Wesley Corpus

9. O that God would enable me once more, before I go hence and am no more seen, to lift up my voice like a trumpet to those who gain and save all they can, but do not give all they can! Ye are the men, some of the chief men, who continually grieve the Holy Spirit of God, and in a great measure stop his gracious influence from descending on our assemblies. Many of your brethren, beloved of God, have not food to eat; they have not raiment to put on; they have not a place where to lay their head. And why are they thus distressed Because you impiously, unjustly, and cruelly detain from them what your Master and theirs lodges in your hands on purpose to supply their wants! See that poor member of Christ, pinched with hunger, shivering with cold, half naked! Meantime you have plenty of this world's goods, -- of meat, drink, and apparel. In the name of God, what are you doing Do you neither fear God, nor regard man Why do you not deal your bread to the hungry, and cover the naked with a garment Have you laid out in your own costly apparel what would have answered both these intentions Did God command you so to do Does he commend you for so doing. Did he entrust you with his (not your) goods for this end And does he now say, "Servant of God, well done" You well know he does not. This idle expense has no approbation, either from God, or your own conscience. But you say you can afford it! O be ashamed to take such miserable nonsense into your mouths! Never more litter such stupid cant; such palpable absurdity! Can any steward afford to be an arrant knave to waste his Lord's goods Can any servant afford to lay out his Master's money, any otherwise than his Master appoints him So far from it, that whoever does this ought to be excluded from a Christian society.