Wesley Corpus

How much more sensible must you be of this, if you do not rest on the surface, but inquire into the bottom of reli gion, the religion of the heart | For, what inward unholiness, what evil tempers, are among us, which have not a place among you also ? You likewise bewail that ignorance of God, ithat want of faith and of the love of God and man, that in 'ward idolatry of various kinds, that pride, ambition, and vanity, which rule in the hearts even of those who still have “the form of godliness.” You lament before God the deep covetousness that “eats so many souls as doth a gangrene;” and perhaps are sometimes ready to cry out, “Help, Lord, for there is scarce one godly man left l” Lay to thine hand; “for the faithful are minished from the children of men l’’ 2. And yet you retain “the truth that is after godliness,” at least as to the substance of it. You own what is laid down in Scripture, both touching the nature and condition of justi fication and salvation. And with regard to the author of faith and salvation, you have always avowed, even in the face of your enemies, that “it is God which worketh in us, both to will and to do, of his good pleasure; ” that it is his Spirit alone who “teacheth us all things,” all we know of “the deep things of God; ” that every true believer has “an unction from the Holy One to lead him into all” necessary “truth; ” that, “because we are sons, God sendeth forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father; ” and that “this Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” How is it then, my brethren; (so I can call you now, although I could not have done it heretofore;) how is it, that the generality of you also are fallen from your steadfastness? In the times of persecution ye stood as a rock, though “all the waves and storms went over you.” But who can bear ease and fulness of bread? How are you changed, since these came upon you !