Wesley Corpus

6. The doctrines they constantly teach are these : That religion does not consist in negatives only,-in not taking the name of God in vain, in not robbing or murdering our neighbour, in bare abstaining from evil of any or every kind; but is a real, positive thing : That it does not consist in externals only,-in attending the church and sacrament, (although all these things they approve and recommend,) in using all the means of grace, or in works of charity, (com monly so called,) superadded to works of piety; but that it is, properly and strictly, a principle within, seated in the inmost soul, and thence manifesting itself by these outward fruits, on all suitable occasions. 7. They insist, that nothing deserves the name of religion, but a virtuous heart, producing a virtuous life: A complica tion of justice, mercy, and truth, of every right and amiable temper, beaming forth from the deepest recesses of the mind, in a series of wise and generous actions. Compositum jus, /asque animo, sanctosque recessus Mentis, et incoctum generoso pectus honesto." 8. These are their constant doctrines. It is true, they occa sionally touch on abundance of other things. Thus they fre quently maintain, that thereisan inseparable connexion between virtue and happiness; that none but a virtuous (or, as they usually express it, a religious) man can behappy; and that every man is happy in the same proportion as he is truly religious; seeing a contented mind,(according to them,) acheerful, thank * This quotation from Persius is thus translated by Drummond: “ - Let me present a mind, Which civil and religious duties bind; A guileless heart, which no dark secrets knows, But with the generous love of virtue glows.”--EDIT. ful, joyous acquiescence in every disposal of that Sovereign Wisdom who governs both heaven and earth, if it be not an essential branch of religion, is, at least, a necessary consequence of it. On all proper occasions they strongly recommend, on the one hand, the most intense love of our country; on the other, the firmest loyalty to our Prince, abstracted from allviews.of private interest. They likewise take every opportunity of enforcing the absolute necessity of sobriety and temperance; of unwearied industry in the works of our calling; of moral honesty in all its branches; and, particularly, in the discharge of all relative duties, without which, they say, religion is vain.