Wesley Corpus

He is therefore happy in God, yea, always happy, as having in him “a well of water springing up into everlasting life,” and overflowing his soul with peace and joy. “Perfect love” having now “cast out fear,” he “rejoices evermore.” He “rejoices in the Lord always,” even “in God his Saviour,” and in the Father, “through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom he hath now received the atonement.” “Having” found “redemp tion through his blood, the forgiveness of his sins,” he cannot but rejoice, whenever he looks back on the horrible pit out of which he is delivered; when he sees “all his transgressions blot ted out as a cloud, and his iniquities as a thick cloud.” He can not but rejoice, whenever he lookson the state wherein he now is; “being justified freely, and having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” For “he that believeth, hath the witness” of this “in himself,” being now the son of God by faith. “Be cause he is a son, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into his heart, crying, Abba, Father!” And “the Spirit itself beareth witness with his spirit, that he is a child of God.” He rejoiceth also, whenever he looks forward, “in hope of the glory that shall be revealed; ” yea, this his joy is full, and all his bones cry out, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten me again to a living hope--of an inheritance incorruptible, unde filed, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for me!” 7. And he who hath this hope, thus “full of immortality, in everything giveth thanks; ” as knowing that this (whatsoever it is) “is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning him.” From him, therefore, he cheerfully receives all, saying, “Good is the will of the Lord;” and whether the Lord giveth or taketh away," equally “blessing the nameof the Lord.” For he hath “learned, in whatsoever state he is, therewith to be content.” He knoweth “both how to be abased and how to abound.