The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 06 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 06 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
* There is therefore a _Catholic_ spirit, a _communion of saints_ in
the love of God and all goodness, which no one can learn from that
which is called orthodoxy in particular churches. It is only to be had
by a total dying to all worldly views, by a pure love of God, and by
such an unction from above, as delivers the mind from all selfishness,
and makes it love truth and goodness with an equality of affection
in every man, whether he be _Christian_, _Jew_, or _Gentile_. He that
would obtain this divine spirit in this disordered state of things, and
live in a divided part of the church, without partaking of its division,
must have these three truths deeply fixed in his mind: _first_, that
universal love, which gives the whole strength of the heart to God, and
makes us love every man as we love ourselves, is the noblest, the most
God-like state of the soul, and the utmost perfection to which the most
perfect religion can raise us; and that no religion does any man any
good, but so far as it brings this love into him. This will shew us,
that true orthodoxy can no where be found, but in a pure disinterested
love of God and our neighbour. _Secondly_, That in the present divided
state of the church, truth itself is torn and divided asunder; and that
therefore he is the only true Catholic, who has more of truth, and less
of error, than is hedged in by any divided part. This truth will enable
us to live in a divided part, _unhurt_ by its division, and keep us in
a true liberty and fitness to be assisted by all the good that we hear
or see in any other part of the church. And thus uniting in heart and
spirit with all that is holy and good in all churches, we enter into
the true _communion of saints_, and become real members of the holy
Catholic church, tho’ we use the outward worship of only one part of it.
It is thus, that the angels, as ministring spirits, assist, unite and
co-operate with every thing that is holy and good, in every division of
mankind. _Thirdly_, he must always have in mind this great truth, that
it is the glory of the divine justice to have no respect of parties or
persons, but to stand equally disposed to that which is right and wrong,
in _Jew_ and _Gentile_. He therefore that would like as God likes,
and condemn as God condemns, must have neither the eyes of the Papist
nor the Protestant; he must like no truth the less because _Ignatius
Loyola_ or _John Bunyan_ were very zealous for it; nor have the less
aversion to any error, because Dr. _♦Trapp_ or _George Fox_ had brought
it forth. Now if this impartial justice, is the spirit which will judge
the world at the last day, how can this spirit be too soon or too much
in us? Or what can do us more hurt than that which is an hindrance
of it? When I was a young scholar of the university, I heard a great
religionist say, that if he could believe the late _king of France_ was
in heaven, he could not wish to go thither himself. This was exceeding
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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