as to be like that excellent, holy bishop.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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