Wesley Corpus

“A. Not in careless indifference, or indolent inactivity; but in vigorous, universal obedience, in a zealous keeping of all the commandments, in watchfulness and painfulness, in denying ourselves, and taking up our cross daily; as well as in earnest prayer and fasting, and a close attendance on all the ordinances of God. And if any man dream of attaining it any other way, (yea, or of keeping it when it is attained, when he has received it even in the largest measure,) he deceiveth his own soul. It is true, we receive it by simple faith: But God does not, will not, give that faith, unless we seek it with all diligence, in the way which he hath ordained. “This consideration may satisfy those who inquire, why so few have received the blessing. Inquire, how many are sceking it in this way; and you have a sufficient answer. “Prayer especially is wanting. Who continues instant therein? Who wrestles with God for this very thing? So, “ye have not, because ye ask not; or because ye ask amiss,” namely, that you may be renewed before you die. Before you die! Will that content you? Nay, but ask that it may be done now; to-day, while it is called to-day. Do not call this * setting God a time. Certainly, to-day is his time as well as to-morrow. Make haste, man, make haste! Let Thy soul break out in strong desire The perfect bliss to prove; Thy longing heart be all on fire To be dissolved in love | “Q. But may we not continue in peace and joy till we are perfected in love? “A. Certainly we may; for the kingdom of God is not divided against itself; therefore, let not believers be discou raged from ‘rejoicing in the Lord always.” And yet we may be sensibly pained at the sinful nature that still remains in ins. It is good for us to have a piercing sense of this, and a vehement desire to be delivered from it. But this should only incite us the more zealously to fly every moment to our strong Helper, the more earnestly to ‘press forward to the mark, the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus.’ And when the sense of our sin most abounds, the sense of his love should much more abound. “Q.