Wesley Corpus

3. "But does not the Apostle direct us to `follow after charity' And does he not term it `a more excellent way'" -- He does direct us to "follow after charity;" but not after that alone. His words are, "follow after charity;" and desire spiritual gifts." (1 Cor. 14:1) Yea, "follow after charity;" and desire to spend and to be spent for your brethren. "Follow after charity;" and as you have opportunity do good to all men. In the same verse also wherein he terms this, the way of love, "a more excellent way," he directs the Corinthians to desire other gifts besides it; yea, to desire them earnestly. "Covet earnestly," saith he, "the best gifts; and yet I show unto you a more excellent way." (1 Cor. 12:31.) More excellent than what Than the gifts of healing, of speaking with tongues, and of interpreting, mentioned in the preceding verse; but not more excellent than the way of obedience. Of this the Apostle is not speaking; neither is he speaking of outward religion at all: So that this text is quite wide of the present question. But suppose the Apostle had been speaking of outward as well as inward religion, and comparing them together; suppose, in the comparison, he had given the preference ever so much to the latter; suppose he had preferred (as he justly might) a loving heart, before all outward works whatever; yet it would not follow that we were to reject either one or the other. No; God hath joined them together from the beginning of the world; and let not man put them asunder. 4. "But `God is a Spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.' And is not this enough Nay, ought we not to employ the whole strength of our mind herein Does not attending to outward things clog the soul, that it cannot soar aloft in holy contemplation Does it not damp the vigour of our thought Has it not a natural tendency to encumber and distract the mind Whereas St. Paul would have us to be `without carefulness', and to `wait upon the Lord without distraction.'"