Wesley Corpus

Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, “Because of swearing, the land mourneth.” But if this might be said of the land of Canaan, how much more of this land In what city or town, in what market or exchange, in what street or place of public resort, is not the holy “name whereby we are called ” taken in vain, day by day? From the noble to the peasant, who fails to call upon God, in this, if in no other, way? Whither can you turn, where can you go, without hearing some praying to God for damnation, either on his neighbour or himself? cursing those, without either fear or remorse, whom Christ hath bought to inherit a blessing ! Are you one of these stupid, senseless, shameless wretches, that call so earnestly for damnation on your own soul? What, if God should take you at your word? Are you “able to dwell with everlasting burnings?” If you are, yet why should you be in haste to be in the “lake of fire burning with brimstone?” God help you! or you will be there soon enough, and long enough; for that “fire is not quenched !” But the “smoke thereof ascendeth up, day and night, for ever and ever.” And what is that important affair, concerning which you was but now appealing to God? Was you “calling God to record upon your soul,” touching your everlasting salvation? No; but touching the beauty of your horse, the swiftness of your dog, or the goodness of your drink. How is this? What notion have you of God? What do you take him to be? Idcirco stolidam prebet tibi vellere barbam Jupiter ** What stupidity, what infatuation is this ! thus without either pleasure, or profit, or praise, to set at nought Him that hath “all power both in heaven and earth!” wantonly to “provoke the eyes of his glory !” Are you a man of letters who are sunk so low 7 I will not then send you to the inspired writers, (so called;--perhaps you disdain to receive instruction by them,) but the old, blind Hea then. Could you only fix in your mind the idea he had of God, (though it is not strictly just, unless we refer it to God.