Wesley Corpus

The seeing and feeling and lov ing him is spiritual life. And whatever is said or done in the sight or love of God, that is full of spirit and life. All beside this is form, mere dead form; whether it be in our public addresses to God, or in our private; or in our worldly business, or in our daily conversation. But if so, how poor and mean and narrow have your views and conceptions been You was afraid of formality in public worship: And reason good. But was you afraid of it nowhere else? Did not you consider that formality in common life is also an abomination to the Lord; and that it can have no place in anything we say or do, but so far as we forget God? O watch against it in every place, every moment, that you may every moment see and love God; and, consequently, at all times and in all places, worship him “in spirit and in truth !” My brethren, permit me to add a few words in tender love to your souls. Do not you lean too much on the spirit and power which you believe rested upon your forefathers? Sup pose it did Will that avail you, if you do not drink into the same spirit? And how evident is this,--that, whatever you once were, ye are now “shorn of your strength !” Ye are weak and become like other men. The Lord is well migh departed from you. Where is now the spirit, the life, the power? Be not offended with my plain dealing, when I beseech you who are able to weigh things calmly, to open your eyes, and see multitudes, even in the Church, pursuing, yea, and attaining, the substance of spiritual life, and leaving unto you the shadow. Nay, a still greater evil is before you: For, if ye find not some effectual means to prevent it, your rising gene ration will utterly cast off the shadow as well as the substance. 11. There is an abundantly greater difference still, according to your own account, between us who profess ourselves mem bers of the Church of England, and you who are members of the Church of Rome. But notwithstanding this, do you not agree with us in condemning the vices above recited; pro faneness, drunkenness, whoredom, adultery, theft, disobedi ence to parents, and such like?