Wesley Corpus

I advise you, Lastly, if you desire to keep them, use all the advantages you enjoy. Indeed, without this, it is utterly impossible to keep them; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken the word which cannot be broken, which must be fulfilled with regard to all the good gifts of God: “To him that hath,” uses what he hath, “shall be given; and he shall have more abundantly: But from him that hath not,” uses it not, “shall be taken even that which he hath.” Would you therefore retain what you now have, what God hath already given? If so, “giving all diligence,” use it to the uttermost. “Stand fast in ” cvery instance of “the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free.” Be not “entangled” again in the “cares of this life;” but “cast all your care on Him that careth for you. Be careful for nothing, but in everything make your requests known unto God with thanksgiving.” See that you “wait upon the Lord without distraction:” Let nothing move you from your centre. “One thing is needful;” to see, love, follow Christ, in every thought, word, and work. Flee the “sorrow of this world;” it “worketh death.” Let not your heart be troubled. In all circumstances, let your soul magnify the Lord, and your spirit rejoice in God your Saviour. Preserve a constant serenity of mind, an even cheerfulness of spirit. Keep at the utmost distance from foolish desires, from desiring any happiness but in God. Still let all your “desire be to him, and to the remembrance of his name.” Make full use of all the leisure you have; never be unem ployed, never triflingly employed; let every hour turn to some good account. Let not a scrap of time be squandered away; “gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost.” Give all your time to God; lay out the whole as you judge will be most to his glory. In particular, see that you waste no part of it in unprofitable conversation; but let all your discourse “be seasoned with salt, and meet to minister grace to the hearers.” Give all your money to God. You have no pretence for laying up treasure upon earth. While you “gain all you can,” and “save all you can,” “give all you can,” that is, all you have.