The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 13 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 13 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
From expounding at the _Malt-room_, I returned the last time, and found
her ready for the Bridegroom. Her every word was full of power, and
life, and love. It was the Spirit of her Father which spoke in her. She
had been wrestling again, and making intercession for the saints, and
all mankind; particularly our own church and nation. Some of her words
were, “Thy judgments are abroad in the earth; O that the inhabitants of
this land may learn righteousness! Grant me, sweet Jesus, that they may
repent and live.” She prayed fervently for the society, that they might
abide in the word, keep close together, and be all of one heart and
mind. There is a curse upon them, (said she) a curse of unthankfulness;
but I have prayed my dear Lord to remove it, and he will remove it.”
When one of her sisters came to see her, who was deeply mourning
for Christ, she laboured much to comfort her, bad her look at her,
so miserable and hopeless an unbeliever lately; and assured her the
Comforter should quickly come. At the sight of her sister’s tears, O
how sweetly did she lament over her! I never saw such sympathy! The
spirit in her mourned like a turtle-dove, and made intercession with
groanings that cannot be uttered.
*All the time of her sickness, she never once complained, or shewed
the least sensibility of pain, or that she had any body at all. When
one asked her if she did not feel her pains, being then in strong
convulsions, she answered, “My pain is great, but I do not feel it. It
does not trouble me. I chuse it rather than ease; for my Lord chuses it.
Pain or ease, life or death, ’tis all one. The Spirit beareth witness
with my spirit, that I am a child of God: I have the earnest of mine
inheritance in my heart. I have no will. I am made perfect in love.”
I asked, whether that peace which she tasted above a year ago, was the
same she now enjoyed? She answered, “It was of the same kind, in the
lowest or first degree. It surely was justification.”
After I went, she said, “This day shall I be with him in paradise.
Within four and twenty hours I shall be with my Beloved.”
*She continued all night in the labour of love, making powerful
supplication for all men. About three on Sunday morning she said, “It
is finished.” All suffering even for others ceased from that moment,
and she began the new song, which shall never end. Her whole employment
now was the same with theirs, to whom she was come, the innumerable
company of angels, the church of the first-born. She sang to the
harpers harps, without any intermission, till two in the afternoon;
even while they were giving her cordials, she sang. Her hope was full
of immortality, her looks of heaven, till with smiles of triumph she
resigned her spirit into the hands of her dear Redeemer. Death wanted
all its pomp and circumstances of horror. She went away without an
agony, or sigh, or groan. She only rested; and sweetly fell asleep in
the arms of Jesus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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