Wesley Corpus

ever a stumbling-block and foolishness to the unregenerate part of mankind. “None of Adam’s children naturally incline to receive the blessing in borrowed robes, but would always climb up to heaven on a thread spun out of their own bowels. They look. on God as a great Master, and themselves as his servants, that must work and win heaven as their wages. Hence, when conscience awakes, they think that, to be saved, they must answer the demands of the law; serve God as well as they can, and pray for mercy wherein they come short. And thus many come to duties, that never come out of them to Christ. “Indeed, the natural man, going to God in duties, will continually be found, either to go without a Mediator, or with more mediators than one. Nature is blind, and therefore venturous; it puts men on going immediately to God without Christ. Converse with many hearers of the gospel on their hopes of salvation, and the name of Christ will scarce be heard from their mouth. Ask them, how they think to find the pardon of sin. They say, they look for mercy, because God is a merciful God; and this is all they have to trust in. Others look for mercy for Christ's sake. But how do they know Christ will take their plea in hand? Why, they pray, mourn, confess, and have great desires. So they have some thing of their own to recommend them to him. They were never made ‘poor in spirit, and brought empty-handed to God, to lay the stress of all on his atoning blood. “(3.) The natural man is an enemy to Christ in his kingly office. “How unwilling are natural men to submit to the laws and discipline of his kingdom However they may be brought to some outward submission to the King of saints, yet sin alway retains its throne in their hearts, and they are ‘serving divers lusts and pleasures. None but those in whom Christ is formed do really put the crown on his head. None but these receive the kingdom of Christ within them, and let him set up and put down in their souls as he will. As for others, any lord shall sooner have the rule over them than the Lord of glory. They kindly entertain his enemies, and will never absolutely resign themselves to his government.