Wesley Corpus

How do you labour to work out your own damnation | O, poor work, for poor wages ! The wages of sin is death; the wages of cursing, of swearing, of taking the name of God in vain, of Sabbath-breaking, drunkenness, revenge, of fornication, adultery, and all uncleanness. Now, art thou clear of these? Does not thy own heart smite thee? Art thou not condemned already? What voice is that which sounds in thine ears? Is it not the voice of God? “Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord. Shall not my soul be avenged on such a sinner as this?” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! Be very sure that thou art stronger than he, before thou fliest in his face! Do not defy God, unless thou canst over come him. But canst thou indeed? O no; do not try. Do not dare him to do his worst. Why should he destroy both thy body and soul in hell? Why shouldest thou be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power? 9. But if there were no other hell, thou hast hell enough within thee. An awakened conscience is hell. Pride, envy, wrath, hatred, malice, revenge; what are these but hell upon earth? And how often art thou tormented in these flames ! --flames of lust, envy, or proud wrath ! Are not these to thy soul, when blown up to the height, as it were a lake of fire, burning with brimstone? Flee away, before the great gulf is fixed; escape, escape for thy life! If thou hast not strength, cry to God, and thou shalt receive power from on high; and He whose name is rightly called Jesus shall save thee from thy sins. 10. And why should he not? Has a soldier nothing to do with heaven? God forbid that you should think so ! Heaven was designed for you also. God so loved your soul, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that you, believing in him, might not perish, but have everlasting life. Receive, then, the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world ! This, this is the time to make it sure; this short, uncertain day of life. Have you then an hour to spare? No; not a moment.