Wesley Corpus

1. Surely ye are without excuse, all who do not yet know the day of your visitation the day wherein the great God, who hath been forgotten among us days without number, is arising at once to be avenged of his adversaries, and to visit and redeem his people. Are not his judgments and mercies both abroad? and still will ye not learn righteousness? Is not the Lord passing by? Doth not a great and strong wind already begin “to rend the mountains and to break in pieces the rocks before the Lord?” Is not the earthquake also felt already? and a fire hath begun to burn in his anger. Who knoweth what will be the end thereof.” But at the same time, he is speaking to many in “a still, small voice.” He that hath ears to hear, let him hear, lest he be suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy : 2. What excuse can possibly be made for those who are regardless of such a season as this? who are, at such a crisis, stupid, senseless, unapprehensive? caring for none of these things; who do not give themselves the pains to think about them, but are still easy and unconcerned ? What! can there ever be a point on which it more behoves you to think; and that with the coolest and deepest attention? As long as the heaven and the earth remain, can there be anything of so vast importance, as God’s last call to a guilty land, just perishing in its iniquity? You, with those round about you, deserved long ago to have “drank the dregs of the cup of trembling; ” yea, to have been “punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” But he hath not dealt with you according to your sins, neither rewarded you after your iniquities. And once more he is mixing mercy with judgment. Once more he is crying aloud, “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” And will you not deign to give him the hearing? If you are not careful to answer him in this matter, do not still shut your eyes, and stop your ears, and harden your stubborn heart. O beware, lest God laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh ! 3.