Wesley Corpus

No fair man, therefore, can excuse himself thus, from acknowledging the work of God. Perhaps you will say, “He is not a natural fool, neither; but he is so ignorant. He knows not the first principles of religion.” It is very possible. But have patience with him, and he will know them by and by; yea, if he be in earnest to save his soul, far sooner than you can conceive. And, in the mean time, neither is this an objection of any weight. Many, when they begin to hear us, may, without any fault of ours, be utter strangers to the whole of religion. But this is no incurable disease. Yet a little while, and they may be wise unto salvation. Is the ignorance you complain of among this people (you who object to the people more than to their teachers) of ano ther kind? Do not they “know how in meekness to reprove or instruct those that oppose themselves?” I believe what you say: All of them do not; they have not put on gentle ness and longsuffering. I wish they had : Pray for them that they may ; that they may be mild and patient toward all men. But what, if they are not? Sure, you do not make this an argument that God hath not sent us! Our Lord came, and we come, “not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance; ” passionate sinners, (such as these whereof you complain,) as well as those of every other kind. Nor can it be expected they should be wholly delivered from their sin as soon as they begin to hear his word. 27. A greater stumbling-block than this is laid before you, by those that “say and do not.” Such, I take it for granted, will be among us, although we purge them out as fast as we can; persons that talk much of religion, that commend the Preachers, perhaps are diligent in hearing them; it may be, read all their books, and sing their hymns; and yet no change is wrought in their hearts. Were they of old time as lions in their houses? They are the same still. Were they (in low life) slothful or intemperate? Were they tricking or dishonest, over-reaching or oppressive Or did they use to borrow and not pay? The Ethiopian hath not changed his skin.