Wesley Corpus

172.) Would it not be more intelligible if one had said, “The con vincing Spirit of God gives you to see and feel that you are a poor undone, guilty, helpless sinner: At the same time, he in cites you to cry for help to Him who is “mighty to save?” This is true. But it is not true, that, in the first kindling of this fire, in plain terms, during the first convictions, “nothing is found but pain, wrath, and darkness.” Very often there are found even in the first conviction, sweet gleams of light, touches of joy, of hope, and of love, mixed with sorrow and fear. Much less is it true, that the first prayer of an awakening sinner is all humility. (Ibid.) On the contrary, a sinner newly awakened has always more or less confidence in himself, in what he is, or has, or does, and will do; which is not humility, but downright pride. And this mingles itself with all his prayer, till the day-star is just rising in his heart. You add: “This prayer is met by the divine love, and changed into hymns, and songs, and thanksgivings.” (Ibid.) It is so, when “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” “This state of fervour melts away all earthly passions and affections, and leaves no inclination in the soul, but to delight in God alone.” (Ibid.) It is certain, this is the genuine effect of “the love of God shed abroad in the heart;” which expression ef St. Paul, I suppose, means the same with “this state of fervour.” “Then its prayer changes again, and continually stands in fulness of faith, in purity of love, in absolute resignation to do and be what and how his Beloved pleaseth. This is the last state of the spirit of prayer, and is our highest union with God in this life.” (Page 173.) Assuredly it is: Fulness of faith, beholding, with open face, the glory of the Lord; purity of love, free from all mixture of its contrary, yielding the whole heart to God; absolute resig nation, excluding every degree of self-will, sacrificing every thought, word, and work to God. But do we change directly, from our first love, into the highest union with God? Surely not.