Wesley Corpus

6. The faith by which the promise is attained is represented by Christianity, as a power wrought by the Almighty in an immortal spirit, inhabiting a house of clay, to see through that veil into the world of spirits, into things invisible and eternal; a power to discern those things which with eyes of flesh and blood no man hath seen or can see, either by reason of their nature, which (though they surround us on every side) is not perceivable by these gross senses; or by reason of their distance, as being yet afar off in the bosom of eternity. 7. This is Christian faith in the general notion of it. In its more particular notion, it is a divine evidence or conviction wrought in the heart, that God is reconciled to me through his Son; inseparably joined with a confidence in him, as a gracious, reconciled Father, as for all things, so especially for all those good things which are invisible and eternal. To believe (in the Christian sense) is, then, to walk in the light of eternity; and to have a clear sight of, and confidence in, the Most High, reconciled to me through the Son of his love. 8. Now, how highly desirable is such a faith, were it only on its own account | For how little does the wisest of men 74 LETTER. To know of anything more than he can see with his eyes! What clouds and darkness cover the whole scene of things invisible and eternal | What does he know even of himself as to his invisible part? what of his future manner of existence? How melancholy an account does the prying, learned philosopher, (perhaps the wisest and best of all Heathens,) the great, the venerable Marcus Antoninus, give of these things! What was the result of all his serious researches, of his high and deep contemplations? “Either dissipation, (of the soul as well as the body, into the common, unthinking mass,) or re-absorption into the universal fire, the unintelligent source of all things; or some unknown manner of conscious existence, after the body sinks to rise no more.” One of these three he supposed must succeed death; but which, he had no light to determine. Poor Antoninus ! with all his wealth, his honour, his power ! with all his wisdom and philosophy, .