Wesley Corpus

Neither do ye kindle fire on my altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of Hosts.” Yea, are there not those, at this day, (O that I might be found to fear where no fear is !) who “make themselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel?” Are there not those who now “enlarge their desire as hell; who are as death, and cannot be satisfied?” who, though they want neither food to eat nor raiment to put on, yet seek more and more preferment? who are continually studying to “join house to house, and to lay field to field;” to grow rich in the service of that Master who himself “had not where to lay his head?” Is it not to these that those dreadful words belong, enough to cause the ears of him that heareth to tingle: “They are greedy dogs, which never can have enough; they all look to their own way,” (not the way of their Lord,) “every one for his gain, from his quarter?” Is it strange, if among these there should be some who are cruel, oppressive men; inasmuch as covetousness knows no mercy, nor can a lover of money be a lover of his neighbour? Have not some been known even to “grind the face of the poor?” to strip, rather than clothe, the naked? some, who, while they cried out, “as the horse-leech, Give, give,” would take, if it was not given; like those of old, who said, “Thou shalt give it me now, and if not, I will take it by force;” or those spoken of by Micah, “The Prophets bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.” Very great is the sin of these men before the Lord. If there be ten such now in the land, may God smite them this day with terror and astonish ment, that they may have no rest in their bones till their sin is done away ! 34. Are you as watchful and zealous to gain souls, as those are to gain the gold that perisheth?