Wesley Corpus

3. “Well, but I am not convinced it is a sin: My conscience does not condemn me for it.” No ! Are you not convinced that robbery is a sin? Then I am sorry for you. And does not your conscience condemn you for stealing? Then your conscience is asleep. I pray God to smite you to the heart, and awaken it this day ! 4. “Nay, but my soul is quite happy in the love of God; therefore I cannot think it is wrong.” I answer, Wrong it must be, if the Bible is right. Therefore either that love is a mere delusion, a fire of your own kindling, or God may have hitherto winked at the times of ignorance. But now you have the means of knowing better; now light is offered to you; and if you shut your eyes against the light, the love of God cannot possibly continue. 5. “But I only buy a little brandy or tea now and then, just for my own use.” That is, I only steal a little. God says, “Steal not at all.” 6. “Nay, I do not buy any at all myself; I only send my child or servant for it.” You receive it of them; do you not? And the receiver is as bad as the thief. 7. “Why, I would not meddle with it, but I am forced by my parent, husband, or master.” If you are forced by your father or mother to rob, you will be hanged neverthe less. This may lessen, but does not take away, the fault; for you ought to suffer rather than sin. 8. “But I do not know that it was run.” No! Did not he that sold it tell you it was? If he sold it under the common price, he did. The naming the price was telling you, “This is run.” 9. “But I do not know where to get tea which is not run.” I will tell you where to get it; you may have it from those whose tea is duly entered, and who make a conscience of it. But were it otherwise, if I could get no wine but what I knew to be stolen, I would drink water; yea, though not only my health but my life depended upon it; for it is better to die than to live by thieving. 10.