Wesley Corpus

Paul asserts, the present kingdom of God in the soul is “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” He continually teaches, that these, which God hath joined, man ought not to put asunder; that peace and joy should never be separated from righteousness, being the divine means both of preserving and increasing it; and that we may, yea, ought, to rejoice ever more, till the God of peace sanctifies us wholly. But if these things are so, then “distress and coldness are ” not “better” than fervent love, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Again: The doctrine, that it is better and more profitable for the soul to lose its sense of the love of God than to keep it, is not only unscriptural, but naturally attended with the most fatal consequences. It directly tends to obstruct, if not destroy, the work of God in the heart, by causing men to bless themselves in those ways which damp the fervour of their affections; and to imagine they are considerably advanced in grace, when they have grieved, yea, quenched, the Spirit. Nay, but let all who now feel the love of God in their hearts, and “walk in the light as he is in the light,” labour, by every possible means, to “keep themselves in the love of God.” Let them be ever “fervent in spirit;” let them “rejoice evermore,” and stir up the gift of God which is in them. And if, at any time, “coldness seizes upon them,” let them be assured, they have grieved the Spirit of God. Let them be affrighted; let them fear lest they sink lower and lower; yea, into total deadness and hardness of heart. At the peril of their souls, let them not rest in darkness, but examine themselves, search out their spirits, cry vehemently to God, and not cease till he restores the light of his countenance. 5. If this doctrine of the profitableness of coldness above fervour directly tends to make believers easy, while they are sliding back into unbelief, you have another which tends as directly to make them easy who never believed at all; I mean, that of Christ in every man. What you advance on this head, I desire next to consider, as the importance of it requires. “The birth of Christ is already begun in every one.