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
10. By this eager love of souls, he was even constrained at the time
we had no preacher among us, himself to exhort, first our own, and then
other societies, _to continue in the grace of God_. But he had many
sharp trials concerning this, fearing he should run before he was sent:
till one day in _May_ last, being in deep distress, he went up into his
room, threw himself down before God, and ceased not to wrestle with him
in prayer, till all his doubts fled away, and he was fully convinced
what was the will of God concerning him.
11. He often complained, that the world was a burthen to him, and
he wanted to be wholly sequestered from it. But God convinced him at
length, this was not right. “I now, said he, see plainly, there is such
a thing as going through any business, and taking all prudent care, yet
so as it shall only pass through our hands, without either troubling or
intangling our hearts.”
12. For some time he was under another mistake. He was even to an
extreme, negligent of his apparel, thinking it was below the character
of a Christian, to have any, the least concern about it. But afterwards
he was clearly convinced, that in this also he had gone too far, and
that a Christian ought even by his outward neatness, to shew forth the
purity of his mind.
13. The last great temptation into which he fell, was that of denying
to the body even what was necessary for its support. Though he worked
hard at his own business, and spent his strength very much, in all the
intervals of his work, in going up and down and exhorting the societies,
he could not be prevailed on to take any cordial, or any thing for the
preserving of his lungs. For a considerable time before he was sick,
he wholly abstained from flesh. And even other victuals he took at his
father’s table, as if he was stealing it; and it seemed by his manner,
as if he seldom or never eat so as to satisfy nature. The error of this
was not shewed him, till a day or two before he was taken ill: when
he was fully convinced, that seeing the body as well as the soul is
committed to our charge, we ought with prudence and moderation to use
all proper means, for preserving the one as well as the other.
14. This temptation, I believe, began and ended, while he walked in
the broad light of God’s countenance: which he enjoyed with little
intermission for two or three months before his last sickness. Indeed
it increased very much toward the period of his life: He saw the
corruptions that remained in his heart. But though they were not
destroyed, yet they were fast bound, so that they could not hurt him.
The only shadow of doubt which he had was this: Whether the peace
he had was not too great, while sin remained? But this was but a few
moments at a time. And “e’er he was aware (he said) his soul flew back
and center’d in God.”
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