Wesley Corpus

In like manner, you are as really moved by the Spirit to pray, whether it be in public or private, when you have a conviction it is the will of God you should, as when you have the strongest impulse upon your heart. And he does truly move you to preach, when in His light you “see light” clearly satisfying you it is his will, as much as when you feel the most vehement impulse or desire to “hold forth the words of eternal life.” Now let us consider the main proposition: “All worship which man sets about in his own will, and at his own appoint ment”--Hold ! that is quite another thing. It may be at his own appointment, and yet not in his own will. For instance: It is not my own will to preach at all. It is quite contrary to my will. Many a time have I cried out, “Lord, send by whom thou wilt send; only send not me!” But I am moved by the Spirit of God to preach: He clearly shows me it is his will I should; and that I should do it when and where the greatest number of poor sinners may be gathered together. Moved by Him, I give up my will, and appoint a time and place, when by his power I trust to speak in his name. How widely different, then, from true Christianity is that amazing sentence: “All praises, prayers, and preachings which man can begin and end at his pleasure, do or leave undone, as himself sees meet, are superstitions, will-worship, and abominable idolatry in the sight of God!” There is not one tittle of Scripture for this; nor yet is there any sound reason. When you take it for granted, “In all preachings which a man begins or ends at his pleasure, does or leaves undone as he sees meet, he is not moved by the Spirit of God,” you are too hasty a great deal. It may be by the Spirit, that he sees meet to do or leave it undone. How will you prove that it is not? His pleasure may depend on the pleasure of God, signified to him by his Spirit. His appointing this or that time or place does in nowise prove the contrary.