Wesley Corpus

His eye pierces through the vale of the shadow of death, and sees into the glories of etermity. His view does not terminate on that black line, The verge 'twixt mortal and immortal being; tut extends beyond the bounds of time and place, to the bouse of God eternal in the heavens. Hence he is so far from looking upon death as an enemy, that he longs to feel his welcome embrace. He groans (but they are pleasing groans) to have mortality swallowed up of life. Perhaps you will say, “But this is all a drcam. He is only in a fool's paradise!” dream. Supposing he be, it is a pleasing Maneat mentis gratissimus error /* If he is only in a fool's paradise, yet it is a paradise; while you are wandering in a wide, weary, barren world. Be it folly; his folly gives him that present happiness which all your wisdom cannot find. So that he may now turn the tables upon you, and say, - “Who?'er can ease by folly get, With safety may despise The wretched, unenjoying wit, The miserable wise.” Such unspeakable advantage (even if there is none beyond death) has a Christian over an Infidel ! It is true, he has given up some pleasures before he could attain to this. But what pleasures? That of eating till he is sick; till he weakens a strong, or quite destroys a weak, constitution. He has given up the pleasure of drinking a man into a beast, and that of ranging from one worthless creature to another, till he brings a canker upon his estate, and perhaps rotten ness into his bones. But in lieu of these, he has now (whatever may be hereafter) a continual serenity of mind, a constant evenness and composure of temper, “a peace which passeth all understanding.” He has learned in every state wherein he is, therewith to be content; nay, to give thanks, as being clearly persuaded, it is better for him than any other. He feels continual gratitude to his supreme Bene factor, Father of Spirits, Parent of Good; and tender, disinterested benevolence to all the children of this common Father.