Advice about Christian Unity
ADVICE ABOUT CHRISTIAN UNITY — 59
These are the very sinews of our Society; and whatever weakens, or tends to weaken, our regard for these, or our exactness in attending them, strikes at the very root of our community. As one says, "That part of our economy, the private weekly meetings for prayer, examination, and particular exhortation, has been the greatest means of deepening and confirming every blessing that was received by the word preached, and of diffusing it to others who could not attend the public ministry; whereas, without this religious connection and intercourse, the most ardent attempts by mere preaching have proved of no lasting use."
Do not allow yourself one thought of separating from your brothers and sisters, whether their opinions agree with yours or not. Do not dream that anyone sins in not believing you, in not taking your word; or that this or that opinion is essential to the work, and both must stand or fall together. Beware of any impatience of contradiction. Do not condemn or think harshly of those who cannot see just as you see, or who judge it their duty to contradict you, whether in a great thing or a small. I fear some of us have thought harshly of others merely because they contradicted what we affirmed. All this tends to division; and by everything of this kind we are teaching them an evil lesson against ourselves.
Oh, beware of touchiness, of testiness, not bearing to be spoken to; starting at the least word; and flying from those who do not implicitly receive my or another's sayings!
60 — A LONGING FOR HOLINESS
Expect contradiction and opposition, together with crosses of various kinds. Consider the words of Saint Paul: He has graciously granted you the privilege— for Christ's sake, as a fruit of his death and intercession for you—not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well. God gives you this opposition or reproach; it is a fresh token of his love. And will you disown the Giver, or spurn his gift, and count it a misfortune? Will you not rather say, "Father, the hour has come for you to be glorified; now you give your child to suffer something for you: do with me according to your will"? Know that these things, far from being hindrances to the work of God, or to your soul, unless by your own fault, are not only unavoidable in the course of Providence, but profitable, even necessary, for you. Therefore, receive them from God
(not from chance) with willingness, with thankfulness. Receive them from people with humility, meekness, yieldingness, gentleness, sweetness. Why should not even your outward appearance and manner be soft? Remember the charity of Lady Cutts. It was said of the Roman Emperor Titus, never any one came displeased from him; but it might be said of her, never any one went displeased to her, so secure were all of the kind and favorable reception they would receive from her.
Beware of tempting others to separate from you. Give no offense that can possibly be avoided.
See that your practice is in all things suitable to your profession, adorning the doctrine of God our Savior.
Be particularly careful of speaking of yourself. You
ADVICE ABOUT CHRISTIAN UNITY ~— 61
may not, indeed, deny the work of God. But speak of it, when you are called to do so, in the most inoffensive manner possible. Avoid all magnificent, pompous words. Indeed, you need give it no general name, neither perfection, sanctification, the second blessing, or the having attained. Rather speak of the particulars God has wrought for you. You may say,
"At such a time I felt a change that I am not able to express; and since that time I have not felt pride, or self-will, or anger, or unbelief, nor anything but a fullness of love to God and to all humankind." And answer any other plain question that is asked with modesty and simplicity.
And if any of you should at any time fall from what you now are, if you should again feel pride or unbelief, or any temper from which you are now delivered —do not deny. Do not hide, do not disguise it at all, at the peril of your soul. At all events, go to one in whom you can confide, and speak just what you feel. God will enable that one to speak a word in season, which shall be health to your souls. And surely God will again lift up your head, and cause the bones that have been crushed to rejoice.
AOVICE ABOUT
GROWTD IN GRACE
From A Plain Account of Christian Perfection Wesley concludes the book with a series of reflections on the Christian life.
Most of the preceding advices are strongly enforced in the following reflections, which I recommend to your deep and frequent consideration, next to the Holy Scriptures.
(1) The sea is an excellent figure of the fullness of God, and that of the blessed Spirit. For as the rivers all return into the sea, so the bodies, the souls, and the good works of the righteous return into God, to live there in his eternal repose.
Although all the graces of God depend on his bounty, yet is he pleased generally to attach them to the prayers, the instructions, and the holiness of those with whom we are. By strong though invisible attractions God draws some souls through their intercourse with others.
The sympathies formed by grace far surpass those formed by nature.
The truly devout show that passions as naturally flow from true as from false love; so deeply sensible are they of the goods and evils of those they love for God's sake. But this can only be comprehended by those who understand the language of love.
The bottom of the soul may be in repose even