Wesley Corpus

"Examine yourselves, therefore," not only whether ye are sincere, but "whether ye be in the faith." Examine narrowly, (for it imports you much,) what is the ruling principle in your soul! Is it the love of God Is it the fear of God Or is it neither one nor the other Is it not rather the love of the world the love of pleasure, or gain of ease, or reputation If so, you are not come so far as a Jew. You are but a Heathen still. Have you heaven in your heart Have you the Spirit of adoption, ever crying, Abba, Father Or do you cry unto God, as "out of the belly of hell," overwhelmed with sorrow and fear Or are you a stranger to this whole affair, and cannot imagine what I mean Heathen, pull off the mask! Thou hast never put on Christ! Stand barefaced! Look up to heaven; and own before Him that liveth for ever and ever, thou hast no part, either among the sons of servants of God! Whosoever thou art: Dost thou commit sin, or dost thou not If thou dost, is it willingly, or unwillingly In either case, God hath told thee whose thou art: "He that committeth sin is of the devil." If thou committest it willingly, thou art his faithful servant: He will not fail to reward thy labour. If unwillingly, still thou art his servant. God deliver thee out of his hands! Art thou daily fighting against all sin And daily more than conqueror I acknowledge thee for a child of God. O stand fast in thy glorious liberty! Art thou fighting, but not conquering striving for the mastery, but not able to attain Then thou art not yet a believer in Christ; but follow on, and thou shalt know the Lord. Art thou not fighting at all, but leading an easy, indolent, fashionable life! O how hast thou dared to name the name of Christ, only to make it a reproach among the Heathen Awake, thou sleeper! Call upon thy God before the deep swallow thee up!