The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 11 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 11 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
11. Nor was it only in his words but in his actions also, that the
humility of his heart appeared. Since his entire dedication of himself
to God, he would not suffer a cushion to be carried to church for him;
but to be there hid and disregarded, he often mingled himself among
mechanics and mean persons. He kept himself always as much as he could
at the lower end of the church; and frequently, if the door was shut,
said his prayers on the outside of it, that he “might not, as he said,
put any to the trouble of opening it to a poor sinner.”
*12. During the war at _Paris_, he went himself to buy bread for the
poor, and carried through the streets as much as his strength would
permit. At the same time offering to take into his care the church
plate of a monastery, he pressed them to let him carry it to his
lodging, (which was two miles thence) and on foot as he was, a very
large and weighty piece. And being desired that when he did them the
favour to visit them again, he would come in his coach, by reason of
the distance; he answered, “he did not love to make use of a coach,
he must endeavour to make himself in every thing very little.” He went
therefore thither on foot, and returned at five or six, in the shortest
days, sometimes in thawing weather. And being told of the pains he took,
he replied, “Our Lord took pains in a far other manner.”
13. When he was assisting with his own hand in the repairing of one of
his houses, he thus expressed himself:
“Blessed for ever be our great God, by Jesus Christ! I believe I ought
to labour in the lowest employments; and the time I spend therein, I
count very dear, regarding it as ordered by God. What makes me the more
to know it is his order, is this; that from time to time I feel more of
retribution from him in one instant, than the patience and humiliation
of a sinner could merit in all his life. He so opens himself to me,
that I am quite mollified, and melted into tears. My eyes are so full
of them, that often I have much ado to keep them in, pierced as I am
with love, with reverence, and with acknowledgment of his goodness
manifested by his enlightning presence, and of his inexplicable conduct.
I see, we are not, by a spirit of pride, under pretence of the glory
of God, to dispense with ourselves from labouring in things mean and
painful. It was a work very gross and mean for Jesus Christ to converse
with men, who had more of rudeness than these stones I deal with. O
that I may obtain a part in his obedience, and submission to the orders
of God his Father.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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