PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 02 (of 32)
Wesley, John, 1703-1791 · 88,451 words · 121 reading sections
Part 1
THE WORKS OF THE Rev. JOHN WESLEY ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Transcriber’s Notes │ │ │ │ …
248 wordsSECTION 2VOLUME II.
BRISTOL: Printed by WILLIAM PINE, in _Wine-Street_ MDCCLXXI. THE CONTENTS Of the SECOND VOLUME. SERMONS on several Occasions.…
18 wordsSECTION 3SERMON ♦XVII. The Circumcision of the Heart.
Rom. ii. 29. _Circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit and not in the letter._…
18 wordsSECTION 4SERMON XVIII. The Marks of the New Birth.
John iii. 8. _So is every one that is born of the Spirit._…
14 wordsSECTION 5SERMON XIX. The great Privilege of those that are born of God.
1 John iii. 9. _Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin._…
14 wordsSECTION 6SERMON XX. The Lord our Righteousness.
Jer. xxiii. 6. _This is his name whereby he shall be called_, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.…
16 wordsSECTION 7DISCOURSE X. Matt. vii. 1‒12.
Illustration: (‡ decoration)…
2 wordsSECTION 8SERMON XVII.[1]
THE CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART. ROM. ii. 29. _Circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter._ 1. ’TIS the melancholly remark of an excellent man, that “He who now preaches the most essential duties of Christianity, runs the hazard of being esteemed by a great part of his hearers, _a setter for…
805 wordsSECTION 9Part 9
4. A sure effect of our having formed this right judgment, of the sinfulness and helplessness of our nature, is a disregard of that _honour which cometh of man_, which is usually paid to some supposed excellency in us. He who knows himself, neither desires nor values the applause which he knows he deserves not. It is t…
762 wordsSECTION 10Part 10
9. Those who are thus by faith _born of God_, have also _strong consolation through hope_. This is the next thing which the _circumcision of the heart_ implies; even the testimony of their own spirit, with the Spirit which witnesses in their hearts, that they are the children of God. Indeed it is the same Spirit who wo…
715 wordsSECTION 11Part 11
12. *Not that this forbids us to love any thing besides God: It implies, that we _love our brother also_. Nor yet does it forbid us (as some have strangely imagined) to take pleasure in any thing but God. To suppose this, is to suppose the Fountain of holiness, is directly the author of sin: since he has inseparably an…
915 wordsSECTION 12Part 12
3. *It were to be wished, that they were better acquainted with this faith, who employ much of their time and pains, in laying another foundation; in grounding religion, on “the eternal _fitness_ of things,” on “the intrinsic _excellence_ of virtue,” and the _beauty_ of actions flowing from it: on the _reasons_, as the…
870 wordsSECTION 13Part 13
9. To as little purpose does he talk of _fighting the fight of faith_, as vainly hope to attain the crown of incorruption (as we may, lastly, infer from the preceding observations) whose heart is not circumcised by love. Love cutting off both the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, engaging t…
502 wordsSECTION 14SERMON XVIII.
THE MARKS OF THE NEW BIRTH. JOHN iii. 8. _So is every one that is born of the Spirit._ 1. HOW is every one that is _born of the Spirit_? That is _born again_? _Born of_ God? What is meant by the being _born again_? The being _born of_ God? Or, being _born of the Spirit_? What is implied in, The being a _son_ or a _ch…
772 wordsSECTION 15Part 15
4. An immediate and constant fruit of this faith, whereby we are born of God, a fruit which can in no wise be separated from it, no not for an hour, is power over sin: power over outward sin, of every kind; over every evil word and work; for wheresoever the blood of _Christ_ is thus applied, it _purgeth the conscience …
784 wordsSECTION 16Part 16
7. Another fruit of this living faith is peace. For [11]_being justified by faith_, having all our sins blotted out, _we have peace with_ God, _through our_ Lord Jesus Christ. This indeed our Lord himself, the night before his death, solemnly bequeathed to all his followers. [12]_Peace_, saith he, _I leave with you_; (…
854 wordsSECTION 17Part 17
5. And thus is the scripture fulfilled, _Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted_. For ’tis easy to believe, that though sorrow may precede this witness of God’s Spirit with our spirit, (indeed _must_, in some degree, while we groan under fear, and a sense of the wrath of God abiding on us) yet as soon…
760 wordsSECTION 18Part 18
3. The necessary fruit of this love of God, is the love of our neighbour, of every soul which God hath made; not excepting our enemies, not excepting those who are now _despitefully using and ♦persecuting us_: a love, whereby we love every man _as ourselves_, as we love our own souls. Nay, our Lord has expressed it sti…
794 wordsSECTION 19Part 19
2. Who then are ye that are thus born of God? Ye _know the things which are given to you of_ God. Ye well know, that ye are the children of God, and _can assure your hearts before him_. And every one of you who has observed these words, cannot but feel and know of a truth, whether at this hour, (answer to God and not t…
889 wordsSECTION 20SERMON XIX.
THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF THOSE THAT ARE BORN OF GOD. 1 JOHN iii. 9. _Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin._ 1. IT has been frequently supposed, that the being born of God was all one with the being justified; that the new birth and justification were only different expressions, denoting the same thing: it bein…
837 wordsSECTION 21Part 21
*His eyes are now opened to perceive the light, which silently flowing in upon them, discovers not only itself, but an infinite variety of things, with which before he was wholly unacquainted. His ears are unclosed, and sounds rush in, with endless diversity. Every sense is employed upon such objects as are peculiarly …
849 wordsSECTION 22Part 22
*Now one who is so born of God as hath been above described, who continually receives into his soul the breath of life from God, the gracious influence of his Spirit, and continually renders it back: one who thus believes and loves; who by faith perceives the continual actings of God upon his spirit; and by a kind of s…
778 wordsSECTION 23Part 23
6. An instance more astonishing than both these is given by St. _Paul_ in his epistle to the _Galatians_. _When_ Peter, the zealous, the first of the apostles; one of the three most highly favoured by his Lord; _was come to_ Antioch, _I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain cam…
888 wordsSECTION 24Part 24
10. To explain this by another instance. The apostle _Peter_ was full of faith and of the Holy Ghost; and hereby keeping himself, he had a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man. Walking thus in simplicity and godly sincerity, _before that certain came from_ James, _he did eat with the Gentiles_, knowing…
830 wordsSECTION 25Part 25
4. Let us learn, lastly, to follow that direction of the great apostle, _Be not high-minded, but fear_. Let us fear sin, more than death or hell. Let us have a jealous (though not painful) fear, lest we should lean to our own deceitful hearts. _Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall._ Even he who now standeth fas…
147 wordsSECTION 26SERMON XX.
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. JEREMIAH xxiii. 6. _This is his name, whereby he shall be called_, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 1. HOW dreadful, and how innumerable are the contests, which have arisen about religion? And not only among the children of this world, among those who knew not what true religion was: but even a…
871 wordsSECTION 27Part 27
And I. What is the righteousness of Christ? It is twofold, either his divine or his human righteousness. 1. His divine righteousness belongs to his divine nature, as he is Ὁ ὠν. _He that existeth, over all_, God, _blessed for ever_: the supreme, the eternal: “Equal with the Father, as touching his godhead, tho’ inferi…
828 wordsSECTION 28Part 28
3. We may go a step farther yet. Men may differ from us, in their opinions as well as their expressions, and nevertheless be partakers with us, of the same precious faith. ’Tis possible they may not have a _distinct apprehension_, of the very blessing which they enjoy. Their _ideas_ may not be so _clear_, and yet their…
905 wordsSECTION 29Part 29
9. This is more largely and particularly expressed in the Treatise on Justification, which I published last year. “If we take the phrase of _imputing Christ’s righteousness_, for the bestowing (as it were) the righteousness of Christ, including his obedience, as well passive as active in the return of it; that is, in t…
761 wordsSECTION 30Part 30
14. I therefore no more deny the righteousness of Christ, than I deny the godhead of Christ. And a man may full as justly charge me with denying the one as the other. Neither do I deny _imputed righteousness_: this is another unkind and unjust accusation. I always did, and do still continually affirm, That the righteou…
800 wordsSECTION 31Part 31
19. In the mean time, what we are afraid of is this; lest any should use the phrase, “The righteousness of Christ,” or, “The righteousness of Christ is _imputed to me_,” as a cover for his unrighteousness. We have known this done a thousand times. A man has been reproved, suppose, for drunkenness. “O, said he, I preten…
524 wordsSECTION 32Part 32
I would, secondly, add a few words, to you who are fond of these expressions. And permit me to ask, Do not I allow enough? What can any reasonable man desire more? I allow the whole _sense_ which you contend for: that we have every blessing _through the righteousness of God our Saviour_. I allow _you_ to use whatever e…
476 wordsSECTION 33SERMON XXI.
UPON OUR LORD’S SERMON ON THE MOUNT. DISCOURSE I. MATT. v. 1, 2, 3, 4. _And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain; and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that…
757 wordsSECTION 34Part 34
4. And hence we are naturally led to observe, whom it is that he is here teaching? Not the apostles alone; if so, he had no need to have gone _up into_ the _mountain_. A room in the house of _Matthew_, or any of his disciples, would have contained the twelve. Nor does it in any wise appear, that the _disciples_ who _ca…
902 wordsSECTION 35Part 35
8. Above all, with what amazing love does the Son of God, here reveal his Father’s will to man! He does not bring us _again to the mount that burned with fire, nor unto blackness and darkness and tempest_. He does not speak as when he _thundered out of heaven; when the Highest gave his thunder, hail-stones and coals of…
784 wordsSECTION 36Part 36
3. Some have judged, that by the _poor in spirit_ here, are meant, those who love poverty; those who are free from covetousness; from the love of money; who fear, rather than desire riches. Perhaps they have been induced so to judge, by wholly confining their thought to the very term; or by considering that weighty obs…
784 wordsSECTION 37Part 37
6. But what shall he give in exchange for his soul, which is forfeited to the just vengeance of God? _Wherewithal shall he come before the_ Lord? How shall he pay him that he oweth? Were he from this moment to perform the most perfect obedience to every command of God, this would make no amends for a single sin, for an…
859 wordsSECTION 38Part 38
11. This is that _kingdom of heaven or of_ God which _is within_ us, even _righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost_. And what is righteousness, but the life of God in the soul: the mind which was in _Christ Jesus_: the image of God stampt upon the heart, now renewed after the likeness of him that created it? …
801 wordsSECTION 39Part 39
2. Not that we can imagine this promise belongs to those, who mourn only on some worldly account: who are in sorrow and heaviness, merely on account of some worldly trouble or disappointment; such as the loss of their reputation, or friends; or the impairing of their fortune. As little title to it have they who are aff…
747 wordsSECTION 40Part 40
5. This whole process, both of mourning for an absent God, and recovering the joy of his countenance, seems to be shadowed out in what our Lord spoke to his apostles, the night before his passion. [55]_Do ye enquire of that I said, a little while and ye shall not see me, and again a little while and ye shall see me? Ve…
838 wordsSECTION 41SERMON XXII.
UPON OUR LORD’S SERMON ON THE MOUNT. DISCOURSE II. MATT. v. 5, 6, 7. _Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy._ I. 1. WHEN _the winter is past_, when _the t…
879 wordsSECTION 42Part 42
8. Our Lord here ranks under the head of murder, even that anger which goes no farther than the heart; which does not shew itself by any outward unkindness; no, not so much as a passionate word. _Whosoever is angry with his brother_, with any man living, seeing we are all brethren, whosoever feels any unkindness in hi…
828 wordsSECTION 43Part 43
12. *Mean time _the meek shall inherit the earth_. Such is the foolishness of worldly wisdom! The wise of the world had warned them again and again, “That if they did not resent such treatment, if they would tamely suffer themselves to be thus abused, there would be no living for them upon earth; that they would never …
620 wordsSECTION 44Part 44
3. _Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after_ this: in order fully to understand which expression, we should observe, first, That hunger and thirst are the strongest of all our bodily appetites. In like manner this hunger in the soul, this thirst after the image of God, is the strongest of all our spiritual ♦appe…
743 wordsSECTION 45Part 45
6. *Whosoever then thou art, to whom God hath given to _hunger and thirst after righteousness_, cry unto him that thou mayest never lose that inestimable gift, that this divine appetite may never cease. If many rebuke thee, and bid thee hold thy peace, regard them not, yea, cry so much the more, _Jesus, Master, have me…
778 wordsSECTION 46Part 46
6. Love οὐ περπερεύεται· Not _vaunteth not itself_, which co-incides with the very next words, but rather (as the word likewise properly imports) _is not rash_ or _hasty_ in judging. It will not hastily condemn any one. It does not pass a severe sentence, on a slight or sudden view of things. It first weighs all the ev…
699 wordsSECTION 47Part 47
’Tis not improbable, that our translators inserted that word, as it were to _excuse_ the apostle; who, as they supposed, might otherwise appear to be wanting, in the very love which he so beautifully describes. They seem to have supposed this from a phrase in the _Acts of the apostles_: which is likewise very inaccurat…
776 wordsSECTION 48Part 48
14. *This love _covereth all things_. (So without all doubt πάντα στέγει should be translated: for otherwise it would be the very same with πάντα ὑπομένει. _endured all things_.) Because the merciful man _rejoiceth not in iniquity_, neither does he willingly make mention of it. Whatever evil he sees, hears, or knows, h…
876 wordsSECTION 49Part 49
So shall _the merciful obtain mercy_: not only by the blessing of God, upon all their ways, by his now repaying the love they bear to their brethren, a thousand fold into their own bosom: but likewise by _an exceeding and eternal weight of glory_, in the _kingdom prepared for them from the beginning of the world_. 18.…
600 wordsSECTION 50SERMON XXIII.
UPON OUR LORD’S SERMON ON THE MOUNT. DISCOURSE III. MATT. v. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. _Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness-sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed a…
837 wordsSECTION 51Part 51
5. Nor may marriage itself, holy and honourable as it is, be used, as a pretence for giving a loose to our desires. Indeed, _It hath been said, Whosoever will put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement_. And then all was well, tho’ he alledged no cause, but that he did not like her; or liked another b…
855 wordsSECTION 52Part 52
[62]_I say unto you, swear not at all: neither by heaven, for it is_ God’s _throne_. And therefore this is the same as to swear by him, who sitteth upon the circle of the heavens: [63]_nor by the earth: for it is his footstool_; and he is as intimately present in earth as heaven: _neither by Jerusalem, for it is the ci…
824 wordsSECTION 53Part 53
3. Hence we may easily learn, in how wide a sense, the term, _peace-makers_ is to be understood. In its literal meaning it implies, those lovers of God and man, who utterly detest and abhor all strife and debate, all variance and contention: and accordingly labour with all their might, either to prevent this fire of he…
851 wordsSECTION 54Part 54
7. Blessed are they who are thus continually employed, in the work of faith and the labour of love. _For they shall be called_, that is, _shall_ be (a common hebraism) _the children of_ God. God shall continue unto them the Spirit of adoption, yea, shall pour it more abundantly into their hearts. He shall bless them wi…
772 wordsSECTION 55Part 55
“If they would but keep their religion to themselves, it would be tolerable. But it is this spreading their errors, this infecting so many others, which is not to be endured. They do so much mischief in the world, that they ought to be tolerated no longer. It is true, the men do some things well enough; they relieve so…
852 wordsSECTION 56Part 56
6. But it is seldom God suffers the storm to rise so high, as torture or death or bonds or imprisonment. Whereas his children are frequently called to endure those lighter kinds of persecution; they frequently suffer the estrangement of kinsfolks; the loss of the friends that were as their own soul. They find the truth…
818 wordsSECTION 57Part 57
11. Nay, rather, _rejoice and be exceeding glad_, when men persecute you for his sake: when _they persecute_ you by _reviling_ you, and by _saying all manner of evil against you falsely_; (which they will not fail to mix with every kind of persecution; they must blacken you to excuse themselves.) _For so persecuted the…
459 wordsSECTION 58Part 58
[77]_Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thy enemy._ (God indeed had said only the former part, _Thou shalt love thy neighbour_. The children of the devil had added the latter, _and hate thy enemy_.) *_But I say unto you_, 1. _Love your enemies_. See that you bear a tender good …
835 wordsSECTION 59SERMON XXIV.
UPON OUR LORD’S SERMON ON THE MOUNT. DISCOURSE IV. MATT. v. 13, 14, 15, 16. _Ye are the salt of the earth. But if the salt hath lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an …
865 wordsSECTION 60Part 60
In order fully to explain and inforce these important words, I shall endeavour to shew, First, That Christianity is essentially a social religion, and that to turn it into a solitary one, is to destroy it: secondly, That to conceal this religion is impossible, as well as utterly contrary to the design of its Author. I …
858 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.