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
9. Above two years ago, the disorder which occasioned her death began
to be violent. Yet she did not abate her diligence, to support herself
and family, till July 1769. Her pains then so increased, that she had
no ease night or day, only when she slept, which was seldom more than
an hour or two. But notwithstanding this, she could not be prevailed
upon to keep her room before Christmas. From that time she was in
exquisite pain, as tho’ her bowels were tearing asunder. She often said,
_wearisome nights and days are appointed for me_. Yet in the sharpest
pain, she never _charged God foolishly_, or once said, he dealt hardly
with her.
10. During this long confinement, she felt a keen conviction of her
past unfaithfulness, together with a piercing sense of inbred sin.
And on both these accounts, she was often crying out in deep distress,
_God be merciful to me a sinner_. She steddily believed, it was the
privilege of God’s people, always to feel the clear witness of his
spirit. Accordingly she was always, either rejoicing in the Lord, or
deeply distressed for want of it. Even in the severest pain, she was
not satisfied with patience, unless she had joy in the Lord.
11. She often would say, “The devil tells me, the peace I feel is only
stupidity: that I have been an hypocrite all my life, and never was
converted. But I can with confidence answer, this is false. I never
desired to deceive either myself or others. I know the Lord did awaken
my soul, and convert me to himself. And I cannot accuse myself of
lukewarmness in my duty since. I have seldom wilfully missed my class,
or band, or a sermon. Yet the manner in which I often performed those
duties, causes my soul to tremble. My body was present: but often, too
often my mind was engaged in my business. Herein I must plead guilty
before God, and he might justly have cast me out of his presence.”
12. All this time the hand of the Lord was underneath her, and did
not suffer her to sink in the deep waters. Yet she often complained,
“I cannot rejoice in pain,” whereas St. _Paul_ says, _Rejoice in
tribulation_: and that happy soul, _Nancy Rogers_ said, “Every pain is
a spring to my soul, to lift me up to heaven.” I told her, “When you,
like _Nancy_, are near your end, you may triumph over pain also. But
should it be otherwise, your eternal state does not depend on that.”
She cried out, “Nay, but what the scriptures declare, and what others
have experienced, is for _me_.” She did not fear being cast into hell:
yet her distress, at times, was exceeding great. She was vehemently
athirst for full salvation, and often broke out into deep lamentation.
“I am unlike the Lord! When shall I awake up after his full likeness!”
Sometimes she seemed just ready to lay hold on the hope set before her.
But she was checked by a sense of her unprofitableness in the ways of
God: and would often break out, “True Lord, true! I am unprofitable
indeed.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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