Wesley Corpus

They avowedly separated from the Church: We utterly disavow any such design. They severely, and almost continually, inveighed against the doctrines and dis cipline of the Church they left: We approve both the doctrincs and discipline of our Church, and inveigh only against ungod liness and unrighteousness. They spent great part of their time and strength in contending about externals and circumstan tials: We agree with you in both; so that having no room to spend any time in such vain contention, we have our desire of spending and being spent, in promoting plain, practical reli gion. How many stumbling-blocks are removed out of your way! Why do not you acknowledge the work of God? 10. If you say, “Because you hold opinions which I cannot believe are true:” I answer, Believe them true or false; I will not quarrel with you about any opinion. Only see that your heart be right toward God, that you know and love the Lord Jesus Christ; that you love your neighbour, and walk as your Master walked; and I desire no more. I am sick of opinions: I am weary to bear them. My soul loathcs this frothy food. Give me solid and substantial religion; give me an humble, gentle lover of God and man; a man full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy; a man laying himself out in the work of faith, the patience of hope, the labour of love. Let my soul be with these Christians, whereso cver they are, and whatsoever opinion they are of “Whoso ever” thus “doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” 11. Inexcusably infatuated must you be, if you can even doubt whether the propagation of this religion be of God! Only more inexcusable are those unhappy men who oppose, contradict, and blaspheme it. How long will you stop your ears against Him that still crieth, “Why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks;” for a man to “contend with his Maker.” How long will you despise the well-known advice of a great and learned man?--“Refrain from these men, and let them alone. If this work be of man, it will come to nought.