PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 04 (of 32)
Wesley, John, 1703-1791 · 87,043 words · 135 reading sections
Part 61
7. But he was quickly called from hence again to supply the cure of _Dummer_ in _Hampshire_. Here he read prayers twice a day, early in the morning, and in the evening, after the people came from work. He also daily catechized the children, and visited from house to house. He now divided the day into three parts, allot…
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12. On _Sunday_, _April_ 29, he preached the first time in _Moorfields_, and on _Kennington_-common. And the thousands of hearers were as quiet as they could have been in a church. Being again detained in _England_ from month to month, he made little excursions into several counties, and received the contributions of w…
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18. A particular account of the last scene of his life, is thus given by a gentleman of _Boston_: “After being about a month with us in _Boston_ and its vicinity, and preaching every day, he went to _Old-york_, preached on _Thursday_, _September_ 27, there; proceeded to _Portsmouth_, and preached there on _Friday_. On …
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3. That both these accounts are just and impartial, will readily be allowed; that is, as far as they go. But they go little farther than the _outside_ of his character. They shew you the _preacher_, but not the _man_, the _Christian_, the _saint_ of God. May I be permitted to add a little on this head, from a personal …
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8. *If it be inquired, What was the foundation of this integrity, or of his sincerity, courage, patience, and every other valuable and amiable quality, it is easy to give the answer. It was not the excellence of his natural temper: not the strength of his understanding: it was not the force of education; no, nor the ad…
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3. And we are all helpless, both with regard to the power and to the guilt of sin. For _who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean_? None less than the Almighty. Who can raise those that are _dead_, spiritually dead in sin? None but he who raised us from the dust of the earth. But on what consideration will he do th…
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7. *Is there any other fruit of the grace of God, with which he was eminently endowed, and the want of which among the children of God he frequently and passionately lamented? There is one, that is, _Catholic love_: that sincere and tender affection, which is due to all those, who, we have reason to believe, are childr…
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10. O God, with thee no word is impossible: thou dost whatsoever pleaseth thee! O that thou wouldst cause the mantle of thy prophet, whom thou hast taken up, now to fall upon us that remain! _Where is the Lord God of Elijah? Let_ his _spirit rest upon_ these thy servants! Shew thou art the God that _answerest by fire_!…
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To the People call’d METHODISTS, With regard to DRESS. I. 1. I AM not fond of saying the same thing over and over: especially when I have so many things to say, that the day of life (which with _me_ is far spent) is not likely to suffice for them. But in some cases, it is needful for you that I should: and then, _it …
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5. Shall I be more particular still? Then I _exhort all those who desire me to watch over their souls_, Wear no gold, (whatever officers of state may do; or magistrates, as the ensign of their office) no pearls or precious stones: use no curling of hair, or costly apparel, how grave soever. I _advise those who are able…
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♦4. “O! but one may be as humble in velvet and embroidery, as another is in sackcloth.” True: for a person may wear sackcloth, and have no humility at all. The heart may be filled with pride and vanity, whatever the raiment be. Again; women under the yoke of unbelieving parents or husbands, as well as men in office, ma…
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IV. 1. But we may be assured, the wisdom of the world will find out abundance of objections to this. Accordingly it is objected, first, “If God has given us plentiful fortunes, if we are placed in the higher ranks of life, we must act suitably to our fortune. We ought then to dress according to our rank, that is, in go…
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6. “But we cannot carry on our own trade, without dressing like other people.” If you mean only, conforming to those customs of your country, that are neither gay, nor costly, why should you not “dress like other people?” I really think you should. Let an Englishman dress like other Englishmen; not like a Turk or a Tar…
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4. *You who have passed the morning, perhaps the noon of life, who find the shadows of the evening approach, set a better example to those that are to come, to the now-rising generation. With you the day of life is far spent; the night of death is at hand. You have no time to lose: see that you redeem every moment that…
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_The first duty of the Married_, Chastity. 1. THIS duty is so manifest, that no person whatever can pretend ignorance of it. The law of God, the law of nature, and the laws of all well ordered societies enjoin it. The violation of this unties the marriage-knot, and dissolves the marriage-covenant. For our Lord himself…
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5. It must, secondly, Be temperate. We are always to remember, God ordained marriage chiefly for the increase of mankind, and not to kindle lustful desires, but to quench them. I confess, we should take great heed of laying snares upon mens consciences, and must be very careful not to bind them, where God has not bound…
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_Of the_ Love _of married Persons_. 1. THE marriage-covenant binds all that enter into it, to several other duties, as well as to chastity: but not under the same forfeiture, failing in these breaks God’s command, but does not break the bond of matrimony. No ill-behaviour dissolves this, while we are not wronged as to…
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5. *But remember farther, that your love must be matrimonial, as well as spiritual. It must be matrimonial, with regard, 1. To the degree, and 2. To the effect of it. For the first, A man should love his wife, a woman her husband, above all the creatures in the world. Next to the living God, the wife is to have the hig…
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_Of the_ Effects of Love. 1. THE effects of nuptial love are three, Pleasingness, Faithfulness, Helpfulness. The first, which must mix itself with all the rest, is an earnest desire to please each other, so far as it is possible to be done, without sinning against God. Wherefore the husband must do or leave undone, an…
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5. The same faithful helpfulness they owe, to the bodies of each other. They must shun all things that might cause sickness or pain to each other, and readily undergo any pains or cost, according to their power, to procure whatever is necessary either to keep or recover their health. They must comfort each other, in th…
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7. Ye must be tender also of each other’s reputation abroad. This requireth two things: First, that each labour to conceal the weaknesses of the other, so far as is possible, from all men. The husband must endeavour, that none may know of his wife’s faults, but himself: and the wife must do her best to keep her husband…
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_Of the_ duties _of the married to their_ family. 1. A Man and his wife, who before were members of other families, join together that they may become the roots of a new family: Wherein by training up their servants and children, they provide plants for God’s vineyard, the church. In this family the husband is the hea…
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*“I cannot yet dismiss this subject. As self-will is the root of all sin and misery, so whatever cherishes this in children, ensures their after wretchedness and irreligion; and whatever checks and mortifies it, promotes their future happiness and piety. This is still more evident, if we consider, that religion is noth…
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4. *But we are by nature not only full of self-will, but likewise of pride, atheism, anger, falshood and idolatry. Now the end of education is to counteract and remove all the corruption of nature; of Christian education in particular, termed by St. _Paul_, _the discipline and instruction of the_ Lord. Set yourselves, …
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6. As to matters of the world, first, They must appoint their inferiors such works and services, as they are severally fit for, and then follow and look after them, that they may perform those services. Had not the Lord seen, that inferiors would need this, he would not have made this difference in the family. But God …
357 wordsSECTION 86CHAP. V.
_Of a_ Man’_s keeping his_ Authority. 1. IT is the duty of an husband, to govern his wife, and to maintain her. The former implies, that he keep his authority, and that he use it. And, first, every man is bound to keep himself in that place wherein his Maker hath set him, and to hold fast that precedency which God hat…
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5. But this rule of justice must extend a little farther. The husband must not urge his authority, not only in things unlawful, but even in those that _seem_ unlawful to his wife’s mistaken confidence. He ought not to force her to what she _thinks_ a sin. Conscience is God’s immediate officer, and tho’ it is mistaken, …
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8. Another part of wisdom is, to chuse a fit time and place for every act of authority. Two rules may be observed with regard to time, particularly in reproving, that being a thing wherein most caution should be used, because it is most apt to be taken ill, and because if it speed well, it does much good, if not, it do…
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12. But mildness is never so needful as in reproving, both with regard to the matter and the manner of it. For the matter; find not fault with every foible; chide not for every infirmity. What is not of a gross nature, or done wilfully, may be passed over either with none, or half a word. The love which passes by weakn…
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_Of the_ Wife’_s peculiar_ Duties. 1. THE special duties of a wife may be reduced to two heads, To know herself the inferior, and to behave as such. First, She must know herself the inferior; she must be thoroughly convinced, that she is not her husband’s equal, without which there can be no content, either in her hea…
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4. And this inward will produce outward reverence, both in her words and actions. Her words are either to himself, of him behind his back, or to others before him. And, 1. Her words to himself should neither be sharp, sullen, passionate, not rude, careless or contemptuous: such as shew neither anger, nor neglect, but a…
730 wordsSECTION 92CHAP. VII.
_Some_ Application _of the Whole_. 1. *AND first, this yields a good instruction to young, unmarried people; not to rush unadvisedly into this state. A thing of so difficult a nature, should not be hastily undertaken. If they get not first their hearts full of grace, and their heads full of wisdom, they will find thei…
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4. Before I conclude, it may not be improper to sum up the duty of married persons, as parents, and as masters. Their duty as parents respects either the temporal or the spiritual good of their children. With regard to the former, you owe them protection and provision of necessaries, according to that rank and degree, …
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7. These directions chiefly relate to young children. But even after they are grown up, you are still engaged, to watch over their souls, to observe how they practise the precepts, which have been inculcated upon them from time to time, and to exhort, encourage, and reprove them accordingly. You are also to bless them,…
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4. A second duty which children owe to their parents is love. We are to bear them a deep, real kindness, an earnest, tender good-will, heartily desiring all manner of good to them, and abhorring to speak or do any thing, which might give them uneasiness. This will appear no more than common gratitude, if we remember, w…
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8. A fourth duty which children owe to their parents, is the assisting them in their wants, of what kind soever they be, whether sickness or weakness of body, decay of understanding, or lowness of estate. In all these the child is bound to assist them, according to his ability. For the two former, weakness of body and …
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4. The apostle answers. During the time agreed, _obey your masters after the flesh in all things_: that is, in all things specified in that agreement which was made when you entered into service. So a _labourer_ or _workman_ is, during his short service, to follow the direction of him that hired him. A _journeyman_ is …
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11. Servants should shew a due fear of their masters in their behaviour, 1. By such dutiful and submissive obeisance, as becomes their sex and place, according to the custom of the country and place where they are, when they have occasion to come to them, to go from them, or to receive any charge of them. 2. By _standi…
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15. *But _whatsoever ye do_, that is not contrary to the commands of God, _do it heartily_, ἐκ ψυχῆς _from your soul_, your whole soul, from the bottom of your heart. This naturally results from the _doing it, as unto the_ Lord, and is therefore twice mentioned in the same sentence with it. Whatsoever you do, do it wit…
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♦19. Thirdly, _Be faithful_: as St. _Paul_ expresses it, _shew all good fidelity_, Tit. ii. 10. This is _good_, beautiful, honourable in all men. It ennobles the lowest station, and causes it to shine in the eyes of God and man. Be faithful, 1. With regard to your master’s goods. Preserving, yea, and increasing them to…
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20. Fourthly, _Be patient_. In your patience _possessing your souls_, ♦steadily follow the preceding directions, and _be_ thus _subject, not only to the good and gentle_ masters, but also to the froward: to those who are neither good nor gentle, who have neither religion nor good-nature, that it may appear you do your …
868 wordsSECTION 102CHAP. I.
THE wisdom of mankind has, for several ages, been enquiring into the nature of man, and the nature of the world in which he is placed. The wants and miseries of human nature, and the vanity of worldly enjoyments, have made it difficult for the wisest men to tell, what human happiness was, or wherein it consisted. It …
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VI. *This is the true point of view, in which every Christian is to behold himself. He is to overlook the poor projects of this life, and consider himself as a creature, thro’ his natural corruption, falling into a state of endless misery; but by the mercy of God, redeemed to a condition of everlasting happiness. All …
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This shews us, that when we enquire what our life is, we must think of something higher than the vigour of our blood, the gaiety of our spirits, or the enjoyment of sensual pleasures: since these, tho’ the allowed signs of living men, are often undeniable proofs of dead Christians. When therefore we would truly know w…
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For how many things do people labour after, break their rest and peace to get, which yet when gotten are of just as much real use to them, as a staff and shoes to a corpse under ground? They are always adding something to their life, which is only like adding another pair of shoes to a body in the grave. Thou mayst hi…
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The same apostle tells us, _Whosoever is born of_ God _overcometh the world_. He overcometh all worldly desires and worldly fears. He is crucified unto the world and the world crucified unto him. He is dead to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. And he feareth not them that can kill the b…
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I don’t mean those that are insincere or hypocritical: but all those who are content with outward religion, with any thing short of that inward holiness, that newness of spirit which the gospel describes. They should consider that charity, chastity, sobriety and justice may be practised without Christianity. A Jew, a …
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XXVIII. Let us therefore look carefully to ourselves, and consider what manner of spirit we are of: let us not think our condition safe, because we are of this or that church or persuasion, or because we are strict observers of the outward offices of religion. For we can’t but see, these are marks that belong to more t…
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_CHRISTIANITY requires a renouncing of the world, and all worldly tempers._ I. The Christian religion being to raise a new, spiritual, and, as yet, invisible world, and to place man among thrones, principalities and spiritual beings, is at entire enmity with this present corrupt state of flesh and blood. It ranks the…
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For this reason our Lord points so many of his doctrines at the common allowed employments of life, to teach us, that they may employ our minds as falsely and dangerously as any trifles whatever. He teaches us, that even the necessaries of life should be sought with a kind of indifference, that so our souls may be tru…
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“O Lord, I thy sinful creature, whom thou hast called to a lively hope of glory in Christ Jesus, beg of thee to grant me a _thousand_ times more riches than I _need_, that I may be able to gratify myself and family in the delights of eating and drinking, state and grandeur. Grant that as the little span of life wears o…
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XVII. *But still the word of God shall not pass away. _Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. For they who will be rich fall into a temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition._ 1 Tim. vi. 8. We may, perhaps, by some acuteness of reasonin…
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XXII. The necessity of renouncing the world, in whatever state of life we are, may be yet farther proved from those divine tempers which Christianity requires. Christians are to love God with all their heart, with all their soul, with all their mind, and with all their strength. Now it is absolutely impossible we sho…
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So that it is purely the engaging so far in the world as sober Christians do: it is their false satisfaction in so many things that they ought to renounce; it is their being too much alive to the world, that makes all, even those who are called religious, subject to tempers so contrary to the love of their neighbour. …
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If you would die like a Christian, must you not endeavour to fill their minds with your dying thoughts? Must you not tell them that very soon the world will signify no more to them than it does to you? And that there is a _vanity_, a _littleness_ in the things of this life, which only dying men feel as they ought? Wil…
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_CHRISTIANITY calleth all men to a state of self-denial and mortification._ I. It would be strange to suppose, that mankind were redeemed by the sufferings of the Son of God, to live in ease and softness themselves, without any suffering or cross at all! Are we not all to die? Does God then unmake and dash our very f…
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What Christians then are they, who reckon those things among the hardships of religion, which Christ recommends to us as reasons of _rejoicing_, yea of being _exceeding glad_? VII. The whole of the matter is this: if our sufferings, our injuries or hardships be such as we undergo, because we dare not depart from that …
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XII. *Indeed every indulgence of the body in eating and drinking, is adding to its power over the soul. A man that makes every day a day of _full_ and _chearful_ meals, will by degrees make the happiness of every day depend upon it, and consider every thing with regard to it. He will go to _church_ or stay at home, a…
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In like manner, unless fasting was a common and necessary part of religion, it would neither be necessary nor acceptable on those particular days. For it is not the day that makes the duty to be necessary. But the day happens to be a proper occasion of exercising a necessary duty. XVII. If _Justus_ was to say, that h…
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*Let it be considered, that this apostle, who lived _in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses_ for Christ’s sake, who was also full of _signs and wonders, and mighty deeds_, and who had been _caught up into the third heavens_; yet reckons all his virtues as insecure, and his salvati…
848 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.