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showing from 1 to 50 of 144 articles
A Call to Backsliders
"Will the Lord absent himself for ever? And will he be no more entreated? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? And is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore?" Ps. 77:7, 8.
1. Presumption is one grand snare of the devil, in which many of the chil ... read more
A Caution against Bigotry
"And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name: and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not." Mark 9:38, 39.
1. In the preceding verses we read, that after ... read more
An Israelite Indeed
"Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." John 1:47.
1. Some years ago a very ingenious man, Professor Hutcheson of Glasgow, published two treatises, The Original of our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue. In the latter of these he maintains that the ... read more
Awake, Thou That Sleepest
Preached on Sunday April 4, 1742, before the University of Oxford, by the Rev. Charles Wesley, M.A. Student of Christ-Church.
"Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Eph. 5:14.
In discoursing on these w ... read more
Case of Reason Impartially Considered
"Brethren, be not children in understanding: Howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." 1 Cor. 14:20.
1. It is the true remark of an eminent man, who had made many observations on human nature, "If reason be against a man, a man ... read more
Catholic Spirit
“And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him, and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered: It is. If it be, give me thine hand.”
2 Ki ... read more
Causes of the Inefficiency of Christianity
"~Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daugh~ter of my people recovered?" Jer. 8:22~~.
1. This question, as here proposed by the Prophet, relates only to a particular people, -- the children of Isr ... read more
Christian Perfection
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect.”
Phil. 3:12.
1. There is scarce any expression in Holy Writ which has given more offence than this. The word perfect is what many cannot bear. The very sound of it is an abomination t ... read more
Duty of Constant Communion
The following discourse was written above five-and-fifty years ago, for the use of my pupils at Oxford. I have added very little, but retrenched much; as I then used more words than I do now. But, I thank God, I have not yet seen cause to alter my sentime ... read more
Free Grace
To The Reader:
Nothing but the strongest conviction, not only that what is here advanced is “the truth as it is in Jesus,” but also that I am indispensably obliged to declare this truth to all the world, could have induced me openly to oppose the senti ... read more
God's Approbation of his Works
"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." Gen. 1:31.
1. When God created the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein, at the conclusion of each day's work it is said, "And God saw that it was good." Whatever ... read more
God's Love to Fallen Man
"Not as the offence, so also is the free gift." Rom. 5:15.
1. How exceeding common, and how bitter, is the outcry against our first parent for the mischief which he not only brought upon himself, but entailed upon his latest posterity! It was by his w ... read more
Great Privilege of Those that are Born of God
"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." 1 John 3:9.
1. It has been frequently supposed, that the being born of God was all one with the being justified; that the new birth and justification were only different expressions, denoting the same th ... read more
Heaviness through Manifold Temptations
"Now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." 1 Pet. 1:6.
1. In the preceding discourse I have particularly spoken of that darkness of mind into which those are often observed to fall who once walked in the light of ... read more
Human Life a Dream
"Even like as a dream when one awaketh; so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city." Ps. 73:20.
1. Anyone that considers the foregoing verses will easily observe that the Psalmist is speaking directly of the wicked, that prosper in their ... read more
Imperfection of Human Knowledge
"We know in part." 1 Cor. 13:9.
1. The desire of knowledge is an universal principle in man, fixed in his inmost nature. It is not variable, but constant in every rational creature, unless while it is suspended by some stronger desire. And it is insat ... read more
In What Sense We Are to Leave the World
"Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And I will be to you a Father, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Cor. 6:17, 18.
1. How exceeding f ... read more
Justification by Faith
"To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Romans 4:5. 1. How a sinner may be justified before God, the Lord and Judge of all, is a question of no common importance to every child ... read more
Law Established through Faith, 1
"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: Yea, we establish the law." Romans 3:31.
1. St. Paul, having the beginning of this Epistle laid down his general proposition, namely, that "the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvati ... read more
Law Established through Faith, 2
"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid! Yea, we establish the law." Rom. 3:31.
1. It has been shown in the preceding discourse, which are the most usual ways of making void the law through faith; namely, First, the not preaching it at ... read more
National Sins and Miseries
Preached at St. Matthew's, Bethnal-Green,
On Sunday, November 12, 1775,
For the benefit of the Widows and Orphans of the Soldiers who lately fell, near Boston, in New-England.
"Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: But these sheep, what have t ... read more
Of Evil Angels
"We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in heavenly places." Eph. 6:12.
1. It has been frequently observed that there are no gaps or ... read more
Of Former Times
"Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this." Eccles. 7:10.
1. It is not easy to discern any connexion between this text and the context; between these words and either ... read more
Of Good Angels
"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Heb. 1:14.
1. Many of the ancient Heathens had (probably from tradition) some notion of good and evil angels. They had some conception of a superi ... read more
Of Hell
"Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Mark 9:48.
1. Every truth which is revealed in the oracles of God is undoubtedly of great importance. Yet it may be allowed that some of those which are revealed therein are of greater import ... read more
Of the Church
"I beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and on ... read more
On Attending the Church Service
"The sin of the young men was very great." 1 Sam. 2:17.
1. The corruption, not only of the heathen world, but likewise of them that were called Christians, has been matter of sorrow and lamentation to pious men, almost from the time of the apostles. A ... read more
On Charity
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so as ... read more
On Conscience
"For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience." 2 Cor. 1:12.
1. How few words are there in the world more common than this, Conscience! It is in almost every one's mouth. And one would thence be apt to conclude, that no word can be foun ... read more
On Corrupting the Word of God
Preached about the year 1728
"We are not as many, who corrupt the word of God: But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ." 2 Cor. 2:17.
[1.] Many have observed, that nothing conduces more to a Preacher's success with ... read more
On Dissipation
"This I speak -- that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction." 1 Cor. 7:35.
1. Almost in every part of our nation, more especially in the large and populous towns, we hear a general complaint among sensible persons, of the still increasing di ... read more
On Divine Providence
"Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Luke 12:7.
1. The doctrine of divine providence has been received by wise men in all ages. It was believed by many of the eminent Heathens, not only philosophers, but orators and poets. Innumerable ... read more
On Dress
"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of -- wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of ... read more
On Eternity
"From everlasting to everlasting thou art God." Psalm 90:2
1. I would fain speak of that awful subject, -- eternity. But how can we grasp it in our thought? It is so vast, that the narrow mind of man is utterly unable to comprehend it. But does it not ... read more
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 ... read more
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 office ... read more
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, whic ... read more
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 ... read more
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 ... read more
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 ... read more
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 ... read more
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 necessa ... read more
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 sai ... read more
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 wi ... read more
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 natural ... read more
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 on ... read more
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 ... read more
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; ... read more
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 every ... read more
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 ... read more
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