Wesley Corpus

I know, Milton speaks of “virtual or immediate touch.” But most incline to think, virtual touch is no touch at all. “Were the style of the New Testament utterly rude and barbarous, and abounding with every fault that can possibly deform a language; this is so far from proving such language not divinely inspired, that it is one certain mark of this ori ginal.” (Page 55.) A vehement paradox this! But it is not proved yet, and probably never will. “The labours of those who have attempted to defend the purity of Scripture Greek have been very idly employed.” (Page 66.) Others think they have been very wisely employed,and that they have abundantly proved their point. Having now “considered the operations of the Holy Spirit, as the Guide of truth, who clears and enlightens the under standing, I proceed to consider him as the Comforter, who purifies and supports the will.” (Page 89.) “Sacred antiquity is full in its accounts of the sudden and entire change made by the Holy Spirit in the dispositions and manners of those whom it had enlightened; instantaneously effacing their evil habits, and familiarizing them to the per formance of every good action.” (Page 90.) “No natural cause could effect this. Neither fanaticism nor superstition, nor both of them, will account for so sudden and lasting a conversion.” (Ibid.) “Superstition never effects any considerable change in the manners. Its utmost force is just enough to make us exact in the ceremonious offices of religion, or to cause some acts of penitence, as death approaches.” (Page 91.) “Fanaticism, indeed, acts with greater violence, and, by influencing the will, frequently forces the manners from their bent, and sometimes effaces the strongest impressions of cus tom and nature. But this fervour, though violent, is rarely lasting; never so long as to establish the new system into an habit. So that when its rage subsides, as it very soon does, (but where it drives into downright madness,) the bias on the will keeps abating, till all the former habitudes recover their relaxed tone.” (Page 92.) Never were reflections more just than these.