Wesley Corpus

There was danger before, and there will be again when he comes into fresh trials. But so long as he feels nothing but love animating all his thoughts, and words, and actions, he is in no danger; he is not only happy, but safe, ‘under the shadow of the Almighty;’ and, for God’s sake, let him continue in that love as long as he can. Meantime, you may do well to warn him of the danger that will be, if his love grow cold and sin revive; even the danger of casting away hope, and supposing, that, because he hath not attained yet, therefore he never shall. “Q. But what, if none have attained it yet? What, if all who think so are deceived? “A. Convince me of this, and I will preach it no more. But understand me right: I do not build any doctrine on this or that person. This or any other man may be deceived, and I am not moved. But, if there are none made perfect yet, God has not sent me to preach perfection. “Put a parallel case: For many years I have preached, “There is a peace of God which passeth all understanding.’ ‘Convince me that this word has fallen to the ground; that in all these years none have attained this peace; that there is no living witness of it at this day; and I will preach it no more. “‘O, but several persons have died in that peace. Per haps so; but I want living witnesses. I cannot indeed be infallibly certain that this or that person is a witness; but if I were certain there are mone such, I must have done with this doctrine. “‘You misunderstand me. I believe some who died in this love, enjoyed it long before their death. But I was not certain that their former testimony was true till some hours before they died.’ “You had not an infallible certainty then: And a reason able certainty you might have had before; such a certainty as might have quickened and comforted your own soul, and answered all other Christian purposes. Such a certainty as this, any candid person may have, suppose there be any living witness, by talking one hour with that person in the love and fear of God. “Q. But what does it signify, whether any have attained.