Treatise Letter To The Bishop Of London
| Author | John Wesley |
|---|---|
| Type | treatise |
| Year | None |
| Passage ID | jw-treatise-letter-to-the-bishop-of-london-016 |
| Words | 385 |
I go
and call other sinners to repentance. But if, after all he has
done, and all he can do, they are still in the broad way to
destruction, let me see if God will put a word even in my
mouth. True, I am a poor worm that of myself can do nothing. But if God sends by whomsoever he will send, his word shall
not return empty. All the messenger of God asks is, Aos Trov
aro; (no help of man ) cat ym cuvmao." The arm of the
Lord is revealed. The lion roars, having the prey plucked out
of his teeth. And “there is joy in the presence of the angels
of God, over” more than “one sinner that repenteth.”
21. Is this any annoyance to the parochial Minister? Then
what manner of spirit is he of? Does he look on this part of
his flock as lost, because they are found of the great Shepherd? My Lord, great is my boldness toward you. You speak of the
consequences of our doctrines. You seem well pleased with the
success of your endeavours against them, because, you say, they
“have pernicious consequences, are big with pernicious influ
ences upon practice, dangerous to religion and the souls of men.”
(Ibid. pp. 8, 22.) In answer to all this, I appeal to plain fact. I
say once more, “What have been the consequences (Iwould not
speak, but I dare not refrain) of the doctrines I have preached
for nine years last past? By the fruits shall ye know those of
whom I speak; even the cloud of witnesses, who at this hour
experience the gospel which I preach to be the power of God
* Give me a point on which to stand, and I will move the world.--EDIT. unto salvation. The habitual drunkard that was, is now tem
perate in all things; the whoremonger now flees fornication;
he that stole, steals no more, but works with his hands; he
that cursed or swore, perhaps at every sentence, has now
learned to serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice unto him with
reverence; those formerly enslaved to various habits of sin are
now brought to uniform habits of holiness. These are demon
strable facts; I can name the men, with their places of abode.