Wesley Corpus

has fulfilled the Law for you. .You are no longer subject to ordinances. You are now to be still, and wait upon God.’ So I did not go to the sacrament for two months. Neither did I kneel down to pray, or use any other ordinance, unless I was moved to it. At first God strove with me; but the devil told me, it was the spirit of bondage, and I must resist it; for I was free from the Law. In a little time he left off striving, and I grew quite easy and satisfied ; but withal quite dead and cold. I could now hear idle talking without any pain; nay, and my heart began to join with it, Then I awoke, as one out of sleep, and looked for the Lord; but he was departed from me. Just then the Brethren at Fetter-lane began to preach stillness. I cried out, ‘ This doctrine is not right; for by yielding to this, I have lost all my peace and love.’ I was now in great distress. The devil told me, it was impossible to renew me again to repentance ; so that I fell into utter despair, and all my friends believed me to be quite distracted.