Wesley Corpus

Do you put an effectual difference between them, even in the most solemn office of our religion? At the table of the Lord, do you take care to “separate the precious from the vile?” to “receive all those who ” (as you may rea sonably believe) “draw near with penitent hearts and lively faith,” and utterly to reject those who testify against them selves, that they are without hope and without God in the world? Nay, who dares repel one of the greatest men in his parish from the Lord’s table; even though he be a drunkard or a common swearer; yea, though he openly deny the Lord that bought him? Mr. Stonehouse did this once. But what was the event? The gentleman brought an action against him, for the terror of all such insolent fellows in succeeding times. 33. O my brethren, is it not for want of your making this difference, as well as for many other abominations, that, with regard to some among us, (how many God knoweth,) that scripture is now also fulfilled: “His watchmen are blind, they are ignorant, they are shepherds that cannot understand:-- The Lord hath poured out upon them the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed their eyes; the Prophets and the Seers hath he covered: and the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed?” If you ask, what those other abominations are; I will speak in love, and in the spirit of meekness. There are found among us covetous men, men who “mind earthly things,” who “seek themselves,” and not Christ crucified, who “love the world, and the things of the world; ” men in whom these words are still fulfilled: “Who is there among you that would shut the door for nought? Neither do ye kindle fire on my altar for nought.