The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 14 (of 32)Wesley, John
Religion
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 14 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
“The Holy Ghost sat upon each of them, like as it had been cloven
tongues of fire: to teach, that it is he which _giveth eloquence and
utterance_ in preaching the gospel; which engendereth a burning _zeal_
towards God’s word, and giveth all men _a tongue_, yea, a fiery tongue.”
(_N. B._ Whatever occurs in any of the journals, of God’s “giving me
utterance,” or “enabling me to speak _with power_,” cannot therefore
be quoted as _enthusiasm_, without wounding the church through my
side) “So that if any man be a dumb Christian, not professing his faith
openly, he giveth men occasion to doubt, least he have not the grace of
the Holy Ghost within him.” _Homily on Whitsunday._ Part I.
“It is the office of the Holy Ghost to sanctify; which the more it
is hid from our understanding” (_i. e._ the particular manner of his
working) “the more it ought to move all men, to wonder at the secret
and mighty workings of God’s Holy Spirit which is within us, for it
is the Holy Ghost that doth _quicken_ the minds of men, _stirring up_
godly motions in their hearts. Neither doth he think it sufficient
inwardly to work the new birth of man, unless he do also dwell and
abide in him. _Know ye not_, saith St. _Paul_, _that ye are the temple
of |God|, and that his Spirit dwelleth in you? Know ye not that your
bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you?_ Again he
saith, _Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit_, For why? _The
Spirit of God dwelleth in you_. To this agreeth St. _John_. _The
anointing which ye have received_ (he meaneth the Holy Ghost) _abideth
in you_.¹ And St. _Peter_ saith the same, _The Spirit of glory and of
God resteth upon you_. O what comfort is this to the heart of a true
Christian, to think that the Holy Ghost dwelleth in him! _If |God|
be with us_, as the apostle saith, _who can be against us_? He giveth
patience and joyfulness of heart, in temptation and affliction, and is
therefore worthily called _the Comforter_². He doth instruct the hearts
of the simple, in the knowledge of God and his word; therefore he is
justly termed _The Spirit of truth_³. And where the Holy Ghost doth
instruct and teach, there is no delay at all in learning.” _ibid._
¹ _1 John ii. 27._
² _John xiv. 16._
³ _John xvi. 13._
(From this passage I learn, 1. That every true Christian now _receives
the Holy Ghost_, as _the Paraclete_ or _Comforter_ promised by our Lord,
_John xiv. 13._ Secondly, that every Christian receives him as _the
Spirit of truth_ (promised _John xvi._) to _teach him all things_: and
3. That _the anointing_ mentioned in the first epistle of St. _John_,
_abides in every Christian_.)
26. “In reading of God’s word, he profiteth most, that is most
_inspired_ with the Holy Ghost.” _Homily on reading the scripture._
Part I.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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