Wesley Corpus

But neither does this prove that they are Christians. For, notwithstanding this, some of them live in open sin; and others (though not conscious to themselves of hypocrisy, yet) are utter strangers to the religion of the heart; are full of pride, vanity, covetousness, ambition; of hatred, anger, malice, or envy; and, consequently, are no more spiritualChristiansthan the open drunkard or common swearer. “Now, these being removed, where are the Christians from whom we may properly term England a Christian country? the men who have ‘the mind which was in Christ,’ and who “walk as he also walked?” whose inmost soul is renewed after the image of God; and who are outwardly holy, as He who hath called them is holy? There are doubtless a few such to be found. ' To deny this would be ‘want of candour. But how few ! How thinly scattered up and down | And as for a Christian visible Church, or a body of Christians visibly united together, where is this to be seen ? Ye different sects, who all declare, Lo! here is Christ, or, Christ is there; Your stronger proofs divinely give, And show me where the Christians live! “And what use is it of, what good end does it serve, to term England a Christian country? Although, it is true, most of the natives are called Christians, have been baptized, frequent the ordinances; and although here and there a real Christian is to be found, “as a light shining in a dark place;’ does it do any honour to our great Master, among those who are not called by his name? Does it recommend Christianity to the Jews, the Mahometans, or the avowed Heathens? Surely no one can conceive it does. It only makes Christianity stink in their nostrils. Does it answer any good end, with regard to those who are called by this worthy name? I fear not; but rather, an exceeding bad one. For does it not keep multitudes easy in their heathen practice? Does it not make, or keep, still greater numbers satisfied with their heathen tempers? Does it not directly tend to make both the one and the other imagine, that they are what indeed they are not; that they are Christians, while they are utterly without Christ, and with out God in the world?