Wesley Corpus

the prejudices of the bulk of mankind? To go no farther than England: Are the bulk of our nation preju diced in favour of the genuine gospel; of the holiness which it enjoins; of chastity and temperance; of denying ourselves, and taking up our cross daily; of dying to the world, and devoting all our heart and all our life to God? Are they prejudiced in favour of presenting our souls and bodies a constant, holy sacri fice to God? What less than this is gospel holiness? And are the prejudices of mankind in favour of this? 16. Likewise, how far this real Christianity is “under the protection and encouragement of the civil power,” I know not. But I know, “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” domestic persecution, if no other; for “the foes of” such “a man shall be they of his own household. There shall be,” and there are now, “five in one house, three against two, and two against three; ” and that not for being Methodists, for having a nick-name; (although that may be the pretence, for want of a better; for who scruples to throw a man into the ditch, and then beat him, because his clothes are dirty?) but for living godly; for loving and serving God, according to the best light they have. And certainly these meed the assistance of God’s Spirit to strengthen and comfort them, that they may suffer all things, rather than turn aside, in any point, from the gospel way. 17. “But the Scriptures are a complete and a sufficient rule. Therefore, to what purpose could any further inspira tion serve? All farther inspiration is unnecessary; the sup posed need of it is highly injurious to the written word. And the pretension thereto (which must be either to explain or to supply it) is a wicked presumption, with which Satan hath filled their hearts, to lie of the Holy Ghost.” (Pages 27, 28.) High sounding words! But, blessed be God, they are only brutum fulmen : They make much noise, but do not wound. “To what purpose could any further inspiration serve?” Answer yourself: “To enlighten the understanding, and to rectify the will.” Else, be the Scriptures ever so complete, they will not save your soul.