Wesley Corpus

By this means a thousand devices of Satan will be brought to nought; innu merable snares will be prevented; or you will pass through them without being hurt. Yea, and if at some time you should have suffered a little, the wound will speedily be healed. 12. I say, of your own sex; for, in the Third place, it will be highly expedient to avoid all needless conversation, much more all intimacy, with those of the other sex; so expedient, that unless you observe this, you will surely cast away the gift of God. Say not, “But they have much grace and much understanding.” So much the greater is the danger. There would be less fear of your receiving hurt from them, if they had less grace or less understanding. And whenever any of these are thrown in your way, “make a covenant with your eyes,” your ears, your hands, that you do not indulge yourself in any that are called innocent freedoms. Above all, “keep your heart with all diligence.” Check the first risings of desire. Watch against every sally of imagination, particularly if it be pleasing. If it is darted in, whether you will or no, yet, let no “vain thought lodge within you.” Cry out, “My God and my all, I am thine, thine alone ! I will be thine for ever! O save me from setting up an idol in my heart | Save me from taking any step toward it. Still bring my “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.’” 13. “But how shall I attain to, or how preserve, this strength and firmness of spirit?” In order to this, I advise you, Fourthly, (need I say, to avoid the sin of Onan, seeing Satan will not cast out Satan? or rather) avoid with the utmost care, all softness and effeminacy; remembering the express denunciation of an inspired writer, on waxxx01, the soft or effeminate, whether poor or rich, (the Apostle does not make any difference upon that account,) “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Avoid all delicacy, first in spirit, then in apparel, food, lodging, and a thousand nameless things; and this the more speedily and the more resolutely, if you have been long accustomed thereto. Avoid all needless self indulgence, as well as delicacy and softness.