Wesley Corpus

Let him that is zealous for God and the souls of men begin now. (1.) Where there are ten children in a society, meet them at least an hour every week. (2.) Talk with them every time you see any at home. (3.) Pray in earnest for them. (4.) Diligently instruct and vehemently exhort all parents at their own houses. (5.) Preach expressly on education, particularly at Mid summer, when you speak of Kingswood. “But I have no gift for this.” Gift or no gift, you are to do it; else you are not called to be a Methodist Preacher. Do it as you can, till you can do it as you would. Pray earnestly for the gift, and use the means for it. Particularly, study the “Instructions” and “Lessons for Children.” Q. 34. Why are not we more holy? Why do not we live in eternity; walk with God all the day long? Why are we not all devoted to God; breathing the whole spirit of Missionaries? A. Chiefly because we are enthusiasts; looking for the end, without using the means. To touch only upon two or three instances: Who of you rises at four in summer; or even at five, when he does not preach? Do you recommend to all our societies the five o’clock hour for private prayer? Do you observe it, or any other fixed time? Do not you find by experience, that any time is no time? Do you know the obligation and the benefit of fasting P How often do you practise it? The neglect of this alone is sufficient to account for our feebleness and faintness of spirit. We are continu ally grieving the Holy Spirit of God by the habitual neglect of a plain duty Let us amend from this hour. Q. 35. But how can I fast, since it hurts my health? A. There are several degrees of fasting which cannot hurt your health. I will instance in one: Let you and I every Friday (beginning on the next) avow this duty throughout the nation, by touching no tea, coffee, or chocolate in the morning but (if we want it) half a pint of milk or water-gruel. Letus dine on potatoes, and (if we need it) eat three or four ounces of flesh in the evening. At other times let us eat no flesh-suppers: These exceedingly tend to breed nervous disorders.