8. *If it be inquired, What was the foundation of this integrity, or of his sincerity, courage, patience, and every other valuable and amiable quality, it is easy to give the answer. It was not the excellence of his natural temper: not the strength of his understanding: it was not the force of education; no, nor the advice of his friends. It was no other than faith in a bleeding Lord; _Faith of the operation of God_. It was _a lively hope of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away_. It was _the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost, which was given unto him_, filling his soul with tender, disinterested love to every child of man. From this source arose that torrent of _eloquence_ which frequently bore down all before it: from this, that astonishing force of _persuasion_, which the most hardened sinners could not resist. This it was, which often made his _head as waters_, and his _eyes a fountain of tears_. This it was which enabled him to pour out his soul in _prayer_, in a manner peculiar to himself, with such fulness and ease united together, with such strength and variety both of sentiment and expression.
9. *I may close this head with observing, What an honour it pleased God to put upon his faithful servant, by allowing him to declare his everlasting gospel in so many various countries, to such numbers of people, and with so great an effect, on so many of their precious souls! Have we read or heard of any person since the apostles, who testified the gospel of the grace of God, through so widely extended a space, through so large a part of the habitable world? Have we read or heard of any person who called so many thousands, so many myriads of sinners to repentance? Above all, have we read or heard of any, who has been a blessed instrument in his hand of _bringing_ so many sinners from _darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God_? It is true, were we to talk thus to the gay world, we should be judged to _speak as barbarians_. But _you_ understand the language of the country to which you are going, and whither our dear friend is gone a little before us.
III. But how shall we improve this awful providence? This is the _third_ thing which we have to consider. And the answer to this important question is easy; (may God write it in all our hearts!) By keeping close to the _grand doctrines_ which he delivered: and by drinking into his _Spirit_.
1. And first, let us keep close to the grand scriptural doctrines, which he every where delivered. There are many doctrines of a less essential nature, with regard to which, even the sincere children of God (such is the present weakness of human understanding!) are and have been divided for many ages. In these we may think and let think; we may “agree to disagree.” But mean time let us hold fast the essentials of _the faith, which was once delivered to the saints_; and which this champion of God so strongly insisted on, at all times, and in all places.
2. His fundamental point was, Give God all the glory of whatever is good in man. And in the business of salvation, Set Christ as high, and man as low as possible. With this point, he and his friends at _Oxford_, the original _Methodists_ (so called) set out. Their grand principle was, There is _no power_ (by nature) and _no merit_ in man. They insisted, all power to think, speak, or act right, is in and from the Spirit of Christ: and all merit is (not in man, how high soever in grace, but merely) in the blood of Christ. So he and they taught: There is no power in man, till it is given him from above, to do one good work, to speak one good word, or to form one good desire. For it is not enough to say, all men are _sick of sin_: no, we are all dead _in trespasses and sins_. It follows, that all the children of men are _by nature children of wrath_. We are all _guilty before God_, liable to death temporal and eternal.