Wesley Corpus

There is therefore no hinderance on God’s part; since “as his majesty is, so is his mercy.” And what ever hinderance there is on the part of man, when God speaketh, it is not. Only ask then, O sinner, “and it shall be given thee,” even the faith that brings salvation: And that without any merit or good work of thine; for “it is not of works, lest any man should boast.” No; it is of grace, of grace alone. For “unto him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifi eth the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness.” 64. “But by talking thus you encourage sinners.” I do encourage them--to repent; and do not you? Do not you know how many heap sin upon sin, purely for want of such encouragement; because they think they can never be forgiven, there is no place for repentance left? Does not your heart also bleed for them? What would you think too dear to part with? What would you not do, what would you not suffer, to bring one such sinner to repentance? Could not your love “endure all things” for them? Yes,--if you believed it would do them good; if you had any hope that they would be better. Why do you not believe it would do them good? Why have you not a hope that they will be better? Plainly, because you do not love them enough; because you have not that charity which not only endureth, but at the same time believeth and hopeth, all things. 65. But that you may see the wholestrength of this objection, I will show you, without any disguise or reserve, how I encourage the chief of sinners. My usual language to them runs thus:-- O ye that deny the Lord that bought you, yet hear the word of the Lord! You seek rest, but find none. your heart is in heaviness. Even in laughter How long spend ye your labour for that which is not bread, and your strength for that which satis fieth not? You know your soul is not satisfied. It is still an aching void. Sometimes you find, in spite of your principles, a sense of guilt, an awakened conscience. That grisly phan tom, religion, (so you describe her,) will now and then haunt you still.