The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 09 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 09 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
I HAVE received your moving letter, and could not look over _such_
tender expressions without some commotion. I may confidently say, I
spent more tears upon those lines, than ever you did ink. Your deep
sense of my labours I cannot but thankfully acknowledge, yet withal,
heartily confessing, that all was but what I owed to your immortal
souls; which God knows was very much short of my duty. The omissions,
imperfections, deadness, that accompanied my duties I own, and the Lord
humble me for them. But all that was of God (and that was all that was
good) be sure that you give to God alone. To him I humbly ascribe both
the will and the deed, to whom alone be glory for ever.
*My dear brethren, my business as I have often told you, is not to turn
your eyes to me, but to Christ: his spokesman I am, will you give your
hands, your names to him? Will you subscribe to his laws, and consent
to his offices, and be at defiance with all his enemies? This do, and
I have my errand. Who will follow Christ’s colours? Who will come under
his banner? This shall be the man that shall be my friend; this is he
that will oblige me for ever. Do these letters come to no loose sinner?
No ignorant sinner? No unsound professor? Would they do me a kindness,
as I believe they would? Then let them come away to Christ! O sinner,
be no more in love with darkness; stick no longer in the skirts and
outside of religion. Waver no more, halt no farther, but strike in
throughly with Jesus Christ; except nothing, reserve nothing, but come
throughly to the Lord, and follow him fully. And then happy man thou
shalt be, for thou wilt be made for ever; and joyful man I shall be;
for I shall save a soul from death. The earnest beggings of a poor
prisoner, use to move some bowels: hear O friends, will you do nothing
for a minister of Christ? Nothing for a prisoner of Jesus Christ?
Methinks I hear you answer, “Yea, what will we not do? He shall never
want while we have it; he shall need no office of love, but we will
run and ride to do it.” Yea, but this is not it that I beg of you; will
you gratify me indeed? Then come in, bow to the name of Jesus; yea, let
your souls bow, let all your powers do him homage. Let that sacred name
be graven into the substance of your hearts. Let me freely speak for
him, for he is worthy for whom you shall do this thing; worthy to be
beloved of you; worthy to have your very hearts, worthy to be admired,
adored, praised, served, glorified to the uttermost by you, and every
creature; worthy for whom you should lay down all, leave all: can any
thing be too much for him? Can any thing be too good for him, or too
great for him? Come give up all, resign all, lay it at the feet of
Jesus, offer all as a sacrifice to him, see that you be universally
the Lord’s; keep nothing from him: I know through the goodness of
God, that with many of you this work is not yet to do. But this set
solemn resignation to the Lord is to be done more than once, and to
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account