Wesley Corpus

“When I was a child, I talked as a child, I understood as a child, I reasoned as a child.” As if he had said, In our present state, we are mere infants, compared to what we shall be hereafter. “But when I became a man, I put away childish things;” and a proportion able change shall we all find, when we launch into eternity. Now we see even the things which surround us by means of a glass or mirror, in a dim, faint, obscure manner, so that every thing is a kind of riddle to us; but then we shall see, not a faint reflection, but the objects themselves, face to face, directly and distinctly. “Now I know but in part.” Even when God reveals things to me, great part of them is still kept under the veil. “But then shall I know even as I also am known; ” in a clear, full, comprehensive manner, in some measure like God, who penetrates the centre of every object, and sees, at one glance, through my soul and all things. “And now,” during the present life, “abide these three, faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these,” in its duration, as well as the excellence of its nature, “is love.” Faith, hope, love, are the sum of perfection on earth; love alone is the sum of perfection in heaven. “It appears, then, that the miraculous powers of the Church were to cease upon its perfect establishment.” (Page 107.) Nothing like it appears from this scripture. But supposing it did, is Christianity perfectly established yet? even nominal Christianity? Mr. Brerewood took large pains to be fully informed; and, according to his account, five parts in six of the known world are Mahometans or Pagans to this day. If so, Christianity is yet far from being perfectly established, either in Europe, Asia, Africa, or America. “Having now established the fact,” (wonderfully estab lished!) “we may inquire into the fitness of it. There were two causes of the extraordinary operations of the Holy Spirit,--one to manifest his mission, (and this was done once for all,) the other to comfort and instruct the Church.” (Page 110.) “At his first descent on the Apostles, he found their minds rude and uninformed, strangers to all heavenly knowledge, and utterly averse to the gospel. He illuminated their minds with all necessary truth.