Wesley Corpus

Avoid all needless self indulgence, as well as delicacy and softness. All these tend to breed or cherish those appetites and passions which you have renounced for Christ’s sake. They either create or increase those desires which, “for the kingdom of heaven’s sake,” you are determined not to gratify. Avoid all sloth, inactivity, indolence. Sleep no more than nature requires. Be never idle; and use as much bodily exercise as your strength will allow. I dare not add Monsieur Pascal's rule,--Avoid all pleasure. It is not possible to avoid all pleasure, even of sense, without destroying the body. Neither doth God require it at our hands; it is not his will concerning us. On the contrary, he “giveth us all things to enjoy,” so we enjoy them to his glory. But I say, avoid all that pleasure which anyway hinders you from enjoying him; yea, all such pleasure as does not prepare you for taking pleasure in God. Add to this constant and continued course of universal self-denial, the taking up your cross daily, the enduring “hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Remember, “the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” This is the way; walk therein; think not of a smoother path. Add to your other exercises constant and prudent fasting, and the Lord will uphold you with his hand. 14. I advise you, Lastly, if you desire to keep them, use all the advantages you enjoy. Indeed, without this, it is utterly impossible to keep them; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken the word which cannot be broken, which must be fulfilled with regard to all the good gifts of God: “To him that hath,” uses what he hath, “shall be given; and he shall have more abundantly: But from him that hath not,” uses it not, “shall be taken even that which he hath.” Would you therefore retain what you now have, what God hath already given? If so, “giving all diligence,” use it to the uttermost. “Stand fast in ” cvery instance of “the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free.” Be not “entangled” again in the “cares of this life;” but “cast all your care on Him that careth for you.