PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 11 (of 32)
Wesley, John, 1703-1791 · 87,981 words · 138 reading sections
Part 1
The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Transcriber’s Notes │ │ │ │ …
216 wordsSECTION 2VOLUME XI.
BRISTOL: Printed by WILLIAM PINE, in _Wine-Street_. MDCCLXXII.…
8 wordsSECTION 3THE CONTENTS
Of the ELEVENTH VOLUME. An Extract of the life and death of Mr. _Thomas Haliburton_.…
15 wordsSECTION 4PART ♦IV.
♦ “III.” replaced with “IV.”…
4 wordsSECTION 5Chapter IV. _Of his death._
An extract of the life of Monsieur _de Renty_.…
9 wordsSECTION 6Chapter VII. _His love of God._
Chapter VIII. Section I. _His love of man in general._ Section II. _His charity to the poor._ Section III. _His charity to the sick._ ♦Section IV. _His zeal for the salvation of his neighbour._ ♦ “VI.” replaced with “IV.”…
42 wordsSECTION 7Chapter X. _His death._
An extract from the life and death of _Thomas Walsh_. _The introduction._…
13 wordsSECTION 8Chapter III. _Some farther account of the troubles he met with, on account of preaching the gospel._
♦Chapter IV. _A short account of the endeavours of the Romish clergy, to prevent his usefulness among their people._ ♦ “VI” replaced with “IV”…
24 wordsSECTION 9PART III.
Chapter I. _An extract from Mr. |Thomas Walsh|’s diary, relating chiefly, to the experience of his own soul, in his course of |walking with God|._…
27 wordsSECTION 10Chapter III. _The same continued._
An EXTRACT of the LIFE AND DEATH OF Mr. THOMAS HALIBURTON.…
11 wordsSECTION 11PART ♦IV.
♦ “III.” replaced with “IV.”…
4 wordsSECTION 12CHAPTER IV.
_Of his death._ 1. ON _Wednesday, September 17_, (and some days preceding) he was under great trouble of mind; and a friend asking him that morning, How he had rested in the night? He answered, “Not well. I have been this night sore tossed with the thoughts of eternity. I have been thinking on the _Terribilia Dei_¹, a…
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To a minister who came in he said, “I am waiting for the salvation of God.” He answered, “If the Lord would spare you it would be a mercy to this place.” He replied, “What can a poor wretch signify? I could do nothing: I signify nothing. But, I tell you, brother, what I have thought of long; I fear, from the taking off…
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*In the night-time he said, “This growing weakness of my eyes, is a sign of a change approaching. If he shut my eyes he will open my eyes: eyes no more to behold vanity. But I shall behold him in righteousness, and when I awake, I shall be satisfied with his likeness!” *Afterwards he said, “If this be the last day of …
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Then he said, “Here’s a demonstration of the reality of religion; and that I a poor, weak, timorous man, once as much afraid of death as any: I that have been many years under the terrors of death, come now, in the mercy of God, and by the power of his grace, composedly and with joy to look death in the face. I have se…
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Indeed all in God’s way, and in his word, is glorious, honourable, and like himself: he needs none of our testimonies; but it is the least we can do to celebrate his praises. I therefore being in some sense obliged, take this solemn occasion, before all the world, to acknowledge these, among many other obligations, I h…
305 wordsSECTION 17THO. HALIBURTON.
3. Soon after he said, “I confess God has been beating me in a mortar this long time; but he has been doing much work. My soul is even as a weaned child. I am loosed from all my enjoyments. My heart is disengaged even from my dearest wife and children, but I have put them in a good hand.” To a friend he said, “There i…
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A while after he said to those about him, “O this is the most honourable pulpit I was ever in! I am preaching the same Christ, the same holiness, the same happiness I did before. I have much satisfaction in that. I am not ashamed of the gospel I have preached. I was never ashamed of it in all my days; and I am not asha…
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*Then to his wife, he said, “O my sweet bird, are you there? I am no more yours. I am the Lord’s. I remember on the day I took you by the hand, I thought on parting with you. But I knew not how to get my heart off of you again: yet now I have got it done. Will you not give me to the Lord, my dear?” Then seeing her very…
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*“Well, all this is encouragement to you, to acquaint yourselves with God. All these soft cloaths are like sackcloth to me; and yet I have perfect ease of spirit. My breast and my stomach are drawn all together, as it were with cords; and yet the mercy of God keeps me composed. What is this? I could scarce have believe…
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*Then to some present he said, “My moisture is much exhausted this night, but the dew lies all night on my branches, the dew that waits not for man, nor tarries for the sons of men. O what cannot grace do? How have I formerly repined at the hundredth part of this trouble! O study the power of religion! ’Tis the power o…
731 wordsSECTION 22CHAPTER I.
_Of his birth, marriage, and general way of life._ 1. MR. _De Renty_ descended from one of the most noble houses of _Artois_. He was the only son of _Charles De Renty_, and was born in the year 1611, at _Beny_ in _Low Normandy_. There he was brought up till six or seven years of age, and then by his mother carried to …
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*8. A fuller account of his general way of life he writ to his second director, as follows: “I have delayed some days after the command I had, to set down the employing of my time, for the better discovering of some things therein; but I find nothing there of strict order because all consists in following the order of…
807 wordsSECTION 24CHAPTER II.
_His Humility._ 1. ST. _Austin_ well observes, That poverty of spirit is nothing else but humility: The truly humble knowing themselves to be nothing of themselves but sin and misery, to have nothing, as being at best but manifold receivers of the grace of God; to be able to do nothing, having no power of themselves e…
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8. Even the gifts and graces of God made him more humble; thus producing their true effect, which is, to abase and elevate the soul both together, to raise it to God, and abase it to itself. In whatever good was done by him he assumed no share at all, but referred all to God the true source. And so in the management of…
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“Blessed for ever be our great God, by Jesus Christ! I believe I ought to labour in the lowest employments; and the time I spend therein, I count very dear, regarding it as ordered by God. What makes me the more to know it is his order, is this; that from time to time I feel more of retribution from him in one instant,…
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*19. To animate a lady with the same spirit, he wrote to her thus: “I wonder how a thing so little as man, drawn out of nothing in his original, infected with his first parent’s sin, and the addition of his own: when he is raised to so high a degree of honour, as to be one with Christ the Son of God; can continue to es…
576 wordsSECTION 28CHAPTER III.
_His self-denial and mortification._ 1. AS it is absolutely necessary for every soldier of Christ, who would not _so fight as one that beateth the air, to keep the body under, and bring it into subjection_; M. _de Renty_ vigorously applied himself to this work. He made but one meal a day for several years; till he was…
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*7. Thus entirely, even in the possession of riches, was his heart engaged from them. And when the better part of his estate was in danger of being lost, he said, without the least emotion, “Since God hath committed this estate to me, I will do what shall behove me to preserve it, and then ’tis all one to me what follo…
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12. He had no eager desire even of sensible consolations; touching which, he expressed himself thus, “Dryness, and other troubles of spirit, are to be borne with upon any terms, and we must give up ourselves as forlorn creatures, throwing ourselves wholly upon God.” And again, “however dry your soul may be, when you en…
509 wordsSECTION 31CHAPTER IV.
_His patience._ 1. QUESTIONLESS the humble man is patient, because he knows he deserves far more than he suffers: And whoever will search into the true cause of his own impatience, will find it to be no other than pride. On the contrary, M. _de Renty_ being most humble, was by consequence most patient. 2. Persons who…
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8. “Though I dare not chuse or bring sufferings upon myself, (says he in a letter to his director) yet having always before my eyes how little I render to God for his favours, I am inflamed to suffer with our Lord. In every other thing we are receivers from God. But in this though we receive the grace to suffer, yet th…
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12. Believing now that his mother was fully satisfied, he was no sooner returned home, than he caused _Te Deum_ to be sung, beginning it himself, in thanksgiving for this happy conclusion. But God, to refine and purify him the more, permitted the cross to continue upon him. For his mother, not satisfied yet, found mean…
637 wordsSECTION 34CHAPTER V.
_His faith._ 1. MR. _de Renty_ studied with a particular care a solid foundation in this virtue, knowing how all other virtues depend upon it, as on their root, their rule and measure. And he possessed it in so high a degree, that he was more assured of the presence of God, and the truth of the mysteries of Christiani…
550 wordsSECTION 35CHAPTER VI.
_His Hope._ 1. A STRONG faith cannot but produce a firm hope and charity. A true belief in God, what he is in himself, and what he is to us, will work a strong affiance in him, and ardent charity towards him; as appeared in M. _de Renty_, who being grounded in faith, had also an undaunted hope, and inflamed affections…
470 wordsSECTION 36CHAPTER VII.
_His love of God._ 1. THE sentiments M. _De Renty_ had of the love of God, he thus exprest in a letter to his director; “In all I read in the scripture, I neither understand nor find any thing but this Love. The very _end of the commandment is love, out of a sincere heart_. And this is acquired by faith in _Christ Jes…
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9. In the year 1641, one of his children, whom he tenderly loved died. When the news was brought him, he spoke not one word, nor, shewed the least sign of disturbance: his affection to the child yielding to his absolute conformity with the will of God. 10. At the end of the year 1643, his lady fell desperately sick, s…
865 wordsSECTION 38CHAPTER VIII.
_His Love of man._…
5 wordsSECTION 39SECTION I.
_Of his love to man in general._ 1. THE grand exercise of M. _de Renty_, was to apply and unite himself to our Saviour, and from that union and example to derive all his virtues and good works. To mould himself after him was his general course, both in his inward tempers and outward behaviour. He never took his eye of…
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8. There was not any considerable good work of a public nature, done at _Paris_, or within a great distance of it, wherein he had not a great share. There was no undertaking there, tending to the honour of God or good of men, of which he was not either the author, or promoter, or finisher, and very often all these toge…
719 wordsSECTION 41SECTION II.
_His charity to the poor._ *1. WITH regard to the poor, M. _de Renty_’s thoughts stayed not on their habit or outward appearance; but passing further, he beheld under these, with the eye of faith, Jesus Christ present and dwelling in them. And as he burned with an ardent affection to our Lord, so he loved them tenderl…
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10. He then went to the other’s house; whence he returned to the prison for information on some difficulties that occurred. Finding all the prisoners together at their usual devotions, he waited till they had done. Having then received information, he went back to the other, with whom he came to such an agreement, that…
115 wordsSECTION 43SECTION III.
_His charity to the sick._ 1. IF his charity to the poor was thus great, it was still greater to such poor as were sick. He was not content to assist these in one or two ways; but they found in him, and often in one visit, a benefactor, a physician, apothecary, surgeon, a pastor, friend and servant. 2. In the year 16…
514 wordsSECTION 44SECTION IV.
_His zeal for the salvation of his neighbour._ 1. M. _de Renty_ being continually inflamed with the love of God, incessantly sought always, and used all means to make him more known and loved by all men, both here and eternally. And this his zeal had no bounds; it extended not only to all _France_, but to all the worl…
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*7. His tenderness of heart to these poor people was exceeding great, joined with such humility as cannot easily be expressed. When he met any one at the hospital, he saluted him with great respect, put him before him, and talked with him bare-headed. If any kneeled to him, he did the like to them, and continued on his…
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15. While he was employed in instructing the poor travellers in the hospital of St. _Gervase_, a man who was settled there, looking upon it as an intrusion into his office, came to him, as he was in the midst of the poor, and with many injurious and reproachful words, forbad him to come any more. M. _de Renty_ having h…
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“To some, we must lay open our hearts freely and exactly; to others more reservedly; to others we should be altogether locked up, concealing from them what we see no disposition in them to make a good use of.” *22. Zeal indeed should be always attended with prudence, to consider things well, and execute them in the be…
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*28. Though this happy intercourse, accompanied with such signal blessings, had contracted a strict and perfect friendship between them, yet he was very wary and reserved in his conversation with her; visiting her only when the work of God required it, and neither speaking nor staying with her any longer than was preci…
545 wordsSECTION 49CHAPTER IX.
_His outward behaviour, and conduct of business._ 1. M. _de Renty_ being sensible, that even our outward behaviour is of great consequence in the service of our neighbour, being that which makes the first impression upon them, did whatever he could for the well composing his exterior, keeping his gestures, motions, lo…
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11. In all affairs that concerned the service of God, he had an immoveable constancy. And besides the force of his words, there appeared in his face an extraordinary assurance, (though his ordinary deportment was always sweet and quiet) which particularly appeared in all meetings, whereby he manifested such a spirit th…
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*“I received hereby a great support in the performance of these petty exterior offices, and made no difficulty at all to yield myself up to this holily disordered divine order. At the same time I enjoyed such a sensible impression of God, yet excelling all sense, that if I had been thrown like a bowl, I could never hav…
273 wordsSECTION 52CHAPTER X.
_Of his death._ 1. ON the 11th of _April_, 1649, he found himself very ill, and having concealed his sickness five days, was then constrained to take his bed. He endured great pains all over his body, with which his mind too was so much affected, that he profest, if God had not assisted him against the ravings of his …
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12. The pastor of his parish having administered to him the Holy Communion, and observing his deep silence, not speaking one word; but only with profound humility, “My God, my God, pardon me; I am a great sinner!” He asked him the reason, why he spake so little, and did not apply himself to those who were well-pleased …
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20. Thus lived and died M. _de Renty_, one of the most glorious lights God hath bestowed upon his church in our age. He died at _Paris_, in the 37th year of his age, the 24th of _April_ 1649, about noon. We have great reason to admire the secret counsels of God, in taking out of the world, in the flower of his age, a m…
187 wordsSECTION 55THE INTRODUCTION.
THE exceeding riches of the grace of God our Saviour, and the effectual working of his mighty power, have in all ages shone most conspicuously in the holy lives and exemplary conversation of his eminent servants, _the excellent of the earth_, with whom are his peculiar delights. And although, strictly speaking, He onl…
521 wordsSECTION 56CHAPTER I.
_Of his birth and education._ THOMAS WALSH, was born in the year of our Lord 1730, at a place called _Bally Linn_, in the county, and within about ten miles of the city of _Limerick_ in _Ireland_. His father, _Edmund Walsh_, was by occupation a carpenter, a man of tolerable education, and strong natural understanding.…
329 wordsSECTION 57CHAPTER II.
_Of his religion, and the struggle which he found between nature and grace, till the sixteenth year of his age._ HIS parents (being as has been observed) members of, and strongly attached to the church of _Rome_, brought him up in the same principles and communion, and took care that his mind should be early furnished…
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“From the tenth to the fourteenth year of my age, my corruptions increased, took deeper root, and more visibly appeared in my whole conversation: and yet I was more regular and conscientious in discharging my duty towards God. (So I was taught to call a dull form of words, part of which only were addressed to God, and …
791 wordsSECTION 59CHAPTER III.
_Giving a farther account of him; the corruptions he struggled against, and the means he made use of to subdue them, from the sixteenth to the eighteenth year of his age._ NOW, both his sins and convictions daily encreased upon him. The desire of the flesh in particular raged in his nature, and it wanted not its frequ…
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Struggling on still in the dark, he added fasting to his prayers and resolutions. But all this did not do. He still found himself bound as in _affliction and iron_. He remained in sore bondage, doing the evil he would not, and not doing the good, which he would have done, (Romans ♦vii.) His convictions became still sha…
846 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.