PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 14 (of 32)
Wesley, John, 1703-1791 · 79,981 words · 102 reading sections
Part 1
The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Transcriber’s Notes │ │ │ │ …
248 wordsSECTION 2VOLUME XIV.
BRISTOL: Printed by WILLIAM PINE, in _Wine-Street_. MDCCLXXII. THE CONTENTS Of the FOURTEENTH VOLUME. ⭘ _Extract of Mrs. L****’s Letters (continued.)_ ⭘ _Meditations upon some texts of Scripture._ ⭘ _Extracts from a Little Diary._ ⭘ _Letters written by Jane Cooper._ ⭘ _Some account of her life and death._ ⭘ _Som…
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YOUR answer to my question, on what is the proper foundation of our rejoicing in temporal blessings, is perfectly satisfactory, and I thank you for it. What you say of Mr. _P._’s tract is just what I wanted: possibly some fit season may be given me to make a good use of it. One would imagine that if singleness of eye, …
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HOW shall I find words to thank you for your sweet expressions of care and friendship for my soul? Ten thousand thousand blessings on your own for this kindness.――――I hope I may in _one_ sense say, that my soul prospers, because I desire nothing but that the will of God may be done in me and by me. But I have not at pr…
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I SHALL not forget the great reason I had to be thankful both to God and you, for our _last_ conversation. It seemed to me, that I had more liberty of speaking to you than usual, though a thousand things were yet left unsaid; and you led me to make many observations, which I hope will be of _lasting_ benefit to my soul…
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In regard to temporal blessings, I have now and then a little dispute with some of my religious friends, and I want your authority to strengthen my arguments.――They say, Whatever temporal blessing God gives, you are to rejoice and take a pleasure in it, as his gift. And I say, Whatever temporal blessing God bestows, th…
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To feel, and immediately to fly to that blood of sprinkling which alone can cleanse me from this pollution. But indeed, Sir, I find every day more and more the truth of your words, “that I have need to _watch always_.” I am set as it were in the midst of snares, both friends and enemies conspiring together to keep me f…
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O MY God, how fatally do I experience the truth of this assertion! My heart is indeed deceitful above all things. And how great is my sorrow on the melancholy reflection? Lord, I have by the deceitfulness and wickedness of my own heart, justly forfeited my title to the joys of eternity, incurred thy indignation, and ma…
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Again. I resolve every day to be perfectly easy under every little mortification I may meet in the common occurrences of life. How weak (I cry) is it to be affected by the folly or ill-nature of the world! Why should I regard the sneers of people, whose low sentiments are only deserving pity? Can the unreasonable, and …
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_This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality._ OH glorious and ever transporting thought! Sure and never failing remedy for all the troubles and disappointments of life!――Incorruption and immortality!――Let me dwell on the charming words: they carry peace and everlasting joy in th…
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THIS text is so strong a proof of the unreasonableness and folly of national or religious prejudices, that one would imagine it should intirely banish those odious and pernicious principles, from the whole Christian world. But daily experience too plainly discovers the contrary; and the very people who would be thought…
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WHEN we are deprived of all the joys of life, betrayed by those we trusted, forsaken by our friends, triumphed over by our enemies, and robbed of our dearest hopes, where and to whom must we go for relief? What comfort can be hoped in a condition so desperate.――Will reflection on the past give us ease?――Alas! it makes …
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*JANUARY 5, 1754‒5. Glory to the God of boundless mercy, who has this day, when sinking under great heaviness, both of soul and body, lifted up the light of his countenance upon me, and made me drink deep of his redeeming love.――Oh sweetest and most compassionate Jesus! How do thy tender mercies follow and support my s…
861 wordsSECTION 14SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JANE COOPER.
1. JANE COOPER was born at _Hingham_, in the county of _Norfolk_, in the year 1738. Her father died when she was very young, and some time after, her mother married again. She was a daughter of affliction from her childhood; her father-in-law meeting with many misfortunes: But rather than be burdensome to any, when she…
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4. In the beginning of _November_, she seemed to have a foresight of what was coming upon her, and used frequently to sing these words: “When pain o’er this weak flesh prevails, With lamb-like patience arm my breast.” And when she sent to let me know she was ill, she wrote in her note, “I suffer the will of Jesus. Al…
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11. The apothecary soon came in. She strove to speak to him, but had not utterance. One asked of the Lord, to give her power to speak; and in a few moments she spoke distinctly. Immediately she exhorted him to believe. He said, “I hope I do.” “Do you then, replied she earnestly, find in Christ all you want? You may. An…
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I SINCERELY rejoice, to find you are convinced of a most important, but self-abasing truth, that you are _yourself_ utterly unable to work out your own salvation, or to form so much as one good thought, or one desire towards it. Rest not in this conviction, but seek, ask, knock: and you shall assuredly obtain that fait…
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Let me recommend much prayer to you: not only that praying frame of mind, which a Christian should continually possess, but frequent acts of secret prayer. And not only pray, but wait and expect the answer. I long, I love to hear, that you are sinking deeper in the knowledge of yourself, and rising higher in the love o…
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I KNOW not whether the providence of God will ever permit me to see you again. But I can leave it to him, in sure hopes that I shall meet your happy spirit, in the realms of endless day. There we shall surely exult in a Redeemer’s presence. We shall see him as he is. And indeed when I have a view, though a transient on…
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*I have taken the first opportunity to write, in hopes of profiting by your answer. I want to know the most effectual way to grow in grace; how to improve by all things; how to make good use of the dulness which often creeps upon my mind, and makes my soul stupidly inactive. I want to be all attention to God; to have e…
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*I find my fellowship with heaven is increased since I wrote last: the King of eternity makes me capable of communing with him, and though I tread but the outward borders of his sanctuary, he causes me to hear his voice, inviting me to come forward. He assures me, he will help me to overcome, and gives me to inherit al…
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YOUR’s came in a seasonable time, as the return of prayer. I felt some pain because I did not hear from you sooner. But our God doth all things well; he shall supply all your wants, and make all grace to abound towards you. He delights to complete the work he begins, and happy is the soul that does not resist his will.…
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*When I left you on Friday, and had finished my business, I sat down alone and in misery. The Lord directed me to those words: _be not affrighted: I know whom ye seek; Jesus of Nazareth: he is not here, he is risen, and lo he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall you see him_. I believed I should, and came home in…
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MY heart feels pure union with yours. I love you as disinterestedly as I think I can. Sure the Lord is pouring upon you the spirit of sacrificing all to him. I wish you good luck in his name! Go on, my dear friend. Life is a noble thing, while our employment is doing the will of God from the heart. May you clearly see …
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Soon after this I went to _London_, for eight weeks, where I heard Mr. _Jones_ (of _Southwark_) preach, and was affected at hearing of the sufferings of Christ, much as I used to be at seeing or reading of a tragedy. I was afterwards asked to hear Mr. _Romaine_. I did so, but could not understand him. The night I left …
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I was near two years at home after this. Then the Lord fulfilled his promise: He _gave me the bread of adversity and the water of affliction_; but _my eyes_ did _see my teachers_. I was now more desirous than ever, to be made conformable to the will of God: but I thought, to believe the doctrine of perfection, was dero…
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* * * * * _April 14, 1761._ _Reverend and dear Sir_, GOD has been more gracious to my soul than I could ask or think. I find him as a place of broad waters, deep and large, and I feel my inability to fathom that depth of love. In Jesus are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hid: and he…
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From the time you preached on _Galatians_ v. 5. I saw clearly the true state of my soul. That sermon described my heart, and what it wanted to be truly happy. You read Mr. _M._’s letter, and it described the religion which I desired. From that time the prize appeared in view, and I was enabled to follow hard after it. …
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He daily makes to me new discoveries of his grace and power, and every fresh manifestation more effectually unites my heart to him who is altogether lovely. I love my friends in him: he gives the affection I feel, and it always leads to him. I believe, when I quit the inconveniencies of mortality, I shall love with gre…
321 wordsSECTION 30SOME ACCOUNT OF THE EXPERIENCE OF E. J.
1. FOR many years I had a desire to love God, and thought I could submit to be of any sect or denomination, if this would bring me nearer to him: only rejecting the name of a _Methodist_. For I thought them to be a deluded people, and the off scouring of the earth. I was in this temper, when I heard a Minister preach o…
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3. For three weeks I remained exceeding happy. My lamp was lighted, and I had oil in my vessel. The scriptures were opened to me, and were spirit and life: in the Lord’s supper I found the peace that passeth all understanding. None can express the excellency of the virtue which flows from the merits of Christ. I was gr…
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♦ “familiary” replaced with “familiarly” 4. For these ten years I have enjoyed this haven of rest. It has been to me as a day without a cloud. I never have had a tedious moment, nor a murmuring thought. I have been tempted in all things; yet nothing obscures my light, or obstructs my way; but still _I rejoice evermore…
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9. O that sinners would give up their own wisdom, and become fools, that they may be made wise! Cannot the Lord do a great work in a little time? In the hour that he convinced _me_ of the necessity of it, before that hour was expired, I was justified. Thirteen months after (as I before observed,) I was convinced of the…
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*6. Now faith (supposing the scripture to be of God) is πραγμάτων ♦ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων, the demonstrative evidence of things unseen, the supernatural evidence of things invisible, not perceivable by eyes of flesh, or by any of our natural senses or faculties. Faith is that divine evidence, whereby the spiritual man d…
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12. This is a short, rude sketch of the doctrine we teach. These are our fundamental principles: and we spend our lives in confirming others herein, and in a behaviour suitable to them. Now, if you are a reasonable man, although you do not believe the Christian system to be of God, lay your hand upon your breast, and …
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“But farther then this, I believe not; all is dark, my thought is lost. But I hear (added he) you preach to a great number of people every night and morning. Pray, what would you do with them? Whither would you lead them? What religion do you preach? What is it good for?” I replied, “I do preach to as many as desire to…
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24. We grant, nothing is more unreasonable, than to imagine that such mighty effects as these, can be wrought by that poor, empty, insignificant thing, which the world _calls_ faith, and you among them. But supposing there be such a faith on the earth, as that which the apostle speaks of, such an intercourse between Go…
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28. We join with you then in desiring a religion founded on reason, and every way agreeable thereto. But one question still remains to be asked, what do you mean by _reason_? I suppose you mean the eternal reason, or, the nature of things: The nature of God, and the nature of man, with the relations necessarily subsist…
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34. To use the trite instance. As you cannot _reason_ concerning colours, if you have no _natural sight_, because all the _ideas_ received by your other senses are of a different kind; so that neither your _hearing_, nor any _other sense_, can supply your want of _sight_, or furnish your reason in this respect with mat…
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40. How is it that you call yourselves men of reason? Is reason inconsistent with itself? You are the farthest of all men under the sun from any pretence to that character. A common swearer, a sabbath-breaker, a whoremonger, a drunkard, who says he believes the scripture is of God, is a monster upon earth, the greatest…
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*What then can you do? How can you employ the time that lies so heavy upon your hands? This very thing which you seek, declare we unto you. The thing _you_ want, is the religion _we_ preach. That alone leaves no time upon our hands. It fills up all the blank spaces of life. It exactly takes up all the time we have to s…
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50. Oh! no longer shut your eyes against the light. Know you have a name that you live, but are dead. Your soul is utterly dead in sin; dead in pride, in vanity, in self-will, in sensuality, in love of the world. You are utterly dead to God. There is no intercourse between your soul and God. _You have neither seen him_…
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55. Have you not another objection nearly allied to this, namely, that we preach perfection? True; but what perfection? The term you cannot object to; because it is scriptural. All the difficulty is, to fix the meaning of it, according to the word of God. And this we have done again and again, declaring to all the worl…
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60. Indeed the bishop of _Rome_ saith, “If any man hold this, let him be an Anathema Maranatha.” But ’tis to be hoped, _Papal_ Anathemas do not move _you_. You are a member of the church of _England_. Are you? Then the controversy is at an end. Then hear the church. Faith is a sure trust which a man hath in God, that h…
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64. “But by talking thus you encourage sinners.” I do encourage them――to repent: and do not you? Do not you know how many heap sin upon sin, purely for want of such encouragement? Because they think, “they can never be forgiven: there is no place for repentance left?” Does not your heart also bleed for them? What would…
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67. Now cannot _you_ join in all this? Is it not the very language of your heart? O when will you take knowledge, that _our_ whole concern, our constant labour is, to bring all the world to the religion which you feel, to solid, inward, vital religion! What _power_ is it then that keeps us asunder? _Is thine heart righ…
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72. But waving the things that are past: which of you now convinceth us of sin? Which of you (I here more especially appeal to my brethren, the clergy) can personally convict us of any ungodliness or unholiness of conversation? Ye know in your own hearts, (all that are candid men, all that are not utterly blinded with …
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78. This being premised, I ask, How do we undermine or destroy the church? The provincial, visible church of _England_? The article mentions three things as essential to a visible church: 1st, Living faith, without which indeed there can be no church at all, neither visible nor invisible: 2dly, Preaching (and consequen…
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8. “The curate of every parish shall diligently _upon Sundays and Holydays, after the second lesson at_ evening prayer, _openly in the church_, instruct and examine so many children as he shall think convenient, in some part of the catechism. 9. “Whensoever the bishop shall give notice for children to be brought unto …
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84. “But why then (say some) do you leave the church?” _Leave the church!_ What can you mean? Do we leave so much as the _church walls_? Your own eyes tell you, we do not. Do we leave the _ordinances of the church_? You daily see and know the contrary. Do we leave the _fundamental doctrine of the church_, namely, Salva…
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89. “But (it is said) things are fairly altered now. Now I can’t complain of wanting any thing; having the yearly income of a bishop in _London_, over and above what I gain at other places.” At what other places, my friend? Inform yourself a little better, and you will find, that both at _Newcastle_, _Bristol_, and _Ki…
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95. And what is the comfort you have found out for me in these circumstances? Why, that “I shall not die a beggar.” So now I am supposed to be heaping up riches,――“that I may leave them behind me.” Leave them behind me! For whom? My wife and children? Who are they? They are yet unborn. Unless thou meanest the children …
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98. If you had been then told, that the jealous God would soon arise and maintain his own cause; that he would pour down his Spirit from on high, and renew the face of the earth; that he would shed abroad his love in the hearts of the outcasts of men, producing all holy and heavenly tempers, expelling anger, and pride,…
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7 O what an age of golden days! O what a choice, peculiar race! Wash’d in the Lamb’s all-cleansing blood, Anointed kings, and priests to God. 8 Where shall I wander now to find The successors they left behind? The faithful, whom I seek in vain, Are minish’d from the sons of men. 9 Ye different sects, who all declare,…
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1 JESUS, from whom all blessings flow, Great builder of thy church below, If now thy spirit moves my breast, Hear, and fulfil thy own request. 2 The few that truly call thee Lord, And wait thy sanctifying word; And thee their utmost Saviour own, Unite, and perfect them in one. 3 Gather them in on every side, And in t…
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IN a former treatise I declared, in the plainest manner I could, both my principles and practice; and answered some of the most important, as well as the most common objections to each. But I have not yet delivered my own soul. I believe it is still incumbent upon me to answer other objections, particularly such as hav…
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5. The first sowing of this seed, I cannot conceive to be other than instantaneous: whether I consider experience, or the word of God, or the very nature of the thing――however I contend not for a circumstance, but the substance; if you can attain it another way, do. Only see that you do attain it; for if you fall short…
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2. To prove this doctrine unscriptural, That “Faith alone is the condition of justification,” you alledge, That “Sanctification, according to scripture, must go before it:” To evince which, you quote the following texts, which I leave as I find them: _Go, disciple all nations――teaching them to observe all things, whats…
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*As earnestly therefore as our church inculcates justification by faith alone, she nevertheless supposes _repentance_ to be previous to faith, and _fruits meet for repentance_: yea, and universal holiness to be previous to final justification, as evidently appears from the following words: *“Let us beseech him――that t…
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“So that the grace of God doth not shut ♦out the justice (or righteousness) of God in our justification; but only shutteth out the righteousness of man――――as to _deserving_ our justification.” ♦ “our” replaced with “out” “And therefore St. _Paul_ declareth nothing on the behalf of man, concerning his justification bu…
897 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.