Wesley Corpus

4. But perhaps you are not conscious of even any sin of omission which impairs your peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Is there not then some inward sin, which as a root of bitterness, springs up in your heart to trouble you Is not your dryness, and barrenness of soul, occasioned by your heart's "departing from the living God" Has not "the foot of pride come against" you Have you not thought of yourself "more highly than you ought to think" Have you not, in any respect, "sacrificed to your own net, and burned incense to your own drag" Have you not ascribed your success in any undertaking to your own courage, or strength, or wisdom Have you not boasted of something "you have received, as though you had not received it" Have you not gloried in anything, "save the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" Have you not sought after or desired the praise of men Have you not taken pleasure in it If so, you see the way you are to take. If you have fallen by pride, "humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, and he will exalt you in due time." Have you not forced him to depart from you, by giving place to anger Have you not "fretted yourself because of the ungodly" or "been envious against the evil-doers" Have you not been offended at any of your brethren, looking at their (real or imagined) sin, so as to sin yourself against the great law of love, by estranging your heart from them Then look unto the Lord, that you may renew your strength; that all this sharpness and coldness may be done away; that love and peace and joy may return together, and you may be invariably kind to each other, and "tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Have not you given way to any foolish desire To any kind or degree of inordinate affection How then can the love of God have place in your heart, till you put away your idols "Be not deceived: God is not mocked:" He will not dwell in a divided heart. As long, therefore, as you cherish Delilah in your bosom he has no place there.