PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 01 (of 32)
Wesley, John, 1703-1791 · 86,997 words · 130 reading sections
Part 1
Produced by Richard Hulse and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) THE WORKS OF THE Rev. JOHN WESLEY, M. A. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ …
295 wordsSECTION 2VOLUME I.
BRISTOL: Printed by WILLIAM PINE, in _Wine-Street_.…
7 wordsSECTION 3MDCCLXXI.
THE CONTENTS Of the FIRST VOLUME. SERMONS on several Occasions.…
10 wordsSECTION 4SERMON I.
Salvation by Faith. Ephes. ii. 8. _By grace ye are saved through faith._…
14 wordsSECTION 5SERMON II.
The Almost Christian. Acts xxvi. 28. _Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian._…
15 wordsSECTION 6SERMON III.
Ephes. v. 14. _Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light._…
19 wordsSECTION 7SERMON IV.
Scriptural Christianity. Acts iv. 31. _And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost._…
15 wordsSECTION 8SERMON V.
Justification by Faith. Rom. iv. 5. _To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness._…
28 wordsSECTION 9SERMON VI.
The Righteousness of Faith. Rom. x. 5, 6, 7, 8. _Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them._ _But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise. Say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven? That is, to bring Christ down from a…
105 wordsSECTION 10SERMON VII.
Mark i. 15. _The kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel._…
17 wordsSECTION 11SERMON VIII.
The First-Fruits of the Spirit. Rom. viii. 1. _There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit._…
32 wordsSECTION 12SERMON IX.
The Spirit of Bondage and of Adoption. Rom. viii. 15. _Ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again unto fear: but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father._…
35 wordsSECTION 13SERMON X. and XI.
The Witness of the Spirit. Rom. viii. 16. _The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God._…
24 wordsSECTION 14SERMON XII.
The Witness of our own Spirit. 2 Cor. i. 12. _This is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity, and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God; we have had our conversation in the world._…
44 wordsSECTION 15SERMON XIII.
On Sin in Believers. 2 Cor. v. 17. _If any man be in Christ he is a new creature._…
20 wordsSECTION 16SERMON XIV.
The Repentance of Believers. Mark i. 15. _Repent and believe the gospel._…
13 wordsSECTION 17SERMON XV.
The Great Assize. Rom. xiv. 10. _We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ._…
17 wordsSECTION 18SERMON XVI.
The Means of Grace. Malachi iii. 7. _Ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them._ Illustration: (‡ decoration)…
22 wordsSECTION 19SERMONS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
To the READER. 1. I HAVE had a desire for several years, if God should spare me a little longer, to print in one collection, all that I had before published in separate tracts. (I mean all the PROSE, except the _Notes on the Bible_, the _System of Philosophy_, the _Christian Library_, and the _Books_ which were design…
499 wordsSECTION 20THE PREFACE.
_THE following Sermons contain the substance of what I have been preaching, for between eight and nine years last past. During that time I have frequently spoken in public, on every subject in the ensuing collection: and I am not conscious, that there is any one point of doctrine, on which I am accustomed to speak in p…
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6. _I have accordingly set down in the following Sermons, what I find in the Bible concerning the way to heaven; with a view to distinguish this way of God, from all those which are the inventions of men. I have endeavoured to describe the true, the scriptural, experimental religion, so as to omit nothing which is a re…
741 wordsSECTION 22SALVATION BY FAITH.
EPHES. ii. 8. _By grace ye are saved through faith._ 1. ALL the blessings which God hath bestowed upon man are of his mere grace, bounty or favour: his free, undeserved favour; favour altogether undeserved; man having no claim to the least of his mercies. It was free grace that _formed man of the dust of the ground, …
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4. What faith is it then through which we are saved? It may be answered, first, in general, it is a faith in Christ; Christ, and God through Christ, are the proper objects of it. Herein therefore, it is sufficiently, absolutely, distinguished from the faith either of ancient or modern Heathens. And from the faith of a …
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5. Again, through this faith they are saved from the power of sin, as well as from the guilt of it. So the apostle declares, _Ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not._ (chap. iii. 5, &c.) Again, _Little children, let no man deceive you.――He that c…
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3. “But does not preaching this faith lead men into pride?” We answer, accidentally it may. Therefore ought every believer to be earnestly cautioned, (in the words of the great apostle) _Because of unbelief, the first branches were broken off; and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear. If God spared not …
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6. * But this, it is said, is an uncomfortable doctrine. The devil spoke like himself, that is, without either truth or shame, when he dared to suggest to men that it is such. ’Tis the only comfortable one, ’tis _very full of comfort_, to all self-destroyed, self-condemned sinners. That _whosoever believeth on him shal…
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9. For this reason the adversary so rages, whenever _Salvation by Faith_ is declared to the world. For this reason did he stir up earth and hell, to destroy those who first preached it. And for the same reason, knowing that faith alone could overturn the foundations of his kingdom, did he call forth all his forces, and…
275 wordsSECTION 28THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN.
ACTS xxvi. 28. _Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian._ AND many there are who go _thus far_: ever since the Christian religion was in the world, there have been many in every age and nation, who were _almost persuaded to be Christians_. But seeing it avails nothing before God, to go _only thus far_, it highly …
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7. He that hath the form of godliness, uses also the means of grace, yea, all of them, and at all opportunities. He constantly frequents the house of God; and that not as the manner of some is, who come into the presence of the Most High, either loaded with gold and costly apparel, or in all the gaudy vanity of dress; …
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I.) 1. First, The love of God. For thus saith his word, _Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength_. Such a love is this, as engrosses the whole heart, as takes up all the affections, as fills the entire capacity of the soul, and employ…
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6. Now whosoever has this faith, which _purifies the heart_, by the power of God, who _dwelleth therein_, from pride, anger, desire, _from all unrighteousness_, from _all filthiness of flesh and spirit_, which fills it with love stronger than death, both to God and to all mankind; love that doth the works of God, glory…
854 wordsSECTION 32SERMON III.[6]
EPHES. v. 14. _Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light._ IN discoursing on these words, I shall, with the help of God, _First_, Describe the sleepers to whom they are spoken. _Secondly_, Enforce the exhortation, _Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead_. And, _…
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8. This is another character of the sleeper here spoken to. He abides in death, tho’ he knows it not. He is dead unto God, _dead in trespasses and sins_. For, _to be carnally minded is death_. Even as it is written, _by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men_, not only te…
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3. * If I speak to any one of you more than to another, it is to thee, who thinkest thyself unconcerned in this exhortation. _I have a message from God unto thee._ In his name, I _warn_ thee _to flee from the wrath to come_. Thou unholy soul, see thy picture in condemn’d _Peter_, lying in the dark dungeon, between the …
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12. Thou hopest to be saved――but what reason hast thou to give of the hope that is in thee? Is it because thou hast done no harm? Or, because thou hast done much good? Or, because thou art not like other men; but wise, or learned, or honest and morally good? Esteemed of men, and of a fair reputation? Alas, all this wil…
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5. Ye may all be living witnesses of these things: of remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. _If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Who among you is there, that feareth the Lord_, and yet _walketh on in darkness, and hath no light_? I ask thee in the name of Jesus, believest …
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11. * And even among those who have kept themselves pure from these grosser abominations; how much anger and pride, how much sloth and idleness, how much softness and effeminacy, how much luxury and self-indulgence, how much covetousness and ambition, how much thirst of praise, how much love of the world, how much fear…
752 wordsSECTION 38SCRIPTURAL CHRISTIANITY.
Acts iv. 31. _And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost._ 1. THE same expression occurs in the second chapter, where we read, _When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all_ (the apostles, with the women, and the mother of Jesus, and his brethren) _with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a …
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2. This then was the very essence of his faith, a divine ἔλεγχος[16] of the love of God the Father, through the Son of his love, to him a sinner, now _accepted in the Beloved_. And _being justified by faith, he had peace with God_, yea _the peace of God ruling in his heart_: a peace, which _passing all understanding_, …
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8. And as he was deeply sensible of the truth of that word, _without me ye can do nothing_, and consequently, of the need he had to be _water’d_ of God _every moment_; so he _continued daily_ in all the ordinances of God, the stated channels of his grace to man. _In the apostles doctrine_ or teaching, receiving that fo…
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4. They endeavoured herein to speak to every man severally as he had need. To the careless, to those who lay unconcerned in darkness and in the shadow of death, they thundered, _Awake thou that sleepest; arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light_: but to those who were already awakened out of sleep, and gro…
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III. 1. But shall we not see greater things than these? Yea, greater than have been yet from the beginning of the world. Can Satan cause the truth of God to fail, or his promises to be of none effect? If not, the time will come, when _Christianity_ will prevail over all, and cover the earth. Let us stand a little, and …
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6. Thus, where _the Lord omnipotent taketh to himself his mighty power and reigneth_, doth he _subdue all things to himself_; cause every heart to overflow with love, and fill every mouth with praise. _Happy are the people that are in such a case; yea, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God. Arise, shin…
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5. * In the fear then, and in the presence of the great God, before whom both you and I shall shortly appear, I pray you that are in authority over us, whom I reverence for your office sake, to consider, (and not after the manner of dissemblers with God) Are you _filled with the Holy Ghost_? Are ye lively portraitures …
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8. * Many of us are more immediately consecrated to God, called to _minister in holy things_. Are we then patterns to the rest, _in word, in conversation, in charity; in spirit, in faith, in purity_? Is there written on our forehead and on our heart, _Holiness to the Lord_? From what motives did we enter upon this offi…
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11. For indeed, what probability, what possibility rather, (speaking after the manner of men) is there that _Christianity, Scriptural Christianity_, should be again the religion of this place? That all orders of men among us should speak and live as men _filled with the Holy Ghost_? By whom should this _Christianity_ b…
303 wordsSECTION 47JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH.
ROMANS iv. 5. _To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness._ 1. HOW a sinner may be justified before God, the Lord and judge of all, is a question of no common importance, to every child of man. It contains the foundation of all our hope; in…
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7. In this state we were, even all mankind, when _God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end we might not perish but have everlasting life_. In the fulness of time, he was made man, another common head of mankind, a second general parent and representative of the whole human race. And as suc…
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4. * Least of all does justification imply, that God is _deceived_ in those whom he _justifies_; that he thinks them to be what in fact they are not, that he accounts them to be otherwise than they are. It does by no means imply, that God judges concerning us, contrary to the real nature of things: that he esteems us b…
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3. Does then the good Shepherd seek and save only those that are found already? No. He seeks and saves that which is lost. He pardons those who _need_ his pardoning mercy. He saves from the guilt of sin (and at the same time from the power) sinners of every kind, of every degree: men who till then were altogether ungod…
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2. * Faith in general is, a divine, supernatural ἔλεγχος, _evidence_ or conviction _of things not seen_, not discoverable by our bodily senses, as being either past, future or spiritual. Justifying faith implies, not only a divine evidence or conviction, that _God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself_ but …
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6. Surely the difficulty of assenting to this proposition, that faith is the _only condition_ of justification, must arise from not understanding it. We mean thereby thus much, that it is the only thing without which none is justified; the only thing that is immediately, indispensably, absolutely requisite in order to …
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9. * Thou ungodly one, who hearest or readest these words, thou vile, helpless, miserable sinner, I charge thee before God the judge of all, go strait unto him, with all thy ungodliness. Take heed thou destroy not thy own soul, by pleading thy righteousness, more or less. Go as altogether ungodly, guilty, lost, destroy…
239 wordsSECTION 54THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH.
ROM. x. 5, 6, 7, 8. _|Moses| describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise. Say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven? That is, to bring Christ down from above: Or who shall descend …
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3. These were the things which the righteousness of the law required, that he who did them might live thereby. But it farther required, that this entire obedience to God, this inward and outward holiness, this conformity both of heart and life to his will, should be perfect in _degree_. No abatement, no allowance could…
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8. Now this covenant saith not to sinful man “Perform unsinning obedience and live.” If this were the term, he would have no more benefit by all which Christ hath done and suffered for him, than if he was required, in order to life, to _ascend into heaven and bring down Christ from above_: or to _descend into the deep_…
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14. Thus the first covenant required what is now _afar off_ from all the children of men; namely, unsinning obedience, which is far from those who are _conceived and born in sin_. Whereas the second requires what is nigh at hand; as tho’ it should say, Thou art sin: God is love. Thou by sin art fallen short of the glor…
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5. Is it not then the very foolishness of folly, for fallen man to seek life by this righteousness? For man, who was _shapen in wickedness_, and _in sin did his mother conceive him_: man, who is by nature all _earthly, sensual, devilish_, altogether _corrupt and abominable_: in whom till he find grace, _dwelleth no goo…
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III. 1. Whosoever therefore thou art who desirest to be forgiven and reconciled to the favour of God; do not say in thy heart, “I must _first do this_; I must _first_ conquer every sin; break off every evil word and work, and do all good to all men: or, I must _first_ go to church, receive the Lord’s supper, hear more …
878 wordsSECTION 60SERMON VII.
MARK i. 15. _The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel._ THESE words naturally lead us to consider, first, The nature of true religion, here termed by our Lord, _The kingdom of God_, which, saith he, _is at hand_: and secondly, The way thereto, which he points out in those words, _Repent ye, an…
879 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.