Wesley Corpus

But there is (if aught can be worse) a sorer evil, namely, an astonishing contempt and neglect of truly sacred things; especially the solemn worship of Almighty God: And herein our Nobility and Gentry almost universally distinguish them selves. This is indeed a sore evil; one of the grossest affronts that can be offered to the great Governor of the world. And I am bold to say, that as he hath spoken to this nation as he hath not to any other nation upon earth of late years, and that in an uncommon way and manner, but as in general we have stopped our ears, and utterly despised His call; the day will come when the candlestick will be removed, and the kingdom of God given to another people that will attend the call, and bring forth fruit. And when the divine glory, in this respect, begins to depart, the natural glory will soon follow. Probably that day is not far off, unless we repent. We seem indeed to have been at our meridian height of power, greatness, &c.; (not of holiness unto the Lord;) and it is to be feared that the glory has begun to depart, which, like the sun when he begins to decline, will continue its declension, finally disappear, and leave us in total darkness, unless a divine interposition prevent. For we seem judicially given up to pursue those measures that will effectually accomplish it. Now, as what God hath joined together (especially such powerful people as we and the Americans now are) for the mutual support, comfort, and defence of each other, should not be put asunder by any means whatsoever, as it would undoubtedly frustrate His gracious design in this well-compacted body; so, if one powerful member should rise up against the whole body, or the whole body against one such member, and disunite from it; this schism must, in the nature of things, occasion such a weak ness and deformity in the whole body, as is only to be known by an unhappy experience. The disunion of the ten tribes is a melancholy proof of it. And as Judah vexed Ephraim, and Ephraim Judah, so will it be with us. The counsel therefore to separate cannot be from God.