Wesley Corpus

A dead dog! A man unclean in heart and lips 1” And when he dares no longer gainsay or resist, when he is at last “ thrust out into the harvest,” he looketh on the right hand and on the left, he takes every step with fear and trembling, and with the deepest sense (such as words cannot express) of “Who is sufficient for these things?” Every gift which he has received of God for the furtherance of his word, whether of nature or grace, heightens this fear, and increases his jealousy over himself; knowing that so much the stricter must the inquiry be, when he gives an account of his steward ship. He is most of all jealous over himself when the work of the Lord prospers in his hand. He is then amazed and con founded before God. Shame covers his face. Yet when he sees that he ought “to praise the Lord for his goodness, and to declare the wonders which he doeth for the children of men,” he is in a strait between two; he knows not which way to turn; he cannot speak; he dares not be silent. It may be, for a time he “keeps his mouth with a bridle; he holds his peace even. from good. But his heart is hot within him,” and constrains. him at length to declare what God hath wrought. And this he then doethin all simplicity, with “great plainness of speech,” desiring only to commend himself to Him who “searcheth the heart and trieth the reins;” and (whether his words are the savour of life or of death to others) to have that witness in him self, “As of sincerity, as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.” If any man counts this boasting, he cannot help it. It is enough that a higher Judge standeth at the door. 3. But you may say, “Why do you talk of the success of the gospel in England, which was a Christian country before you was born ?” Was it indeed? Is it so at this day? I would explain myself a little on this head also. And, (1.) None can deny, that the people of England, in general, are called Christians. They are called so, a few only excepted, by others, as well as by themselves.