Wesley Corpus

But “Jeshurun forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.” And did not England too? Ask ye of the generations of old, inquire from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof, whether there was ever a people called by his name, which had less of “God in all their thoughts;” who, in the whole tenor of their behaviour, showed so light an “esteem for the Rock of their salvation.” Could there ever be stronger cause for God to cry out, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth !” For hath he not “nourished and brought us up” as his children? And yet, how have we “rebelled against ’’ him | If Israel of old “did not know God,” if his ancient people “did not consider,” was this peculiar to them ? Are not we also under the very same condemnation? Do we, as a people, know God? Do we consider him as God? Do we tremble at the presence of his power? Do we revere his excellent majesty? Do we remember, at all times, “God is here ! He is now reading my heart; He spieth out all my ways; there is not a word in my tongue but He knoweth it altogether?” Is this the character of us English Christians; the mark whereby we are known from the Heathen? Do we thus know God; thus consider his power, his love, his all-seeing eye? Rather, are we not likewise a “sinful nation, who have forgotten him days without number; a people laden with iniquity, continually forsaking the Lord, and provoking the Holy One of Israel?” 2. There is indeed a wide difference in this respect between the Jews and us: They happened (if I may so speak) to forget God, because other things came in their way; but we design to forget him; we do it of set purpose, because we do not like to 1emember him. From the accounts given by Jeremiah, we have reason to believe that when that people were most deeply corrupted, yet the greatest men in the nation, the Ministers of State, the Nobles and Princes of Judah, talked of God some times; perhaps, as frequently as upon any other subject. But is it so among us? Rather, is it not a point of good-breeding to put God far away, out of our sight?