Wesley Corpus

*‘ About the same time you left off going to church, as well as to the sacrament. Your followers very soon trod in your steps; and not content with neglecting the ordinances of God, they began, after your exam ple, to despise them, and all that continued to use them: speaking with equal contempt of the public service, of private prayer, of baptism, and of the Lord’s Supper. ‘“‘ From this time also you began to espouse and teach many uncommon Opinions: as, that there is no resurrection of the body; that there is no general judgment to come; and that there is no hell, no worm that never dieth, no fire that never shall be quenched. “9. Your seriousness and advertence to the presence of God, now declined daily. You could talk on any thing or nothing, just as others did. You could break a jest, oi iaugh at it heartily; and as for fasting, abstinence, and self denial, you, with the Moravians, trampled it under foot.’ In the following paragraphs I recited to him the things he had done with regard to more than one, or two, or three women, concluding thus :-- ** And now you know not. that you have done any thing amiss! You can eatand drink and be merry! Youare every day engaged with variety of company, and frequent the coffee houses! Alas, my brother, what is’ this? How are you above measure hardened by the deceitfulness of sin! Do you remember the story of Santon Barsisa? I pray God your last end may not be like his! O, how have you grieved the Spirit of God! Return to him with weeping, fasting, and mourning. You are in the very belly of hell: only the pit hath not yet shut its mouth upon you. Arise, thou sleeper, and call upon thy God! Perhaps he may yet be found. Because he still bears with me, I cannot despair for you. But you have not a moment to lose. May God this instant strike you to the heart, that you may feel his wrath abiding on you, and have no rest in your bones, by reason of your sin, till all your iniquities are done away !”