Wesley Corpus

What religion do I preach? The religion of love; the law of kindness brought to light by the gospel. What is this good for? To make all who receive it enjoy God and themselves: To make them like God; lovers of all; contented in their lives; and crying out at their death, in calm assu rance, “O grave, where is thy victory ! Thanks be unto God, who giveth me the victory, through my Lord Jesus Christ.’” 20. Will you object to such a religion as this, that it is not reasonable? Is it not reasonable then to love God? Hath he not given you life, and breath, and all things? Does he * The soul of the world. + The all-informing soul, Which spreads through the vast mass, and moves the whole. not continue his love to you, filling your heart with food and gladness? What have you which you have not received of him? And does not love demand a return of love? Whether, therefore, you do love God or no, you cannot but own it is reasonable so to do; nay, seeing he is the Parent of all good, to love him with all your heart. 21. Is it not reasonable also to love our neighbour, every man whom God hath made? Are we not brethren, the children of one Father? Ought we not, then, to love one another? And should we only love them that love us? Is that acting like our Father which is in heaven? He causeth his sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. And can there be a more equitable rule than this: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself?” You will plead for the reasonableness of this; as also for that golden rule, (the only adequate measure of bro therly love, in all our words and actions) “Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them P” 22. Is it not reasonable, then, that, as we have opportunity, we should do good unto all men; not only friends, but enemies; not only to the deserving, but likewise to the evil and unthankful? Is it not right that all our life should be one con tinued labour of love?