Wesley Corpus

But rather let them wish, with an eminent Prophet, (an admirable way of showing our love to our country, and doing it the most effectual service 1) “O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” and with Christ himself, the Inspirer of the Prophets, “when he beheld the rebellious “city, weep over it!” But, it may be, you are of a different complexion. You “fear not the Lord, neither regard the operation of his hands.” Your case, I fear, is too similar to his, who of old said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him?” But He is, though you know him not, the God of your life, your health, your strength, and all your mercies. It is “through him you live, move, and have your being; ” and is therefore altogether worthy of all you have and all you are. “Acquaint yourself with him, and be at peace; and thereby good shall come unto thee,” Till this is the case, it is morally impossible that you should be a true patriot, a real lover of your country. You may indeed assume the sounding title; but it is an empty name. You may in word mightily contend for your country’s good; but, while you are a slave to sin, you are an enemy to God, and your country too. But let the time past suffice. Be henceforth, not only in word, but in deed and in truth, a patriot. Put away the accursed thing, the evil that is found in you; so shall you love your country as your own soul, and prevent the fearful end of both.- That we may do this, and that it may please infinite Wisdom to succeed our attempts, I would beg leave to pass from the Second to the First cause. Here I would fix my foot, as on a sure and solid foundation that will stand for ever. The holy Scriptures give us ample accounts of the fall and rise of the greatest monarchies. It is simply this: They rose by virtue; but they fell by vice. “Righteousness” alone “exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people.” And this ever will be the case, till the end of all things.