Wesley Corpus

Faith, according to the scriptural account, is the eye of the new-born soul. Hereby every true believer in God “seeth him who is invisible.” Hereby (in a more particular manner, since life and immortality have been brought to light by the gospel) he “seeth the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ; ” and “beholdeth what manner of love it is which the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we,” who are born of the Spirit, “should be called the sons of God.” It is the car of the soul, whereby a sinner “hears the voice of thc Son of God, and lives; ” even that voice which alone wakes the dead, “Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.” It is (if I may be allowed the expression) the palate of the soul; for hereby a believer “tastes the good word, and the powers of the world to come; ” and “hereby he both tastes and sees that God is gracious,” yea, “and merciful to him a sinner.” It is the feeling of the soul, whereby a believer perceives, through the “power of the Highest overshadowing him,” both the existence and the presence of Him in whom “he lives, moves, and has his being; ” and indeed the whole invisible world, the entire system of things eternal. And hereby, in particular, he feels “the love of God shed abroad in his heart.” 8. By this faith we are saved from all uneasiness of mind, from the anguish of a wounded spirit, from discontent, from fear and sorrow of heart, and from that inexpressible listless mess and weariness, both of the world and of ourselves, which we had so helplessly laboured under for many years; especially when we were out of the hurry of the world, and sunk into calm reflection. In this we find that love of God, and of all mankind, which we had elsewhere sought in vain. This we know and feel, and therefore cannot but declare, saves every one that partakes of it, both from sin and misery, from every unhappy and every unholy temper. Soft peace she brings, wherever she arrives; She builds our quiet, as she forms our lives; Lays the rough paths of peevish nature even, And opens in each breast a little heaven. 9. If you ask, “Why then have not all men this faith?