Wesley Corpus

They are called so, a few only excepted, by others, as well as by themselves. But I presume no man will say, that the name makes the thing; that men are Christians, barely because they are called so. (2.) It must be allowed, that the people of England, generally speaking, have been christened or baptized. But neither can we infer, “These were once baptized; therefore they are Christians now.” (3.) It is allowed, that many of those who were once baptized, and are called Christians to this day, hear the word of God, attend public prayers, and partake of the Lord’s Supper. But neither does this prove that they are Christians. For, notwith standing this, some of them live in open sin; and others. (though not conscious to themselves of hypocrisy, yet) are utter strangers to the religion of the heart; are full of pride, vanity, covetousness, ambition; of hatred, anger, malice, or envy; and, consequently, are no more scriptural Christians, than the open drunkard or common swearer. Now, these being removed, where are the Christians, from whom we may properly term England a Christian country? the men who have the mind which was in Christ, and who walk as he also walked; whose inmost soul is renewed after the image of God; and who are outwardly holy, as He who hath called them is holy? There are doubtless a few such to be found. To deny this would be want of candour. But how few ! how thinly scattered up and down! And as for a Christian visible Church, or a body of Christians visibly united together, where is this to be seen? Ye different sects, who all declare, Lol here is Christ, or, Christ is there ! Your stronger proofs divinely give, And show me where the Christians live! And what use is it of, what good end does it serve, to term England a Christian country? (Although it is true, most of the natives are called Christians, have been baptized, frequent the ordinances; and although a real Christian is here and there to be found, “as a light shining in a dark place.”) Does it do any honour to our great Master, among those who are not called by his name? Does it recommend Christianity to the Jews, the Mahometans, or the avowed Heathens? Surely no one can conceive it does.