Settle this in your heart, that the opus operatum, the mere work done profiteth nothing: that there is no power to save, but in the Spirit of God; no merit, but in the blood of Christ: that consequently, even what God ordains, conveys no grace to the soul, if you trust not in him alone. On the other hand, he that does truly trust in him, cannot fall short of the grace of God, even tho’ he were cut off from every outward ordinance, tho’ he were shut up in the center of the earth.
* Thirdly, In using all means, seek God alone. In and thro’ every outward thing, look singly to the power of his Spirit, and the merits of his Son. Beware you do not stick in the work itself; if you do, it is all lost labour. Nothing short of God can satisfy your soul. Therefore eye him, in all, thro’ all, and above all.
Remember also, to use all means, as means: as ordained, not for their own sake, but in order to the renewal of your soul in righteousness and true holiness. If therefore they actuallytend to this, well. But if not, they are dung and dross.
Lastly, After you have used any of these, take care, how you value yourself thereon: how you congratulate yourself, as having done some great thing. This is turning all into poison. Think, “If God was not there, what does this avail? Have I not been adding sin to sin? How long! O Lord! Save or I perish! O lay not this sin to my charge!” If God was there, if his love flowed into your heart, you have forgot, as it were, the outward work. You see, you know, you feel, God is all in all. Be abased. Sink down before him. Give him all the praise. Let God in all things be glorified through Christ Jesus. Let all your bones cry out, My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the Lord: with my mouth will I ever be telling of thy truth, from one generation to another!
The End of the FIRST VOLUME.
Footnotes.
| [1] – | Preached at St. Mary’s, Oxford, before the University, June 18, 1738. |
| [2] – | Preached at St. Mary’s, Oxford, before the University, July 25, 1741. |
| [3] – | Good men avoid sin from the love of virtue; Wicked men avoid sin from a fear of punishment. |
| [4] – | Thou shalt not be hang’d. |
| [5] – | Homily on the salvation of man. |
| [6] – | Preached on Sunday, April 4, 1742, before the University of Oxford, by the Rev. Mr. Charles Wesley. |
| [7] – | Ezek. xxxvi. 27. |
| [8] – | Isaiah xliv. 3. |
| [9] – | John xiv. 20. |
| [10] – | Art. 17. |
| [11] – | Office of consecrating Priests. |
| [12] – | Visitation of the sick. |
| [13] – | Collect before the holy communion. |
| [14] – | Order of confirmation. |
| [15] – | Preached at St. Mary’s, Oxford, before the University, August 24, 1744. |
| [16] – | Evidence or conviction. |
| [17] – | Gen. iii. 15. |
| [18] – | Gen. xxii. 15, 18. |
| [19] – | Gen. xv. 6. |
| [20] – | Rom. iv. 11. |
| [21] – | Ver. 23, 24, 25. |
| [22] – | Mark xii. 30. |
| [23] – | 1 Cor. ii. 12. |
| [24] – | 2 Cor. i. 12. |
| [25] – | 1 Cor. i. 2. |
| [26] – | Ver. 9. |
| [27] – | What follows for some pages is an answer to a paper published in the Christian’s Magazine, p. 577–582. I am surprized Mr. Dodd should give such a paper a place in his Magazine, which is directly contrary to our ninth article. |
| [28] – | Preached at the Assizes held before the Honourable Sir Edward Clive, Knight, one of the Judges of his Majesty’s Court of Common-Pleas; in St. Paul’s Church, Bedford: on Friday, March 10, 1758. |
| [29] – | Acts ii. 19. |
| [30] – | Luke xxi. 11. |
| [31] – | Rev. xvi. 20. |
| [32] – | Luke xxi. 25. |
| [33] – | Joel ii. 30. |
| [34] – | Luke xxi. 25, 26. |
| [35] – | Joel ii. 3. |
| [36] – | Joel iii. 15. |
| [37] – | 1 Thess. iv. 16. |
| [38] – | Rev. xx. 13. |
| [39] – | 1 Cor. xv. 53. |
| [40] – | Matt. xxiv. 31. |
| [41] – | Matt. xxv. 31, &c. |
| [42] – | Rev. xx. 12. |
| [43] – | Heb. i. 2. |
| [44] – | John v. 22, 27. |
| [45] – | Phil. ii. 6, 7. |
| [46] – | 2 Pet. iii. 8. |
| [47] – | 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17. |
| [48] – | Matt. xii. 36, 37. |
| [49] – | Ezek. xviii. 21, 22. |
| [50] – | Jer. xxxi. 34. |
| [51] – | Heb. viii. 12. |
| [52] – | Matt. x. 26. |
| [53] – | Rev. xx. 11. |
| [54] – | 2 Pet. iii. 12. |
| [55] – | Ibid. v. 10. |
| [56] – | Chap. iv. 6. |
| [57] – | v. 13. |
| [58] – | c. lxv. 17. |
| [59] – | Rev. xxi. 1. |
| [60] – | v. 3. |
| [61] – | v. 4. |
| [62] – | c. xxii. 3, 4. |
Transcriber’s Notes.
| The following corrections have been made in the text: | |
| [⭘] – | Ending quote not shown in text. (“I am a creature) |
| [⭘] – | ‘2.’ replaced with ‘1.’ (1. That “to preach salvation) |
| [⭘] – | ‘redemptition’ replaced with ‘redemption’ (indeed redemption through his blood) |
| [⭘] – | ‘goaler’ replaced with ‘gaoler’ (with the trembling gaoler,) |
| [⭘] – | ‘title’ replaced with ‘tittle’ (as to any jot or tittle,) |
| [⭘] – | ‘he’ replaced with ‘be’ (thy head be waters,) |
| [⭘] – | Paragragh numeral ‘4’ skipped. |
| [⭘] – | Paragragh numeral ‘2’ skipped. (3. The inward, spiritual meaning) |
| [⭘] – | ‘conquerer’ replaced with ‘conqueror’ (than conqueror, through him) |
| [⭘] – | duplicated word removed ‘or’ (to approve or disapprove) |
| [⭘] – | ‘σαρηὸς’ replaced with ‘σαρκὸς’ (φρόνημα σαρκὸς) |
| [⭘] – | Ending quote not shown in text. (“All true believers,) |
| [⭘] – | missing ‘is’ inserted in text (because it is contrary) |
| [⭘] – | ‘were’ replaced with ‘where’ (where only meekness and humility are felt!) |
| [⭘] – | ‘likness’ replaced with ‘likeness’ (made in the likeness of men) |
| [⭘] – | ‘ecchoes’ replaced with ‘echoes’ (which echoes through the expanse) |
| [⭘] – | ‘ἐθιέτω’ replaced with ‘ἐσθιέτω’ (ἐσθιέτω· πινέτω· both in the imperative mood.) |
| [⭘] – | ‘be’ replaced with ‘he’ (that he will meet and bless) |
| [⭘] – | Ending quote not shown in text. (“There is no power) |
| [⭘] – | ‘xx’ replaced with ‘xxi’ (Rev.xxi. 1.) |