Wesley Corpus

And who is wise, or swift, or strong like him? Therefore, whatever we do, let us make God our friend; let us with all speed remove the cause of his anger; let us cast away our sins. Then shall his love have free course, and he will send us help, sufficient help, against all our enemies. 9. Come; will you begin? Will you, by the grace of God, amend one, and that without delay? First, then, own those sins which have long cried for vengeance in the ears of God. Confess, that we, and all, and you in particular, deserve for our inward and outward abominations, not only to be swept from the face of the earth, but to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. Never aim at excusing either yourself or others; let your mouth be stopped. Plead guilty before God. Above all, own that impudence of wickedness, that utter carelessness, that pert stupidity, which is hardly to be found in any part of the earth, (at least, not in such a degree,) except in England. Do you not know what I mean? You was not long since praying to God for damma tion upon your soul. One who has heard you said, “Is that right? Does not God hear? What, if he takes you at your word?” You replied, with equal impudence and ignorance, “What, are you a Methodist?” What, if he is a Turk? Must thou therefore be a Heathen? God humble thy brutish, devilish spirit ! 10. Lay thee in the dust, for this and for all thy sins. Let thy laughter be turned into heaviness; thy joy into mourning; thy senseless jollity and mirth into sorrow and brokenness of heart. This is no time to eat, and drink, and rise up to play, but to afflict thy soul before the Lord. Desire of God a deep, piercing sense of the enormous sins of the nation, and of thy own. Remember that great example; how when the King of Nineveh was warned of the near approaching vengeance of God, he “caused it to be pro claimed, Let none taste anything; let them not feed nor drink water: But let them be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yea, let them turn every one from his evil way.