The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 05 (of 32)

by John Wesley

That we must eat, and drink, and dress, and discourse according to the sobriety of the Christian spirit; engage in no employments but such as we can truly devote unto God; nor pursue them any farther, than conduces to the reasonable ends of a holy life.

That we must be honest, not only on particular occasions, and in such instances as are applauded in the world, easy to be performed, and free from danger or loss, but from such a living principle of justice, as makes us love truth and integrity in all its instances, follow it thro’ all dangers, and against all opposition; as knowing that the more we pay for any truth, the better is our bargain, and that then our integrity becomes a pearl, when we have parted with all to keep it.

That we must be humble, not only in such instances as are expected in the world, or suitable to our tempers, or confined to particular occasions, but in such a spirit, as renders us meek and holy in the whole course of our lives, as shews itself in our dress, our person, our conversation, our enjoyment of the world, patience under injuries, submission to superiors, and condescension to those that are below us, and in all the outward actions of our lives.

That we must not only devote times and places to prayer, but be every where in the spirit of devotion, with hearts always set towards heaven, looking up to God in all our actions, and doing every thing as servants living in the world, as in an holy temple of God; always worshipping him, tho’ not with our lips, yet with the thankfulness of our hearts, the holiness of our actions, and the pious and charitable use of his gifts. That we must not only send up petitions and thoughts now and then to heaven; but must go thro’ all our worldly business, with an heavenly spirit, as members of Christ’s mystical body, that, with new hearts and new minds, we are to turn an earthly life into a preparation for a life of greatness and glory in the kingdom of heaven.

15. Enough, I hope, has been said, to shew you the necessity of thus introducing religion into all the actions of our common life, and of living and acting with the same regard to God in all that you do, as in your prayers and alms.

Eating is one of the lowest actions of our lives; it is common to us with mere animals: yet we see that the piety of all the ages of the world, has turned this ordinary action of the animal life, into a piety to God, by making every meal to begin and end with devotion.

*We see yet some remains of this custom in most Christian families; some such little formality as shews you, that people used to call upon God at the beginning and end of their meals. But indeed it is generally now so performed, as to look more like a mockery upon devotion, than any solemn application of the mind unto God. In one house you may perhaps see the head of the family just pulling off his hat; in another half getting up from his seat; another shall, it may be, proceed so far, as to make as if he said something: but however, these little attempts are the remains of some devotion that was formerly used at such times, and are proofs that religion has formerly belonged to this part of common life.

But to such a pass are we now come, that tho’ the custom is still preserved, yet we can hardly bear with him, that seems to perform it with any degree of seriousness, and look upon it as a sign of a fanatical temper, if a man has not done it as soon as he begins.

I would not be thought to plead for the necessity of long prayers at these times; but thus much I think may be said, that if prayer is proper at these times, we ought to use such words as should shew, that we solemnly appeal to God for such graces and blessings as are proper to the occasion; otherwise the mock-ceremony, instead of blessing our victuals, does but accustom us to trifle with devotion, and give us a habit of being unaffected with our prayers.

[♦]17. If every head of a family would, at the return of every meal, make a solemn adoration of God, in such a decent manner as becomes a devout mind, it would be very likely to teach him, that swearing, sensuality, gluttony, and loose discourse, were very improper at those meals, which were to begin and end with devotion.