On Faith "Now faith is the evidence of things not seen." Heb. 11:1.
1. Many times have I thought, many times have I spoke, many times have I wrote upon these words; and yet there appears to be a depth in them which I am in no wise able to fathom. Faith is, in one sense of the word, a divine conviction of God and of the things of God; in another, (nearly ...read
On Family Religion "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Josh. 24:15.
1. In the foregoing verses we read that Joshua, now grown old, "gathered the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges and officers; and they presented themselves before the Lord." (Josh. 15:1.) And Joshua rehearsed to them ...read
On Friendship with the World "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of this world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore desireth to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God." Jam. 4:4.
1. There is a passage in St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, which has been often supposed to be of the same import with this: "Be not conformed to this world: ...read
On God's Vineyard "What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?" Isa. 5:4.
The vineyard of the Lord, taking the word in its widest sense, may include the whole world. All the inhabitants of the earth may, in some sense, be called "the vineyard ...read
On Grieving the Holy Spirit Written in the year 1733
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph. 4:30.
There can be no point of greater importance to him who knows that it is the Holy Spirit which leads us into all truth and into all holiness, than to consider with what temper of soul we are to entertain his divine presence ...read
On Knowing Christ after the Flesh "Henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we did kno~w Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more." 2 Cor. 5:16.
1. I have long desired to see something clearly and intelligibly wrote on these words. This is doubtless a point of no small importance: it enters deep into the nature of religion; and yet what treat ...read
On Laying the Foundation of the New Chapel Preached on Monday, April 21, 1777
ON LAYING THE FOUNDATION OF THE NEW CHAPEL, NEAR THE CITY-ROAD, LONDON.
"According to this time it shall be said, -- What hath God wrought!" Num. 23:23.
1. We need not now inquire, in what sense this was applicable to the children of Israel. It may be of more use to consider in what sense the words are appli ...read
On Living without God "Without God in the world." Eph. 2:12.
1. Perhaps these words might be more properly translated, Atheists in the world. This seems to be a little stronger expression than "without God in the world," which sounds nearly negative, and does not necessarily imply any more than the having no fellowship or intercourse with God. On the contrary, the ...read
On Love Preached at Savannah, February 20, 1736
"Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing." 1 Cor. 13:3.
[1.] There is great reason to fear that it will hereafter be said of most of you who are here present, that this scripture, as well as all those you have heard ...read
On Mourning the Dead Preached at Epworth, January 11, 1726, at the Funeral of John Griffith: A Hopeful Young Man.
"Now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." 2 Sam. 12:23.
The resolution of a wise and good man, just recovering the use of his reason and virtue, after the bitterness of soul ...read
On Obedience to Parents ~~ "Children, obey your parents in all thin~gs." Col. 3:20
1. It has been a subject of controversy for many years, whether there are any innate principles in the mind of man. But it is allowed on all hands, if there be any practical principles naturally Unplanted in the soul, that "we ought to honour our parents," will claim this character al ...read
On Obedience to Pastors "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: For they watch over your souls, as they that shall give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: For that is unprofitable for you." Heb. 13:17.
1. Exceeding few, not only among nominal Christians, but among truly religious men, have any clear conception of that i ...read
On Patience "Let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:4.
1. "My brethren," says the Apostle in the preceding verse, "count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." At first view, this may appear a strange direction; seeing most temptations are, "for the present, not joyous, but grievous. ...read
On Perfection "Let us go on to perfection." Heb. 6:1.
The whole sentence runs thus: "Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection: Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God;" which he had just before termed, "the first principles of the oracles of God," and "meat f ...read
On Pleasing all Men "Let every man please his neighbour for his good to edification." Rom. 15:2.
1. Undoubtedly the duty here prescribed is incumbent on all mankind; at least on every one of those to whom are entrusted the oracles of God. For it is here enjoined to everyone without exception that names the name of Christ. And the person whom everyone is commanded ...read
On Predestination "Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son: -- Whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Romans 8:29, 30.
Our beloved brother Paul," says St. Peter, "according to the wisdom given unto him hath written ...read
On Public Diversions "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it?" Amos 3:6.
It is well if there are not too many here who are too nearly concerned in these words of the Prophet; the plain sense of which seems to be this: Are there any men in the world so stupid and senseless, s ...read
On Redeeming the Time "Redeeming the time." Eph. 5:16.
1. "See that ye walk circumspectly," says the Apostle in the preceding verse, "not as fools, but as wise men, redeeming the time;" saving all the time you can for the best purposes; buying up every fleeting moment out of the hands of sin and Satan, out of the hands of sloth, ease, pleasure, worldly business; ...read
On Riches "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:24.
1. In the preceding verses we have an account of a young man who came running to our Lord, and kneeling down, not in hypocrisy, but in deep earnestness of soul, and said unto him, "Good Master, what good thing shal ...read
On Schism "That there might be no schism in the body." 1 Cor. 12:25.
1. If there be any word in the English tongue as ambiguous and indeterminate in its meaning as the word Church, it is one that is nearly allied to it, -- the word Schism. it has been the subject of innumerable disputes for several hundred years; and almost innumerable books have been wr ...read
John Wesley