Wesley Corpus

They despised such gross imaginations. But though they did not allow these, they found out another way to get to heaven without holiness. In the room of them they substituted penances, pilgrimages, praying to saints and angels; and, above all these, masses for the dead, absolution by a Priest, and extreme unction. And these satisfy the Romanists full as well as lustrations did the Heathens. Thousands of them make no manner of doubt, but, by a diligent use of these, without any holiness at all, they shall see the Lord in glory. 4. However, Protestants will not be satisfied thus; they know this hope is no better than a spider's web. They are convinced, that whoever leans on this, leans on the staff of a broken reed. What then can they do? How shall they hope to see God, without holiness? Why, by doing no harm, doing good, going to the church and sacrament. And many thousands sit down content with this, believing they are in the high road to heaven. 5. Yet many cannot rest here. They look upon this as the very Popery of Protestantism. They well know, that although none can be a real Christian, without carefully abstaining from all evil, using every means of grace at every opportunity, and doing all possible good to all men; yet a man may go thus far, may do all this, and be but an Heathen still. They know this religion is too superficial; it is but as it were skin-deep. There fore, it is not Christianity; for that lies in the heart; it is wor shipping God in spirit and in truth; it is no other than “the * The following is Pitt's translation of these lines from Virgil:-- “Patriots who perish'd for their country's right, Or nobly triumph'd in the field of fight: There holy priests and sacred poets stood, Who sung with all the raptures of a god; Worthies who life by useful arts refined, With those who leave a deathless name behind, Friends of the world, and fathers of mankind.”-EDIT. / kingdom of God within us;” it is the life of God in the soul of man; it is the mind which was in Christ Jesus; it is “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” 6.