Wesley Corpus

The answer was easy: “Because it was told of a Turk.” My friend, take knowledge of your own case. If you had not first took me for a Turk, or something equally bad, you could not so readily have believed that tale. 7. “But can it be, that there is no ground at all for a report which is in every one's mouth?” I will simply tell you all the ground which I can conceive. I believe many of those who attend on my ministry have less of this world’s goods than they had before, or, at least, might have had if they did not attend it. This fact I allow; and it may be easily accounted for in one or other of the following ways: First. Ifrequently preach on such texts as these: “Having food and raiment, let us be content therewith.” “They who desire to be rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where the rust and moth doth corrupt, and where thieves. break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither rust nor moth doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.” Now, should any of those who are labouring by all possible means “to lay up treasure upon earth,” feel these words, they would not “enlarge their desires as hell,” but be “content with such things as they had.” They then probably might not heap up so much for their heirs as otherwise they would have done. These would therefore have less than if they had not heard me; because they would grasp at less. Secondly. Wherever the gospel takes effect, “the foes of a man will be those of his own household.” By this means then some who hear and receive it with joy will be poorer than they were before. Their domestic foes will, in many cases, hinder, embroil, and disturb the course of their affairs.