Wesley Corpus

To Miss March Date: CARMARTHEN, August 12, 1769. Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1769) Author: John Wesley --- At some times it is needful to say, 'I will pray with the Spirit and with the understanding also.' At other times the understanding has little to do, while the soul is poured forth in passive prayer. I believe we found the answer to many prayers at the Conference, particularly on the last two days. At the conclusion all the preachers were melted down while they were singing those lines for me,-- Thou who so long hast saved me here, A little longer save; Till, freed from sin and freed from fear, I sink into a grave. Till glad I lay my body down, Thy servant's steps attend; And, oh, my life of mercies crown With a triumphant end! Various scriptures show that we may pray with resignation for the life or ease of a friend: it is enough that every petition be closed with, 'Not as I will, but as Thou wilt.' It is true that a believer knows the devices of Satan to be many and various. But the Apostle means more than this--namely, that those who have the unction of the Holy One are thereby enabled to discern his devices whenever they occur, and to distinguish them from the influences of the good Spirit, how finely soever they are disguised. To answer for ourselves is often a cross; and we had much rather let people think and talk as they please: but it is a cross we must often take up; otherwise we 'walk not charitably ' if we do not 'reprove our brother '; if we 'suffer sin upon him ' we 'hate our brother in our heart.'