PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 15 (of 32)
Wesley, John, 1703-1791 · 93,349 words · 116 reading sections
Part 1
The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Transcriber’s Notes │ │ │ │ …
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Printed by WILLIAM PINE, in _Wine-Street_.…
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THE CONTENTS Of the _Fifteenth_ Volume. ⭘ _A farther appeal to men of reason and religion._ Part II. ⭘ _A farther appeal to men of reason and religion._ Part III. ⭘ _A plain account of the people called Methodists_ ⭘ _The nature, design, and general rules of the United Societies_ ⭘ _Minutes of some late conversati…
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I. 1. IT is not my present design to touch on any particular _opinions_, whether they are right or wrong; nor on any of those smaller points of practice, which are variously held by men of different persuasions: but first, to point out some things which on _common_ principles are condemned by men of every denomination,…
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5. But they called upon his name by vain oaths, by perjury and blasphemy. So _Jeremiah_, _Because of swearing the land mourneth_, (chapter xxiii. 10.) _And though they say, the Lord liveth, surely they swear falsely_, (chapter v. ♦2.) So _Hosea_, _They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant_: So _Ezek…
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9. This was accompanied with _injustice_ in all its forms. Thus all the prophets testify against them, _The Lord looked for_ judgment, _but behold_ oppression; _for righteousness, but behold a cry_, (Isaiah v. 7.) _Thou hast taken_ usury _and increase; thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbour by_ extortion――_Behold, …
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13. This God continually declared to those formal worshippers. That their outward religion was but vain. _To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices_, saith the Lord? _I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs or of he-goats. Bring no more vain oblations:…
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16. In consequence of their resolution not to return, they would not endure sound doctrine, or those that spake it. They _said to the seers, see not, and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things――Speak unto us smooth things――Cause the Holy One of_ Israel _to cease from before us_, (Isaiah xxx. 10, 11.) But _t…
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18. And those who were clear of this, were deeply covetous. _Who is there among you, that would shut the doors for nought? Neither do ye kindle fire on my altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts_, (Malachi vi. 10.) _The priests of_ Zion _preach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for …
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Could there ever be stronger cause for God to cry out, _Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth_! For hath he not _nourished and brought_ us _up_ as his _children? And_ yet, how _have_ we _rebelled against_ him! If _Israel_ of old _did not know God_; if his antient people _did not consider_; was this peculiar to them? A…
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It was not therefore of the children of _Israel_ alone, that the messenger of God might say, _There is none_ (comparatively) _that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth himself up to take hold of thee_. 4. Ye have heard, that it was said to them of old time, _Because of_ swearing _the land mourneth_. But if this might …
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“When a _justice of peace_ is sworn into the commission, he makes oath――‘That he shall do equal right to the poor and to the rich, after his cunning, wit and power, and after the laws and customs of the realm and statutes thereof made, in all articles in the king’s commission to him directed.’――What those articles are,…
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“You shall do your best endeavour, that rogues, vagabonds and night-walkers, be apprehended; and that the statutes made for their punishment, be duly put in execution: you shall have _a watchful eye_ to such as shall keep any house or place where any _unlawful game_ is used: as also to _such_ as shall _frequent_ such p…
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9. “I will now (he goes on) address myself to _church-wardens_. Your oath is, ‘That you shall well and truly execute the office of a _church-warden_, for the ensuing year; and to the best of your skill and knowledge, _present_ such persons and things, as are _presentable_, by the ecclesiastical laws of this realm.’ I s…
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On this it may be observed, 1. That there are regular fees, _established by law_, for some of these officers; 2. That the rest do hereby engage not to take or receive _any reward or gratuity, directly or indirectly_, other than their salary or allowance from the crown, _on any account whatsoever_. How do the former ke…
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* How many are they who now speak thus? According to whose _minute_ philosophy, the _particular_ providence of God is utterly exploded, _the hairs of our head are_ no longer _numbered_: And _not_ only _a sparrow_, but a city, an empire may _fall to the ground, without the will_ or care _of our heavenly Father_. You all…
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16. It is once mentioned in the prophets, _In thee_ (Jerusalem) _they have set light by father and mother_. But frequent mention is made of their setting light by their civil parents, of their murmurings and rebellions against their governors. Yet surely _our_ boasting against them is excluded, even in this respect. Fo…
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18. Of old time there were also those that _were at ease in Zion, that lay upon beds of ivory, and stretched themselves upon their couches, that ♦ate the lambs out of the flock, and calves out of the stall_. But how inelegant were these ancient _epicures! Lambs out of the flock, and calves out of the stall!_ Were these…
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20. Neither do we yield to them in _injustice_ any more than _uncleanness_. How frequent are open robberies among us? Is not _the act of violence_ even _in our streets_? And what laws are sufficient to prevent it? Does not _theft_ of various kinds abound in all parts of the land, even tho’ death be the punishment of it…
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This is he that is called an _honest attorney_! How much honester is a pick-pocket? But there is a magistrate whose peculiar office it is, to redress the injured and oppressed. Go then and make trial of this remedy; Go, and tell your case to the _Lord Chancellor_. Hold; you must go on regularly: you must tell him your…
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23. There is one instance more of (I know not what to term it) injustice, oppression, sacrilege, which hath long cried aloud in the ears of God. For among men, who doth hear? I mean the management of many of those who are intrusted with our public charities. By the pious munificence of our fore-fathers, we have abundan…
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25. And as for those few who abstain from outward sins, is their heart right with God? May he not say of us also (as of the _Jews_) _This people is uncircumcised in heart_? Are not _you_? Do you then _love the_ Lord _your_ God, _with all your heart, and with all your strength_? Is he _your_ God and your all? The desire…
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Surely never was any people more fitted for destruction! _Impudent children are they, and stiff hearted. Are they ashamed when they have committed abomination?_ When they have openly prophaned the day of the Lord? When they have committed lewdness? Or when they have uttered such curses and blasphemies, as are not heard…
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Have those who are exposed to still more danger, the _English sea-forces_, more religion than those at land? It is said they were once remarkable for this: and it is certain Sir _Francis Drake_ feared God, as did most of his commanders; and we have reason to believe, his marines and sailors too. But what shall we say o…
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Nay, who dares repel one of the greatest men in his parish from the Lord’s table? Even tho’ he be a drunkard or a common swearer? Yea tho’ he openly deny the Lord that bought him? Mr. _Stonhouse did_ this once. But what was the event? The gentleman brought an action against him, for the terror of all such insolent fell…
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Can any shepherd do this (and if he do not, he will never _give any account with joy_) who imagines, he has little more to do, then _to preach_ once or twice a week? That this is the _main point_, the _chief part_ of the office, which he hath taken upon himself before God? What gross ignorance is this? What a total mis…
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How great will _your_ damnation be, who _destroy_ souls, instead of _saving_ them? Where will you appear, or how will you stand, _in that great and terrible day of the Lord_! How will ye lift up your head, when _the Lord descends from heaven, in flaming fire, to take vengeance on his adversaries_! More especially on th…
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How much more sensible must you be of this, if you do not rest on the surface, but enquire into the bottom of religion, the religion of the heart? For, what inward unholiness, what evil tempers are among us, which have not a place among you also? You likewise bewail that ignorance of God, that want of faith and of the …
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But is this done? Do all your members adorn the gospel? Are they all _holy as he which hath called us is holy_? I fear not. I have known some instances to the contrary; and doubtless you know many more. There are unholy, outwardly unholy men, in _your_ congregations also: men that prophane either the name or the day of…
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Consult the light God has given you, and you must see that _plainness of speech_ does not lie in _a single point_, but implies an open, undisguised sincerity, a child-like simplicity _in all we speak_. * I do not desire you to refrain from saying _thou_ or _thee_. I would not spend ten words about it. But I desire you…
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¹ You say, “You _do testify against it_ in the congregation.” Against what? “Against gay and gaudy apparel.” I grant it. But this is not the thing I speak of. You quite mistake my mark. Do you testify against the _costliness_ of their apparel, however plain and grave it may be? Against the _price_ of the velvet, the li…
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* 9. Art thou acquainted with the _leading of his Spirit_, not by notion only, but by living experience? I fear very many of you talk of this, who do not so much as know what it means. How does the Spirit of God _lead_ his children, to this, or that particular action? Do you imagine, it is by _blind impulse_ only? By _…
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12. Neither can this self-indulgence be reconciled, with the being _zealous of good works_. For by this needless and continual expence, you disable yourself from doing good. You bind your own hands. You make it impossible for you to do that good which otherwise you might. So that you injure the poor in the same proport…
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_Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God_ is, that he would _gather the outcasts of Israel_. And I doubt not, but when the fulness of the _Gentiles_ is come in, then _all Israel shall be saved_. But mean time, is there not great cause that ye should say with _Daniel_, _O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, b…
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17. I intreat you to reflect, whether there are not other inhabitants in your breast, which leave no room for happiness there. May you not discover, through a thousand disguises, pride? Too high an opinion of yourself? Vanity, thirst of praise, even (who would believe it?) of the applause of knaves and fools? Unevennes…
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20. See ye not, what advantage every way, a _Christian_ has over _you_? Probably the reason you saw it not before was, because you knew none but _nominal_ Christians; men who professed to _believe_ more (in _their way_ of believing) but had no more of the knowledge or love of God than yourselves. So that with regard to…
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And when you thus love God and all mankind, and are transformed into his likeness, then the commandments of God will not be grievous; you will no more complain, that they destroy the comforts of life. So far from it, that they will be the very joy of your heart; ways of pleasantness, paths of peace! You will experience…
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_And when he came near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace!_ Luke xix. 41, 42. I. 1. NOW, what can an impartial person think concerning the present state of _religion_ in _England_? Is there a nation under the s…
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4. Just at this time, when we wanted little of _filling up the measure of our iniquities_, two or three clergymen of the CHURCH of ENGLAND began vehemently to _call sinners to repentance_. In two or three years they had sounded the alarm, to the utmost borders of the land. Many thousands gathered together to hear them;…
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7. In what age has such a work been wrought, considering the _swiftness_ as well as the _extent_ of it? When have such _numbers_ of sinners in so _short_ a time been recovered from the error of their ways? When hath religion, I will not say, since the _reformation_, but since the time of _Constantine the Great_, made s…
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11. It may be farther observed, the religion of those we now speak of, is entirely clear from _bigotry_. (Perhaps this might have been ranked with _superstition_, of which it seems to be only a particular species.) They are in no wise _bigotted_ to _opinions_. They do indeed hold right opinions. But they are peculiarly…
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II. 1. And yet those _who can discern the face of the sky, cannot discern the signs of the times_. Yet those who are esteemed wise men do not know, that God is now reviving his work upon earth. Indeed concerning some of these the reason is plain; they _know_ not, because they _think_ not of it. Their thoughts are other…
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6. On _June 20, 1743_, _John Baker_, at the head of a large mob came to the house of _Jonas Turner_, at _West-Bramwick_ near _Wensbury_, and asked him, “Whether he would _keep from these men_ that went preaching about, and go to the church?” he answered, “I do _go to the church_. But I never see any of you ♦there.” Pre…
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_Monday, February 6_, between seven and eight at night, came part of the same company. Hearing them afar off, _John_ and his wife fastened the door, and left the house. Some of the neighbours going in soon after, found them destroying all they could. Two chairs and several bundles of linen were laid upon the fire. Afte…
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This whole pretence has been already cut up by the roots! It having been shewn at large, that every branch of this doctrine, is the plain doctrine of scripture, interpreted by our own church. Therefore it cannot be either _false_ or _erroneous_, provided the scripture be true. Neither can it be _enthusiastick_, unless …
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“But they damn all, you say, beside themselves.” _Damn_ all! What kind of word is this? They damn no man. None is able to damn any man, but the Lord and judge of all. What you probably mean by that strange expression is, they declare that God condemns all, beside those who believe in Jesus Christ, and love him and keep…
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7. But what do you infer from their _fewness_? That because they are _few_, therefore God cannot _work by them_? Upon what scripture do you ground this? I thought it was _the same to him, to save by many or few_. Upon what reason? Why cannot God save ten thousand souls by one man, as well as by ten thousand? How little…
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9. “What! Then you make yourselves, _like the apostles_.” Because this silly objection has so often been urged, I will for once spend a few words upon it, though it does not deserve that honour. Why, must not every man, whether clergyman, or layman, be in some respects _like the apostles_, or go to hell? Can any man be…
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If we consider these things, we shall be the less surprized at what occurs in the 8th chapter of the _Acts_: _At that time there was a great persecution against the church, and they ♦were all scattered abroad_: (i. e. all the _church_, all the believers in Jesus) _throughout the regions of_ Judea _and_ Samaria. (verse …
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And how did they watch over the sinners lately reformed? Even as a leopard watcheth over his prey. They drove some of them also from the Lord’s table; to which till _now_ they had no desire to approach. They preached all manner of evil concerning them, openly cursing them in the name of the Lord. They turned many out o…
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Consider this matter, I intreat you, a little farther. Here are thirty thousand persons (perhaps somewhat more) of whom I take care, watching over their souls as he that must give ♦account. In order hereto it lies upon me (so I judge) at the peril of my own salvation, to know not only their names, but their outward and…
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“Does _John_ beyond his strength persist to go, To his frail carcase literally foe? Careless of health, as if in haste to die, And lavish time t’ insure eternity!” So that upon the whole, I see not what God could have done more in this respect which he hath not done. Or what _instruments_ he could have employed in suc…
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* Behold the amazing love of God to the outcasts of men! His tender condescention to their folly! They would regard nothing done _in the usual way_. All this was lost upon them. The _ordinary_ preaching of the word of God, they would not even deign to hear. So the devil made sure of these careless ones. For who should …
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* 25. Highly needful it is, that some should do this, lest those poor souls be lost without remedy. And it should rejoice the hearts of all who desire the kingdom of God should come, that so many of them have been snatched already from the mouth of the lion, by an _uncommon_ (though not unlawful) way. This circumstance…
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* 28. But to all this it may possibly be replied, “When you bring your credentials with you, when you prove by _miracles_ what you assert, then we will acknowledge that God hath sent you.” What is it you would have us _prove_ by _miracles_? That the _doctrines_ we preach are true? This is not the way to prove that: (a…
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Do you know what you say? You have, I am afraid, a confused huddle of ideas in your head. And I doubt, you have not _capacity_ to clear them up yourself; nor _coolness_ enough, to receive help from others. However I will try. What is _schism_? Have you any determinate idea of it? I ask ♦the rather, because I have foun…
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O why will you sink these poor souls deeper into perdition, than they are sunk already? Why will you prophesy unto them peace, peace; when there is no peace? Why, if you do it not yourself, (whether you cannot, or will not, God knoweth) should you hinder us from _guiding them into the way of peace_? 33. Will you endea…
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IV. 1. Surely ye are _without excuse_, all who do not yet know the day of your visitation! The day, wherein the great God, who hath been forgotten among us, days without number, is arising at once to be avenged of his adversaries, and to visit and redeem his people. Are not his judgments and mercies both abroad? And st…
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5. Little more _excuse_ have you, who are still in _doubt_ concerning _this_ day of your visitation. For you have all the proof that you can reasonably expect or desire, all that the nature of the thing requires. That in many places, abundance of notorious sinners are totally reformed, is declared by a thousand eye and…
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* But I do not include that venerable man, Mr. _Philip Henry_, nor any that were of his Spirit, in this number. I know they abhorred contending about _externals_. Neither did they _separate themselves_ from the church. They continued therein, till they were driven out, whether they would or no. I cannot but tenderly sy…
805 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.