PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 08 (of 32)
Wesley, John, 1703-1791 · 82,712 words · 149 reading sections
CHAPTER IV.
_That many gifts are bestowed upon them that communicate devoutly._ _The voice of the disciple._ *MY Lord God, prevent thy servant with the blessings of thy sweetness, that I may approach worthily and devoutly to thy glorious sacrament. *Stir up my heart unto thee, and deliver me from a heavy numbness of mind. *Vis…
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_Of the examining our conscience, and purpose of amendment._ _The voice of the Beloved._ ABOVE all things, the minister of God ought to come to celebrate and receive this sacrament with great humility of heart, and lowly reverence, and a pious intending the honour of God. Examine diligently thy conscience; so that t…
296 wordsSECTION 63CHAPTER VI.
_Of the oblation of Christ on the cross, and resignation of ourselves._ _The voice of the Beloved._ *AS I willingly offered up myself unto God my Father for thy sins, my hands being stretched forth on the cross, so that nothing remained in Me that was not wholly turned into a sacrifice, for the appeasing the Divine M…
289 wordsSECTION 64CHAPTER VII.
_That we ought to offer up ourselves, and all that is ours unto |God|, and to pray for all_. _The voice of the disciple._ THINE, O Lord, are all things that are in heaven, and in earth. I desire to offer up myself unto thee, as a free oblation, and to remain always thine. O Lord, in the simplicity of my heart I off…
572 wordsSECTION 65CHAPTER IX.
_That the body of Christ, and the holy scripture, are most necessary unto a faithful soul._ _The voice of the disciple._ O LORD Jesus, how great sweetness hath an holy soul that feasteth with thee in thy banquet, where there is set no other food to be eaten but thyself, her only beloved, and the most to be desired ab…
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_How he who is to communicate, ought to prepare himself._ ♦ Chapter number duplicated in text _The voice of the Beloved._ I AM the lover of purity, and the giver of all holiness. I seek a pure heart, and there is the place of my rest. Make ready and adorn for me the great chamber, and I will keep with thee the pas…
312 wordsSECTION 67CHAPTER X.
_That a devout soul ought to desire with her whole heart to be united unto Christ in the sacrament._ _The voice of the disciple._ WHO will give me this, O Lord, to find thee alone, and open my whole heart unto thee, and enjoy thee as my soul desireth? And that no man may look toward me, nor any creature move or rega…
497 wordsSECTION 68CHAPTER XI.
_Of the fervent desire of some devout persons, to receive the body of Christ._ _The voice of the disciple._ O HOW great is thy goodness, O Lord, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee! When I remember some devout persons, who come unto thy sacrament, O Lord, with the greatest affection, I am confounded, and…
259 wordsSECTION 69CHAPTER XII.
_That the grace of devotion is obtained by humility and renouncing ourselves._ _The voice of the Beloved._ *THOU oughtest to seek the grace of devotion fervently, to ask it earnestly, to expect it patiently and with confidence, to receive it gratefully, to keep it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to commit the…
321 wordsSECTION 70CHAPTER XIII.
_That we ought to lay open our necessities to Christ, and crave his grace._ _The voice of the disciple._ *O MOST loving Lord, whom I desire to receive with all devotion, thou knowest my infirmity, and the necessity which I endure, with how many evils I am oppressed, how often I am grieved, tempted, troubled and defil…
315 wordsSECTION 71CHAPTER XIV.
_Of fervent love, and vehement desire to receive Christ._ _The voice of the disciple._ WITH great devotion and ardent love, with the affection and fervour of my whole heart I desire to receive thee, O Lord, as many saints and devout persons have desired thee, when they received thy sacrament. O my God, my everlastin…
419 wordsSECTION 72CHAPTER I.
_Of the end proposed by |Christian Prudence|, and the general means of obtaining it_. 1. BY prudence I here mean, the same with wisdom, a practical knowledge of the best end and the best means to attain it, actually directing us to the choice of that end, and the use of those means. 2. The end of every reasonable cre…
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5. It must therefore be the first office of Christian prudence, to make God our end. For indeed not to do so, is the greatest folly that any man can possibly be guilty of. For what can we expect but vanity and disappointment all over, a fruitless labour, and a deluded and abortive hope, if we place our happiness any wh…
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7. All the particular acts of prudence with regard to these means, may be summed up in one general one, and that is, to chuse those very means to this our great end, which God has chosen for us already. To follow his, is indeed an implicit choice, but at the same time ’tis a very safe and a very wise one. For he cannot…
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12. Now this temper that qualifies us for happiness, must be in general, to be like him who is the object of it, to have our minds conformable to his mind, and our wills conformable to his will; to resemble him as far as he is imitable by us, to have a godlike frame of spirit, or, as the apostle expresses it, _to be pa…
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16. By all these considerations it appears, that the commandments of God are the means that lead us to happiness. And for this reason it is, that God, who is willing we should be happy, having made us for that very end, requires them of us, and obliges us to them by all the authority he has over us. For this reason it …
881 wordsSECTION 77CHAPTER II.
_How far |Christian Prudence| is concerned in the manner of keeping |God|’s commandments_. 1. AS to the manner of keeping God’s commandments, the main difficulty is in the _doing_, and not in determining what in prudence ought to be done. Prudence doubtless (as well as duty) requires, that we should keep them in as go…
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4. In consequence of this, a prudent Christian will begin betimes, and set out early in the ways of piety; not only that he may have the advantage of the morning, the proper time for travelling, and the satisfaction of serving God in the prime of his age, and the vigour of his strength: but also that he may lengthen hi…
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8. The imprudence of this lame way of serving God (which I was to shew in the second place) appears first from this, that it is insufficient. Such a half religion can never hold weight in the balance of the sanctuary. Such men, ’tis true, are almost good; but almost to hit the mark is really to miss it. For religion co…
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12. Considering then the insufficiency, the absurdity, and the unhappiness of a half religion, let us instantly labour _to fill up the things that are behind_, that are wanting to the measure of our righteousness. Let us earnestly endeavour to bring ourselves under the full power and influence of religion, that it may …
134 wordsSECTION 81CHAPTER III.
_Of the subordinate means that serve to assist us in keeping the commandments of God._ 1. WE have seen that the immediate means to happiness are the commandments of God. We come now to consider the subordinate means to it, which serve to assist us in the keeping of those commandments. And these are of two sorts: eithe…
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7. _Church-communion_, in the last place, is an excellent means for the mutual edification of Christians; for the preservation of the Christian faith and doctrine, and for the encouragement of Christian practice. And since for these and the like reasons, God, by his Son Jesus Christ, has erected and constituted that sp…
242 wordsSECTION 83CHAPTER IV.
_The conduct of a prudent Christian, with regard to the government of himself._ 1. HITHERTO we have been conducting our prudent Christian to his end, by the chief of the ways that lead to it, _viz._ by the direct and immediate means of happiness, first, the duties of the divine law, and then by the means to those mean…
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*6. But yet as much as he is for improving his understanding, he does not affect universal knowledge, as well knowing the vanity of pretending to it, by one whose capacity is no greater and whose life is no longer. Neither is he for filling his head with little things, no nor with such great things as do not conduce to…
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_A persuasive to the study of Christian prudence, with some advices relating to the practice of it._ 1. HAVING thus laid down the principles of Christian prudence, what remains but to persuade men to the study of it? And the first consideration I shall offer to recommend the study of this wisdom is, that it is attaina…
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5. When the gaities and follies of life are over (for folly will not always please) when even the more serious entertainments of manhood appear to us as more solemn titles; when covetousness itself, the last folly that forsakes us, because it begins so late, that it often settles upon the dregs of life, as upon a firm …
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6. I have now only to add a few prudential advices relating to the practice of a Christian life. Of which the first shall be that of the apostle, _To walk circumspectly_, that is warily and heedfully, with all possible care, caution and exactness. This is such walking as shews we are duly apprehensive of our condition:…
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7. And because these hazards are chiefly from sensible objects, my next advice shall be, _To walk by faith, not by sight_; to order your conversation not by what you see of this world, but by what you believe of the next. _Not to look at the things which are seen, but at things that are not seen; because the things tha…
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11. To conclude: if we will be truly wise, let us set the gospel and example of Christ before us, and endeavour to be as wise in our generation, as the men of this world are in theirs, to be as diligent in pursuing our true and great end, as they are in pursuing their false and little ones. They are intent upon the _pr…
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Brethren, I speak with plainness and simplicity. When our Lord and Master was in the world, he was so far from desiring the riches, honours, or pleasures of it, that he was indeed the poorest and most despised among men; entirely spending all the days of his humiliation, in procuring our salvation. And ’tis he that tel…
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*Let us all, my brethren, think of this great day, and so even our accounts against it, that we may then appear with joy and confidence: let us cast away all care, but this only. Let us drop all unprofitable contest; and, with united hands, carry on the work of the Lord, being heartily glad to see his glory advanced, b…
139 wordsSECTION 92AUGUST. HERM. FRANCK.
_October 26, 1731._…
4 wordsSECTION 93CHAPTER I.
_Of the nature and causes of the fear of man._ 1. THE fear of man, in things pertaining to God, is a most heinous vice, and a kind of idolatry, whereby we think, speak, or do some evil, or decline thinking, speaking, or doing some good, out of some sort of consideration of men, or apprehension of their displeasure. No…
513 wordsSECTION 94CHAPTER II.
_Of the signs and effects of the fear of man._ 1. A FEARFUL man is not easily convinced of the truth, and tho’ it be laid before him with the clearest evidence, yet he starts many doubts and scruples about it, lest, if he should confess it too roundly, he should be hated, persecuted, or reputed a heretic. 2. He is ne…
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19. A fearful man rejoiceth for a time, while the light of truth shines upon him; but as soon as he is called to account for it, he is sore afraid, makes many excuses, and by all manner of shifts and evasions, endeavours to extricate himself, and to get rid of the suspicion of it. 20. Instead of reproving his neighbou…
126 wordsSECTION 96CHAPTER III.
_Of the mischiefs caused by the fear of man._ 1. MANY thousands of souls are thereby kept back from a true conversion: because they dare not suffer the knowledge of the truth to shine upon them in its full strength, but hold it imprisoned, as it were, by manifold shifts and pretences. 2. Many who are already converte…
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6. In a word, the fear of man is the general bane both of city and country. Our superiors would appoint good ministers and magistrates; but they fear displeasing this or the other man, or set of men. They who should speak when a wicked minister is ordained, or officer recommended, hold their ♦tongues through fear. In t…
289 wordsSECTION 98CHAPTER IV.
_Of the excuses that are usually made for the fear of man._ AS soon as we begin with true humility to acknowledge the fear of man as a great and most heinous evil, and accordingly to watch and pray, and strive against it, there is hope we may overcome: but there are very few who will acknowledge it; the very most, whe…
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*6. “But I am no minister, I have no business to take care of men’s souls.” No! Art thou not a Christian (though not a minister) and is it not the business, the bounden duty of every Christian, to endeavour to bring his neighbour back into the right way, whenever he sees him wandering in vice and delusion? Is not every…
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10. “But we can’t do all at once.” Thou unprofitable servant, shouldst thou therefore bury thy talent in a napkin, and do nothing at all? Thou knowest not what thou canst do, or rather, what God can do by thee. If thou wilt but lay aside the fear of man, and set out boldly in his strength, God is able to do for and by …
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*15. “But we must have a care of getting an ill name; for then we should do no good at all.” This is the grand excuse for the fear of man, and it is the bottom of almost all the rest. This is what the men of prudence never fail to urge in their defence: and in this they suppose themselves impregnable. “If I get an ill …
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Neither excuse thy conforming to the world in rich cloaths, banquets, dancing, plays, and the like, by saying, “I take no delight in these trifles; but I submit to them, that I may have the more power over them that do.” This is one of the fruits of our modern religion, raised on maxims of state-policy: but if we bring…
217 wordsSECTION 103CHAPTER V.
_Of the means whereby we may be delivered from the fear of man._ 1. THE first and most necessary of all means is, a constant and earnest endeavour to free ourselves from the most dangerous deceitfulness of our own hearts. Nothing is a more fatal hindrance of a man’s salvation, than the false conceit that he is already…
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This is the true apostolical mind, which few apprehend: but those who do apprehend and obtain it, tread in the same steps, and declare themselves servants of the living God in true chearfulness of faith. They are not afraid _of the terror of men, but sanctify the Lord God in their hearts_: having determined _to know_ a…
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7. Now, as Jesus Christ is he that can most certainly deliver us from all fear of man; so none can teach us better than he himself, by what means we must fight against it. And this he hath carefully done, especially in the latter part of his state of humiliation, leaving his disciples, in his farewel discourse to them,…
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11. Stand fast therefore, as becomes those to whom are made all those glorious declarations; _ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people_; which plainly alludes to _Exodus_ xix. 3‒4. where we find these emphatic expressions of God; _ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and …
867 wordsSECTION 107CHAPTER VI.
_Of Christian discretion._ 1. AS flesh and blood is commonly inclined either to exceed or fall short in matters of duty; so it is easy, while we avoid the fear of man, to run into presumption, rashness, and inconsiderateness. Therefore it is necessary that we be continually on our guard, that so our boldness may be ev…
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This caution is highly necessary; there being but too many who think they act entirely in faith, when indeed they are only following their own fancy, without any warrant from the word of God. And this distemper is the more dangerous, the less remedy can be applied to cure it. For those that _walk in the light of the fi…
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_Of the good which arises from the boldness of faith, conquering the fear of man._ 1. THE eleventh chapter to the _Hebrews_ lays an ample foundation for reflections on the glorious effects of faith, and on that power of God which hath at all times so exerted itself in true believers: but here it will be necessary to b…
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_This consideration has occasioned the following reflections upon the study of learning and knowledge; the greatest faults of which, by a kind of unaccountable superstition are canonized ♦for virtues._ ♦ inserted word “for” per Errata _The truth is, the light that divulges other miscarriages will be sure to hide thes…
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6. But this is not the measure which the ♦generality of the world has thought fit to proceed by. Learning is generally placed in a sort of knowledge, widely different from this. The world does not esteem him a learned man, whose learning has cleared his understanding, who is arrived at distinctness of conception, and i…
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10. Again, it passes for a notable piece of learning to understand chronology: to be able to adjust the intervals and distances of time, when such a man flourished, when such an action was done, and the like. Now I deny not, but it may concern some to know these things, who have any interest depending upon it. It may c…
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_Wherein the general conduct of human life is taxed for using undue and irregular methods, in prosecuting what is really perfective of the understanding._ 1. IN the preceding reflection the conduct of human life was censured, for placing learning in what is not perfective of the understanding. In the present, it is ch…
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7. But to represent this more clearly; there are two ways whereby purity of heart serves to the acquirement of knowledge; by natural efficacy, and by the divine blessing. And first, by natural efficacy, either by clearing the medium, or by assisting the faculty. As to the former, we are assured, not only that the soul …
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12. Thus have I designed, and by scripture and reason proved, what is the right method of prosecuting that truth which is perfective of the understanding. And now I think there needs not many words to shew, that as learning is commonly placed in what is not perfective of it, so what is so, is generally prosecuted by un…
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3. In order to make out the truth of this charge it will be necessary first to consider, how far it becomes man to employ himself in the prosecution of knowledge; and then it will be easy to determine, whether our general pursuit of it be immoderate or no. Now for the determination of the former, let us observe the pre…
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*7. Thirdly, There is no necessity of being so wonderfully learned and knowing here. ’Tis neither necessary, as enjoined by God, nor as a means to any considerable end. We can be good and we can be happy without it. And lest any advantages in our after-state should be alledged, this makes it more unnecessary than any c…
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11. These things being premised concerning the present state of man: First, That he can know but very little; Secondly, That the enjoyment of that little in a short and encumbered life, is by no means answerable to the labour of acquiring it; Thirdly, That there is no necessity of such a deal of learning and knowledge,…
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*15. For to what purpose should we study so much, since after all we can know so little? Since our life is as much too short for enjoying that little knowledge we _have_, as for compassing what we would _have_; and withal, since there lies no manner of obligation or necessity upon us to do thus? But (which is what I wo…
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21. Many other proceedings in the conduct of life, are condemned as vanity and impertinence, though not half so inconsistent with the character of man, nor so disagreeable to his present posture. The pens of moral writers have been all along employed against them who spent their short and uncertain lives, which ought t…
696 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.