Wesley Corpus

18. But all rich men are under a continual temptation to acquaintance and conversation with worldly men. They are likewise under a continual temptation to pride, to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think. They are strongly tempted to revenge, when they are ever so little affronted: And, having the means in their own hands, how few are there that resist the temptation! They are continually tempted to sloth, indolence, love of ease, softness, delicacy; to hatred of self-denial, and taking up the cross, even that of fasting and rising early, without which it is impossible to grow in grace. If you are increased in goods, do not you know that these things are so Do you contract no intimacy with worldly men Do not you converse with them more than duty requires Are you in no danger of pride of thinking yourself better than your poor, dirty neighbours Do you never resent, yea, and revenge an affront Do you never render evil for evil Do not you give way to indolence or love of ease Do you deny yourself, and take up your cross daily Do you constantly rise as early as you did once Why not Is not your soul as precious now as it was then How often do you fast Is not this a duty to you, as much as to a day-labourer But if you are wanting in this, or any other respect, who will tell you of it Who dares tell you the plain truth, but those who neither hope nor fear any thing from you And if any venture to deal plainly with you, how hard is it for you to bear it! Are not you far less reprovable, far less advisable, than when you were poor It is well if you can bear reproof even from me: And in a few days you will see me no more. Once more, therefore, I say, having gained and saved all you can, do you give all you can else your money will eat your flesh as fire, and will sink you to the nethermost hell! O beware of "laying up treasures upon earth!" Is it not treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath