Wesley Corpus

“The birth of Christ is already begun in every one. Jesus is already within thee, (whoever thou art,) living, stirring, calling, knocking at the door of thy heart.” (Spirit of Prayer, Part I., p. 55.) “Every man has Christ in his spirit, lying there as in a state of insensibility and death.” (Spirit of Love, Part II., p.34) But he is living, for all that. And though “in a state of insensibility,” he is “stirring, calling, knocking at the door of the heart l” “Something of heaven” (you use this phrase as equivalent with Christ) “lies, in every soul, in a state of inactivity and death.” (Page 35.) “All the holy nature, tempers, and Spirit of Christ lie hid as a seed in thy soul.” (Spirit of Prayer, Part I., p. 68.) But are they active or inactive? living and stirring, or in a state of insensibility and death? “Thou art poor, and blind, and naked, and miserable, while all the peace and joy of God are within thee.” (Page 74.) This is most wonderful of all ! Are these within him who is “dead in sin,” who is a “stranger to all that is holy and heavenly ?” If they are, how can he be miserable, who has “all the peace and joy of God within him?” Will you say, “They are in him, but he does not feel them?” Nay, then, they are not in him. I have peace in me no longer than I feel peace; I feel joy, or I have it not. “See here the extent of the Catholic Church of Christ ! It takes in all the world.” (Page 56.) So Jews, Mahometans, Dsists, Heathens, are all members of the Church of Christ ! Should we not add devils too, seeing these also are to dwell with us in heaven? “Poor sinner, Christ dwelleth in the centre, the fund or bottom, of thy soul.” (Page 59.) What is this? What is either the centre, the top, or bot tom of a spirit? “When Adam fell, this centre of his soul became a prisoner in an earthly animal.