Wesley Corpus

Either, therefore, allow a particular providence, or do not pretend to believe any providence at all. If you do not believe that the Governor of the world governs all things in it, small and great; that fire and hail, snow and vapour, wind and storm, fulfil his word; that he rules kingdoms and cities, fleets and armies, and all the individuals whereof they are composed; (and yet without forcing the wills of men, or necessitating any of their actions;) do not affect to believe that he governs anything, or has anything to do in the world. No; be con sistent with yourself: Say that, as nature produced, so chance governs, all things. At least, if you must, for decency’s sake, acknowledge a kind of God, maintain that, Since he gave things their beginning, And set this whirligig a-spinning, he left it, and everything therein, to spin on in its own way. 14. Whether this is right or no, it is almost the universal sentiment of the English nation. And if high and low are so totally ignorant of God their Governor, are they likely to know any more of God their Redeemer, or of God their Judge, who will shortly reward every man according to his works? In very deed, God is not in all their thoughts; they do not think of him from morning to night. Whether they are forming particular or national schemes, God has no place therein. They do not take God into their account; they can do their whole business without him; without considering whether there be any God in the world; or whether he has any share in the management of it. 15. And whatever be the event of their undertakings, whether they have good or ill success, they do not suppose God to have any part either in the one or the other. They take it for granted, that the race is to the swift, and the battle to the strong. Therefore, if things succeed well, they give no praise to God, but to the conduct of their General and the courage of their men. And if they succeed ill, they do not see the hand of God, but impute all to natural causes. 16. The English in general, high and low, rich and poor, do not speak of God.