Wesley Collected Works Vol 8
| Author | John Wesley |
|---|---|
| Type | treatise |
| Year | None |
| Passage ID | jw-wesley-collected-works-vol-8-001 |
| Words | 393 |
1. ALTHough it is with us a “very small thing to be judged
of you or of man’s judgment,” seeing we know God will “make
our innocency as clear as the light, and our just dealing as the
noon-day;” yet are we ready to give any that are willing to
hear a plain account, both of our principles and actions; as
having “renounced the hidden things of shame,” and desiring
nothing more, “than by manifestation of the truth to commend
ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
2. We see (and who does not?) the numberless follies and
miseries of our fellow-creatures. We see, on every side, either
men of no religion at all, or men of a lifeless, formal religion. We are grieved at the sight; and should greatly rejoice, if by
any means we might convince some that there is a better reli
gion to be attained,--a religion worthy of God that gave it. And this we conceive to be no other than love; the love of
God and of all mankind; the loving God with all our heart, and
soul, and strength, as having first loved us, as the fountain of
all the good we have received, and of all we ever hope to
enjoy; and the loving every soul which God hath made, every
man on earth, as our own soul. 3. This love we believe to be the medicine of life, the never
failing remedy for all the evils of a disordered world, for all the
miseries and vices of men. Wherever this is, there are virtue
and happiness going hand in hand. There is humbleness of
mind, gentleness, long-suffering, the whole image of God; and
at the same time a peace that passeth all understanding, and
joy unspeakable and full of glory. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind;
Each prayer accepted, and each wish resign'd,
Desires composed, affections ever even,
Tears that delight, and sighs that waft to heaven. 4. This religion we long to see established in the world, a
religion of love, and joy, and peace, having its seat in the
inmost soul, but ever showing itself by its fruits, continually
springing forth, not only in all innocence, (for love worketh
no ill to his neighbour,) but likewise in every kind of bene
ficence, spreading virtue and happiness all around it. 5.