The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 08 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 08 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
And though I be not altogether heavenly; nor so inflamed as the
cherubim and seraphim; I will endeavour after some spark of divine fire,
by humbly receiving of this enlivening sacrament.
And whatsoever is wanting in me, O merciful Jesu, most holy Saviour, do
thou bountifully and graciously supply, who hast vouchsafed to call all
unto thee, Come unto me, all ye that travail and are ♦heavy laden, and
I will refresh you.
♦ “heaven” replaced with “heavy” per Errata
5. I indeed labour in the sweat of my brow, I am vexed with grief of
heart, I am burthened with sin, I am troubled with temptations, I am
entangled and oppressed with many evil passions; and there is none to
help me, none to deliver and save me, but thou O Lord, my Saviour, to
whom I commit myself, and all that is mine, that thou mayst keep me,
and bring me to life everlasting.
CHAPTER V.
_Of the examining our conscience, and purpose of amendment._
_The voice of the Beloved._
ABOVE all things, the minister of God ought to come to celebrate
and receive this sacrament with great humility of heart, and lowly
reverence, and a pious intending the honour of God.
Examine diligently thy conscience; so that there be nothing that may
breed in thee remorse of conscience, and hinder thy free access.
And, if thou hast time, confess unto God in the secret of thy heart,
all the miseries of thy disordered passions.
2. Lament and grieve, that thou art yet so worldly, so unmortified as
to thy passions;
So unwatchful over thy outward senses, so often entangled with vain
imaginations;
So negligent and cold in prayer, so undevout in celebrating, so dry in
receiving;
So quickly distracted, so seldom wholly recollected;
So suddenly moved to anger, so apt to take displeasure against another;
So prone to judge, so severe to reprehend;
*So often purposing much good, and yet performing little.
3. These and other thy defects being confessed, with full resignation,
and with thy whole will, offer up thyself a perpetual sacrifice to the
honour of my name, on the altar of thy heart, faithfully committing thy
body and soul unto me;
That so thou mayst come worthily to celebrate this sacrifice, and to
receive profitably the sacrament of my body.
4. For a man hath no other oblation than to offer himself unto God in
the holy communion.
And whensoever he shall come to Me for pardon and grace, as I live,
saith the Lord, who willeth not the death of a sinner, but rather that
he be converted and live, I will not remember his sins any more, but
they shall all be forgiven him.
CHAPTER VI.
_Of the oblation of Christ on the cross,
and resignation of ourselves._
_The voice of the Beloved._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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