The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 15 (of 32)Wesley, John
History
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 15 (of 32)
Wesley, John
Methodist Church; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century
_Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God_ is, that he would
_gather the outcasts of Israel_. And I doubt not, but when the fulness
of the _Gentiles_ is come in, then _all Israel shall be saved_. But
mean time, is there not great cause that ye should say with _Daniel_,
_O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of
face, as at this day, to the men of Judah, and unto all Israel. O Lord,
we have sinned, we have rebelled against thee, neither have we obeyed
the voice of the Lord our God. Yet O our God, incline thine ear, and
hear; open thine eyes and behold our desolations; for we do not present
our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy
great mercies. O Lord hear! O Lord forgive! O Lord, hearken and do!
Defer not, for thine own sake; for thy city and thy people that are
called by thy name._
15. I cannot conclude without addressing myself to you also, who do
not admit either the _Jewish_ or _Christian_ revelation. But still you
desire to be happy. You own the essential difference between vice and
virtue; and acknowledge, (as did all the wiser _Greeks_ and _Romans_)
that vice cannot consist with happiness. You allow likewise that
gratitude and benevolence, self-knowledge and modesty, mildness,
temperance, patience and generosity, are justly numbered among virtues;
and that ingratitude and malice, envy and ill-nature, pride, insolence
and vanity, gluttony and luxury, covetousness and discontent, are vices
of the highest kind.
Now let us calmly enquire, how far _your_ life is consistent with your
principles.
* You seek happiness. But you find it not. You come no nearer it with
all your labours. You are not happier than you was a year ago. Nay,
I doubt you are more unhappy. Why is this, but because you look for
happiness there, where you own it cannot be found? Indeed, what is
there on earth which can long satisfy a man of understanding? His soul
is too large for the world he lives in. He wants more room.
Æstuat infelix augusto limite Mundi,
Ut brevibus clausus Gyaris, parvaque seripho.
He has already travelled through all which is called pleasure;
diversions and entertainments of every kind. But among these he can
find no enjoyment of any depth; they are empty, shallow, superficial
things: they pleased for a while, but the gloss is gone: and now they
are dull and tasteless. And what has he next? Only the same things
again; for this world affords nothing more. It can supply him with no
change. Go, feed again: but it is upon one dish still. Thus
_Occidit miseros crambe repetita._
Yet what remedy under the sun!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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