Wesley Corpus

Causes Of The Inefficacy Of Christianity "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered" Jer. 8:22. 1. This question, as here proposed by the Prophet, relates only to a particular people, -- the children of Israel. But I would here consider it in a general sense, with relation to all mankind. I would seriously inquire, Why has Christianity done so little good in the world Is it not the balm, the outward means, which the great Physician has given to men, to restore their spiritual health Why then is it not restored You say, Because of the deep and universal corruption of human nature. Most true; but here is the very difficulty. Was it not intended, by our all-wise and almighty Creator, to be the remedy for that corruption A universal remedy, for a universal evil But it has not answered this intention it never did; it does not answer it at this day. The disease still remains in its full strength: Wickedness of every kind; vice, inward and outward, in all its forms, still overspreads the face of the earth. 2. O Lord God, "righteous art thou! Yet let us plead with thee." How is this Hast thou forgotten the world thou hast made; which thou hast created for thy own glory Canst thou despise the work of thy own hands, the purchase of thy Son's blood Thou hast given medicine to heal our sickness; yet our sickness is not healed. Yet darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness the people; yea, Darkness such as devils feel, Issuing from the pit of hell.