Wesley Corpus

Paul indeed says once, concerning two of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, (so I think that text is usually understood,) “Whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease.” But he does not say, either that these or any other miracles shall cease till faith and hope shall cease also; till they shall all be swallowed up in the vision of God, and love be all in all. “I presume you will allow there is one kind of miracles (loosely speaking) which are not ceased; namely, repara alrevôovs, ‘lying wonders, diabolical miracles, wrought by the power of evil spirits. Nor can you easily conceive that these will cease, as long as the father of lies is the prince of this world. And why should you think that the God of truth is less active than him, or that he will not have his miracles also? only not as man wills, neither when he wills; but according to his own excellent wisdom and goodness. “6. But even if it were supposed that God does now work beyond the operation of merely natural causes, yet what im presion would this make upon you, in the disposition of mind. you are now in 7 Suppose the trial was repeated, and made again to-morrow. One informs you the next day, ‘While a Clergyman was preaching yesterday, where I was, a man came who had been long ill of an incurable distemper. Prayer. was made for him; and he was restored to perfect health.” “Suppose now that this was a real fact, perhaps you would scarce have patience to hear the account of it; but would cut it short in the midst, with, “Do you tell this as something super natural? Then miracles are not ceased. But if you should venture to ask, ‘Where was this; and who was the person who prayed?” and it was answered, “At the Foundery, near Moor fields; the person who prayed was Mr. Wesley; what a damp comes at once ! What a weight falls on your mind at the first setting out! It is well if you have any heart or desire to move one step farther, or, if you should, what a strong additional propensity do you now feel to deny the fact! And is there not a ready excuse for so doing? ‘O!