Wesley Corpus

When you speak to God, do your lips and your heart go together? Do you not often utter words by which you mean just nothing? Do not you say and unsay; or say one thing to God, and another to man? For instance, you say to God, “Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep me this day without sin: ” But you say to man, “This cannot be done; it is all folly and madness to expect it.” You ask of God that you “may perfectly love him, and worthily magnify his holy name: ” But you tell man, “There is no perfect love upon earth; it is only a madman’s dream.” You pray God to “cleanse the thoughts of your heart, by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit:” But you assure your neighbour there is no such thing as inspiration now, and that none pretend to it but enthusiasts. What gross hypocrisy is this! Surely you think there is no “knowledge in the Most High. O be not deceived ! God is not mocked. But whatsoever ye sow, that also shall ye reap !” 28. Such at present is the religion of this Christian nation | So do we honour Him by whose name we are called ! And yet was there ever a nation more careless and secure, more unap prehensive of the wrath of God? How can a man more effectu ally expose himself to the ridicule of those who are esteemed men of understanding, than by showing any concern, as if the judgments of God were hanging over our heads? Surely then, “a deceived heart hath turned us aside, that we cannot say, Is there not a lie in my fight hand?” Surely this our confidence is not of God; it is rather a judicial infatuation, a stupid insen sibility, a deep sleep, the forerunner of heavy vengeance. Ruin behind it stalks, and empty desolation. Surely never was any people more fitted for destruction “Impudent children are they, and stiff-hearted. Are they ashamed when they have committed abomination;” when they have openly profaned the day of the Lord; when they have committed lewdness; or when they have uttered such curses and blasphemies as are not heard of among the Heathens?