Wesley Corpus

Indeed, the whole form of their life was changed: They had “left off doing evil, and learned to do well.” 5. But this was not all. Over and above this outward change, they hegan to experience inward religion. “The love of God was shed abroad in their hearts,” which they continue to enjoy to this day. They “love him, because he first loved us,” and withheld not from us his Son, his only Son. And this love constrains them to love all mankind, all the children of the Father of heaven and earth; and inspires them with every holy and heavenly temper, the whole mind that was in Christ. Hence it is that they are now uniform in their behaviour, un blamable in all manner of conversation. And in whatsoever state they are, they have learned therewith to be content; in somuch that now they can “in every thing give thanks.” They more than patiently acquiesce, they rejoice and are exceeding qlad, in all God’s dispensations toward them. For as long as they love God, (and that love no man taketh from them,) they are always happy in God. Thus they calmly travel on through life, being never weary nor faint in their minds, never repining, murmuring, or dissatisfied, casting all their care upon God, till the hour comes that they should drop this covering of earth, and return unto the great Father of spirits. Then, espe cially, it is that they “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” You who credit it not, come and see. See these living and dying Christians. Happy while on earth they breathe; Mightier joys ordain'd to know, Trampling on siu, hell, and death, To the third heaven they go! Now, if these things are so, what reasonable man can deny (supposing the Scriptures to be true) that God is now visiting this nation, in a far other manner than we had cause to ex pect? Instead of pouring out his fierce displeasure upon us, he hath made us yet another tender of mercy: So that even when sin did most abound, grace hath much more abounded. 6. Yea, “the grace of God, which bringeth salvation,” pre sent salvation from inward and outward sin, hath abounded of late years in such a degree, as neither we nor our fathers had known.