Wesley Corpus

But waving this, I answer, Sin is entailed upon me, not by immediate genera tion, but by my first parent. ‘In Adam all died; by the disobedience of one, all men were made sinners; all men, without exception, who were in his loins when he ate the forbidden fruit. “We have a remarkable illustration of this in gardening: Grafts on a crab-stock bear excellent fruit; but sow the kernels of this fruit, and what will be the event? They produce as mere crabs as ever were eaten. “Q. But what does the perfect one do more than others? more than the common believers? “A. Perhaps nothing; so may the providence of God have hedged him in by outward circumstances. Perhaps not so much; though he desires and longs to spend and be spent for God; at least, not externally: He neither speaks so many words, nor dot's so many works. As neither did our Lord himself speak so many words, or do so many, no, nor so great works, as some of his Apostles. (John xiv. 12.) But what then? This is no proof that he has not more grace; and by this God measures the outward work. Hear ye Him: ‘Verily, I say unto you, this poor widow has cast in more than them all.’ Verily, this poor man, with his few broken words, hath spoken more than them all. Verily, this poor woman, that hath given a cup of cold water, hath done more than them all. O cease to ‘judge according to appearance, and learn to ‘judge righteous judgment l’ “Q. But is not this a proof against him,--I feel no power either in his words or prayer? “A. It is not; for perhaps that is your own fault. You are not likely to feel any power therein, if any of these hin derances lie in the way: (1.) Your own deadness of soul. The dead Pharisees felt no power even in His words who ‘spake as never man spake.” (2.) The guilt of some unre pented sin lying upon the conscience. (3.) Prejudice toward him of any kind. (4.) Your not believing that state to be attainable wherein he professes to be. (5.) Unreadiness to think or own he has attained it. (6.) Overvaluing or idolizing him. (7.) Overvaluing yourself and your own judgment.