The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 10 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 10 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
5. A third effect of this light was with respect to his commandments,
which I now saw were _not grievous, but right concerning all things_. I
own’d his yoke to be easy, and his burden light. Amidst all temptations
I knew the law was holy, just and good; I perceived too, that it was
exceeding broad, extending even to the lightest motion of the heart.
The duties I was most averse from before were now easy, pleasant, and
refreshing. I saw a peculiar beauty in those laws in particular that
crossed the sins which had the firmest rooting in my temper. None were
so hateful to me; for none did I loathe myself so much; none was I so
glad of a victory over. My mind was continually engaged in contrivances
for their ruin, which formerly, I still sought to spare. And would God
have given me my choice, to have the laws against them blotted out,
he knows I should not have chose it, and that I should have thought his
law less pleasant and less perfect, had these prohibitions been wanting.
I took pleasure in others only so far as there appeared in them any
thing of an humble, self-denying conformity to his law, and had a
fix’d dislike of the least inconformity thereto, either in myself or
others. In a word I saw, that if I could reach holiness I should have
pleasure, and peace, and liberty; that all wisdom’s ways, were ways of
pleasantness; nor was any thing insupportable to me, but that remaining
unsubdued corruption that would not stoop to put its neck under her
yoke.
*6. A fourth effect of it was a right sorrow for sin, flowing from a
deep sense of my ingratitude, to provoke such a God, who had prevented
and still followed me with so much mercy. And this sorrow filled my
heart with love to God, and his way, sweetened my soul, and endeared
God to it. And the more God manifested his kindness, the more it
increased; when he was pacified, I was ashamed and confounded; nor was
it a burdensome, but a sweet and pleasant sorrow, as being the exercise
of filial gratitude. This sense of my unkindness, when kept within,
covered me with blushes; and I was eased, when God allowed me to vent
my sense of it, and to pour it, as it were into his bosom. It was
likewise a spring of activity in the way of duty. I was glad to be
employed in the meanest work, which might shew how deeply sensible I
was of my former disobedience. It was not as my late sorrow, pregnant
with pride, stiffness and unwillingness to suffer any chastisement;
but it humbled, softened the soul, and made it willing to _bear the
indignation of the Lord, since I had sinn’d against him_. In a word, I
was glad when God gave me my measure of it, and grieved when I found it
wanting, and I cried to the Prince exalted for it, as a necessary help
to the obeying his whole law.
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