PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 05 (of 32)
Wesley, John, 1703-1791 · 90,668 words · 138 reading sections
Part 61
For the reason why we are to do _any thing_ as unto God, and with regard to our relation to him, is the same reason why we are to do _every thing_ as unto God, and with regard to this relation. That which is a reason for our being _wise_ and _holy_ in the discharge of all our _business_, is the same reason for our bei…
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7. Farther, as God is one and the same being, always acting like himself, and suitable to his own nature; so it is the duty of every being that he has created, to live according to the nature that he has given it, and _always_ to act like itself. It is therefore an immutable law of God, that all rational beings should…
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12. Another reason is, because our money is capable of being used to the most excellent purposes, and is so great a means of doing good. If we waste it, we don’t waste a trifle that signifies little; but we waste that which might be as eyes to the _blind_, as a husband to the _widow_, as a father to the _orphan_. If a …
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So that, whether we consider our fortune as a trust from God, or the _great good_ it enables us to do, or the great harm that it does to ourselves, if idly spent; on all these accounts it is absolutely necessary to make reason and religion the strict rule of using all our fortune. 15. Every exhortation in scripture to…
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Now the rule of _forgiving_ is also the rule of _giving_. You are not to _give_, or do good to _seven_, but to _seventy times seven_. You are not to cease from giving, because you have given often to the same person, or to other persons; but must account yourself as much obliged to continue relieving those that continu…
771 wordsSECTION 66CHAP. VI.
_How the imprudent use of an estate corrupts all the tempers, and fills the heart with poor and ridiculous passions; represented in the character of |Flavia|._ 1. IT has already been observed, that a religious care is to be used in the manner ♦of spending our _money_ or _estate_; because the manner of spending our est…
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6. As for _poor_ people themselves, she will admit of no complaints from them: she is very positive they are all _cheats_ and _liars_, and will say any thing to get relief; and therefore, it must be a sin to encourage them in their evil ways. You would think _Flavia_ had the tenderest conscience in the world, if you w…
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*She may as well say, that she lived with our Saviour when he was upon earth, as that she has lived in imitation of him, or made it any part of her care to live in such tempers, as he required of all those that would be his disciples. She may as truly say, that she has every day _washed the saints feet_, as that she ha…
706 wordsSECTION 69CHAP. VII.
_How the wise and pious use of an estate carrieth us to all the virtues of the Christian life; represented in the character of |Miranda|._ 1. MIRANDA (the sister of _Flavia_) is a sober, reasonable Christian. As soon as she was mistress of her _time_ and _fortune_, it was her first thought how she might _best fulfil_ …
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4. When you see her at _work_, you see the same wisdom that governs all her other actions. She is either doing something that is necessary for herself, or necessary for others who want to be assisted. There is scarce a poor family in the neighbourhood, but wears something or other that has had the labour of her hands. …
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_Miranda_ once passed by a house, where the _man_ and his _wife_ were cursing and swearing at one another in a most dreadful manner, and three children crying about them. This sight so much affected her compassionate mind, that she went the next day, and bought the three children, that they might not be ruined by livin…
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Now this plainly teaches us, that the _merit_ of persons is to be no rule of our charity, but that we are to do acts of kindness to those that _least_ of all deserve it. For if I am to _love_ and do good to my worst enemies; notwithstanding all their _spite_ and _malice_, surely _merit_ is no measure of charity. If I a…
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In like manner, though some may spend most that they have in needless ornaments, and yet seem in other respects truly pious, yet it is certainly false; for it is impossible for a mind that is in a _true state_ of religion, to be vain in the use of cloaths. Now to convince you of this, let us suppose that some _eminent …
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You are married, you say; therefore you have not your _time_ and _fortune_ in your power as she has. It is true; therefore you cannot spend _so much_ time, nor _so much_ money in the manner that she does. But _Miranda_’s perfection does not consist in this, that she spends _so much_ time, or _so much_ money in such a…
149 wordsSECTION 75CHAP. VIII.
_Shewing that all orders of men and women, of all ages, are obliged to devote themselves to God._ 1. I HAVE in the foregoing chapters shewn that all the parts of our common life, our _employments_, our _talents_ and _fortune_, are to be made holy and acceptable unto God, by a wise and religious use of every thing, and…
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*Let us suppose that this man, instead of putting out his eyes, had only employed them in looking at _ridiculous things_, or shut them up in _sleep_; that instead of _starving_ himself to death, by not eating at all, he should turn every meal into a _feast_, and eat and drink like an _epicure_, could he be said to have…
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9. To be humble in all our actions, to avoid every appearance of pride and vanity, to be meek and lowly in our words, actions, dress, behaviour, and designs, in imitation of our blessed Saviour, is worshipping God in a higher manner, than those do who have only _times_ to fall low on their knees. He that contents himse…
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13. *All men therefore, as men, have one and the same important business, to act up to the excellency of their rational nature, and to make _reason_ and _order_ the law of all their designs and actions. All Christians, as Christians, have one and the same calling, to live according to the excellency of the Christian sp…
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The _merchant_ is not to leave devotion to the clergyman, nor the _clergyman_ to leave humility to the _labourer_. Women of _fortune_ are not to leave it to the poor of their sex, _to be discreet_, _chaste_, _keepers at home_, _to adorn themselves in modest apparel_, _shame-facedness_, and _sobriety_; nor _poor women_ …
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*If you go on, and ask what is the happiest thing for a _young gentleman_ or his _sisters_ to do? The answer must be the same; that nothing can be so happy or glorious for them, as to live in such habits of piety, in such exercises of a divine life, as this good old bishop does. For every thing that is great and glorio…
186 wordsSECTION 81CHAP. IX.
_Shewing how great devotion fills our lives with the greatest peace and happiness that can be enjoyed in this world._ 1. SOME people will perhaps object, that this living unto God in all that we do, is too great a _restraint_ upon human life; and that, by depriving ourselves of so many innocent pleasures, we shall ren…
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*The man of _pride_ has a thousand wants, which only his own pride has _created_; and these render him as full of trouble, as if God had created him with a _thousand appetites_, without creating any thing that was proper to satisfy them. _Envy_ and _ambition_ have also their endless wants, which disquiet the souls of m…
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7. *_Cælia_ is always telling you how _provoked_ she is, what _intolerable shocking_ things happen to her, what _monstrous_ usage she suffers, and what _vexations_ she meets with every where. She tells you that her patience is quite worn out, and there is no bearing the behaviour of people. Every _assembly_ that she is…
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11. *Let us suppose a _person_ placed somewhere alone, in the midst of a variety of things which he did not know how to use; that he has by him _bread_, _wine_, _water_, _golden dust_, _iron chains_, _gravel_, _garments_, _fire_. Let it be supposed, that he has no knowledge, nor any directions from his _senses_, how to…
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*If religion forbids all instances of _revenge_ without exception, ’tis because all revenge is of the nature of _poison_; and though we don’t take so much as to put an end to life, yet if we take any at all, it corrupts the mass of blood, and makes it difficult to be restored to our former health. If religion commands…
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17. *As they are not _men_ or _angels_, because they had a mind to be so, but because the will of God formed them to be what they are; so they cannot enjoy this or that happiness of men or angels, because they have a mind to it, but because it is the will of God, that such things be the happiness of men, and such thing…
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21. Now, as the case of these men in the _parable_ left nothing else to their choice, but either to be happy in using their gifts to the _glory_ of their Lord, or miserable by using them according to their _own humours_ and _fancies_; so the state of Christianity leaves us no other choice. *All that we have, all that …
289 wordsSECTION 88CHAP. X.
_The happiness of a life wholly devoted unto God, farther proved, from the |vanity|, and the |ridiculous|, |poor| enjoyments which they are forced to take up with, who live according to their own humours. This represented in various characters._ 1. WE may see yet more of the happiness of a life devoted to God, by cons…
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The next attempt after happiness carried him into the _field_. For two or three years nothing was so happy as _hunting_. He entered upon it with all his soul, and leaped over more _hedges_ and _ditches_ than had ever been known in so short a time. You never saw him but in a _green coat_. He was the envy of all that blo…
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8. But, _secondly_, let it be granted, that the _generality_ of people are not of such restless, fickle tempers as _Flatus_, the difference is only this, _Flatus_ is continually changing and trying something new, but others are content with some one state; they don’t leave _gaming_, and then fall to _hunting_, but foll…
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But if a woman of _high_ birth and _great_ fortune, having read the gospel, should rather wish to be an _under servant_ in some pious family, where wisdom, piety, and great devotion, directed all the actions of every day; if she should rather wish this, than to live at the top of _Feliciana_’s happiness, I should think…
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14. That as I believe the most likely means in the world to inspire a person with true piety, was to have seen the example of some eminent professors of religion: so the next thing that is likely to fill us with the same zeal, is to see the _folly_, the _baseness_, and poor satisfactions of a life destitute of religion…
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But to see and consider the _emptiness_ and error of all worldly happiness, to see the _grossness_ of _sensuality_, the _poorness_ of pride, the _stupidity_ of covetousness, the _vanity_ of dress, the _blindness_ of our passions, the _uncertainty_ of our lives, and the _shortness_ of all worldly projects; these are med…
189 wordsSECTION 94CHAP. XI.
_That not only a life of |vanity|, or |sensuality|, but even the |most regular| kind of life, that is not governed by great devotion, sufficiently shews its miseries, its wants and emptiness to the eyes of all the world. This represented in various characters._ 1. *_OCTAVIUS_ is a learned, ingenious man, well versed i…
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*If instead of the cares and anxieties of _bad bonds_, _troublesome mortgages_, and _ill bargains_, he had had the constant comfort of knowing, that his treasure was securely laid up, where neither moth corrupteth, nor thieves break thro’ and steal; could it with any reason be said, that he had mistaken the spirit and …
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Let it be supposed that the sober part of the world say of him when he ♦is dead, that he was a great and happy man, a thorough master of business, and had acquired an hundred thousand pair of _boots_ and _spurs_ when he died. ♦ ‘his’ replaced with ‘is’ 9. *Now if this was really the case, I believe that it would be r…
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♦12. Now, had this been the Christian spirit of _Negotius_, can any one say, that he had lost the true happiness of life, by thus conforming to the Spirit, and living up to the hope of the gospel? ♦ Number 11 omitted in text. *Can it be said, that a life made exemplary by such virtues as these, which keep heaven alwa…
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We can never make any true judgment of time as it relates to us, without considering the true state of our _duration_. If we are _temporary_ beings, then a little time may justly be called a great deal in relation to us; but if we are _eternal_ beings, then the difference of a few years is as nothing. 17. If we were t…
654 wordsSECTION 99CHAP. XII.
_Concerning that part of devotion which relates to |times| and |hours| of |prayer|. Of daily |early| prayer in the morning. How we may improve our |forms| of prayer, and increase the |spirit| of devotion._ 1. HAVING in the foregoing chapters shewn the necessity of a devout spirit, in every part of our common life, in …
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And this is the case of those who waste their time in sleep; it does not _disorder_ their lives, or _wound_ their consciences, as _notorious acts_ of intemperance do; but, like any other more moderate course of indulgence, it silently, and by smaller degrees, wears away the spirit of religion, and sinks the soul into a…
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But above all, what is so planted and watered, will certainly have an increase from God. You will then speak from your heart, your soul will be awake, your prayers will refresh you like meat and drink, you will feel what you say, and begin to know what saints and holy men have meant by fervour in devotion. 8. Hoping t…
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Receive therefore every day, as a _resurrection_ from death, as a new enjoyment of life; meet every _rising sun_ with such sentiments of God’s goodness, as if you had seen it, and all things, _new created_ upon your account; and under the sense of so great a blessing, let your heart praise and magnify so good and glori…
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This _Mandanus_, that hardly ever saw the poorest _utensil_, or ever took the meanest _trifle_ into his hand, without considering how it might be _made_, or _used_ to better advantage, has gone all his life-long praying in the same manner as when he was a child; without ever considering how much _better_ or _oftner_ he…
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And it is much to be lamented, that numbers of _scholars_ are _more_ or _less_ chargeable with this excessive folly; so negligent of improving their devotion, and so desirous of other poor accomplishments, as if they thought it a nobler talent, to be able to write an _epigram_ in the _turn_ of _Martial_, than to _live_…
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This union of our souls and bodies, is the reason both why we have so little and so much power over ourselves. It is owing to this, that we have so little power over our souls: for as we cannot prevent the effects of external objects upon our bodies; as we cannot command outward causes; so we cannot always command the …
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23. If any one would tell you the shortest, surest way to all happiness, he must tell you to _thank and praise God for every thing that happens to you_. For whatever seeming calamity happens, if you thank and praise God for it, you turn it into a blessing. Could you therefore work miracles, you could not do more for yo…
630 wordsSECTION 107CHAP. XIII.
_Recommending devotions at nine o’clock in the morning, called in scripture, the |third hour| of the day. The subject of these prayers may be |humility|._ I AM now come to another hour of prayer, which in scripture is called the _third hour_ of the day; but according to our way of numbering the hours, it is called the…
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Let any man but look back upon his own life, and see what use he has made of his reason. What foolish _passions_, what vain _thoughts_, what needless _labours_, what extravagant _projects_, have taken up the greatest part of his life: how foolish he has been in his _words_ and _conversation_; how seldom he has been abl…
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Then turn your eyes to the _fallen world_, and consider how unreasonable and odious it must be, for such poor _worms_, such miserable _sinners_, to take delight in their own _fancied glories_, whilst the highest and most glorious sons of heaven seek for no other greatness and honour, but that of ascribing all honour an…
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For there is no one vice that is more deeply rooted in our nature, or that receives such constant nourishment from almost every thing that we think or do; there being hardly any thing in the world that we _want_ or _use_, or any _action_ or _duty_ of life, but pride finds some means or other to take hold of it. So that…
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11. Thus they dare not attempt to be _eminent_ in the sight of God, for fear of being little in the eyes of the world. From this quarter arises the greatest difficulty of humility, because it cannot subsist in any mind, but so far as it is dead to the world. You can make no _stand_ against the assaults of pride, humi…
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We are apt to lose the true meaning of these words, by considering them only as an _historical description_ of something that was the state of our Saviour and his disciples at that time. But this is reading the scripture as a _dead letter_: for they as exactly describe the state of true Christians at this, and all othe…
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*Nay, in every _order_ and _station_ of life, whether of _learning_ or _business_, either in church or state, you cannot act up to the spirit of religion, without renouncing the most _general temper_ and _behaviour_ of those, who are of the same order and business as yourself. *And though _human prudence_ seems to tal…
118 wordsSECTION 114CHAP. XIV.
_Shewing how the education which men generally receive, makes the doctrines of humility difficult to be practised. The spirit of a better education represented in the character of |Paternus|._ 1. ANOTHER difficulty in the practice of humility, arises from our education. We are corruptly educated, and then committed to…
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And it is as reasonable to expect and require all this benefit of a Christian education, as to require that physic should strengthen all that is right in our nature, and remove that which is _sickly_ and _diseased_. 5. But alas, our modern education is not of this kind. *The _first temper_ that we try to awaken in ch…
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And though it is easy to separate them in the _notion_, yet the most _acute philosopher_, that understands the art of distinguishing ever so well, if he gives himself up to _emulation_, will certainly find himself _deep_ in _envy_. 8. It is said also, that ambition, and a desire of glory, are necessary to excite young…
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And yet, my child, so great is God, that all these bodies added together, are but as a _grain_ of sand in his sight. And yet you are as much the care of this great God, and Father of all _worlds_, and all _spirits_, as if he had no son but you, or there were no creature for him to love and protect but you alone. He num…
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But above all, my son, mark this: never do any thing through strife, or envy, or emulation, or vain-glory. Never do any thing in order to excel other people, but in order to please God, and because it is his will, that you should do every thing in the best manner that you can. For if it is once a pleasure to you to ex…
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18. *Aspire after nothing but your own purity and perfection, and have no ambition but to do every thing in so religious a manner, that you may be glad God is every where present, and sees all your actions. The greatest trial of humility, is an humble behaviour towards your equals in _age_, _estate_, and _condition_. T…
264 wordsSECTION 120CHAP XV.
_Shewing how the method of educating |daughters,| makes it difficult for them to enter into the spirit of Christian humility. How miserably they are injured and abused by such an education. The spirit of a better education, represented in the character of |Eusebia|._ 1. THAT turn of mind which is taught and encouraged…
848 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.