The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 13 (of 32)

Name: The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 13 (of 32)
Author: Wesley, John

Wesley, John

Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century

I RECEIVED my dearest ****’s long letter, and have more and more reason
to be thankful to God on your account. Oh how my soul exults in your
happiness, in your increase in faith, and love to _Christ_!――Your
conversation with the captain delights me; no doubt but he rejoiced
over you――there _you_ see the true christian spirit. The advice he gave
you is excellent: Oh may we be both enabled to follow it! Those who
forsake all _for_ Christ, will certainly find all _in_ Christ.――As to
****, I would advise you to try first, to raise in him a _desire_ to
receive the sacrament, before you persuade him _to receive_ it; and be
earnest at the throne of grace on his behalf. All probable means are
to be made use of, but it is the _Spirit_ of God alone can convince of
sin.――I have been lately a good deal affected with the death of a lady
in this neighbourhood, who led what is called an innocent life. Mr.
**** attended her, and all his endeavours to convince her were in vain:
her answers were, “Though she had not made such a shew of religion as
_some others_, yet she had _done_ her duty.” This is the most fatal
delusion of all; this blindness is the most dreadful state in which a
soul can launch into eternity! Can you and I be ever enough thankful to
that God who has opened our eyes, to see the things which make for our
peace? Was our whole life to be one continued act of praise, it would
be nothing in comparison to the blessings we have received; nay, even
the eternity, which we shall spend in continual _praise_, is not enough
_fully_ to express all we owe to our _redeeming God――Redemption_,
how much is comprehended in this word! And how sweet does it sound
to a soul sensible of its wants! May that pathetic prayer my dear
**** has made for me be heard; then shall I experience that _fulness_
of redemption for which I long! Then shall I indeed be intirely dead
to the world and sin, and live only to Christ. All this unspeakable
happiness, I as sincerely wish to the brother of my soul as to myself;

                   _And am his truly affectionate_,

                                                                 ****

                   *       *       *       *       *


                                  _Sunday Afternoon, March 10, 1754._

_My dear ****_,

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

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

I RECEIVED my dearest ****’s long letter, and have more and more reason
to be thankful to God on your account. Oh how my soul exults in your
happiness, in your increase in faith, and love to _Christ_!――Your
conversation with the captain delights me; no doubt but he rejoiced
over you――there _you_ see the true christian spirit. The advice he gave
you is excellent: Oh may we be both enabled to follow it! Those who
forsake all _for_ Christ, will certainly find all _in_ Christ.――As to
****, I would advise you to try first, to raise in him a _desire_ to
receive the sacrament, before you persuade him _to receive_ it; and be
earnest at the throne of grace on his behalf. All probable means are
to be made use of, but it is the _Spirit_ of God alone can convince of
sin.――I have been lately a good deal affected with the death of a lady
in this neighbourhood, who led what is called an innocent life. Mr.
**** attended her, and all his endeavours to convince her were in vain:
her answers were, “Though she had not made such a shew of religion as
_some others_, yet she had _done_ her duty.” This is the most fatal
delusion of all; this blindness is the most dreadful state in which a
soul can launch into eternity! Can you and I be ever enough thankful to
that God who has opened our eyes, to see the things which make for our
peace? Was our whole life to be one continued act of praise, it would
be nothing in comparison to the blessings we have received; nay, even
the eternity, which we shall spend in continual _praise_, is not enough
_fully_ to express all we owe to our _redeeming God――Redemption_,
how much is comprehended in this word! And how sweet does it sound
to a soul sensible of its wants! May that pathetic prayer my dear
**** has made for me be heard; then shall I experience that _fulness_
of redemption for which I long! Then shall I indeed be intirely dead
to the world and sin, and live only to Christ. All this unspeakable
happiness, I as sincerely wish to the brother of my soul as to myself;

                   _And am his truly affectionate_,

                                                                 ****

                   *       *       *       *       *


                                  _Sunday Afternoon, March 10, 1754._

_My dear ****_,

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 13 (of 32)

The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 13 (of 32)

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