Resuming at Wesley's "Post 19"

19. "Sir," said that unhappy man, at my first interview with him, "I scorn to deceive you or any man. You must not tell me of your Bible; for I do not believe one word of it. I know there is a God; and believe he is all in all, the Anima mundi (the soul of the world), the 'all-informing soul, which spreads through the vast mass, and moves the whole.' But further than that, I believe not: all is dark; my thought is lost. But I hear," added he, "you preach to a great number of people every night and morning. Pray, what would you do with them? Whither would you lead them? What religion do you preach? What is it good for?" I replied, "I do preach to as many as desire to hear it, every night and morning. You ask, wht would I do with them: I would make them virtuous and happy; easy in themselves, and useful to others. Whither would I lead them! To heaven; to God, the Judge, the lover of all, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant. What religion do I preach? The religion of love; the law of kindness brought to light by the Gospel. What is this good for? To make all who receive it enjoy God and themselves: to make them like God; lovers of all; contented in their lives; and crying out at their death, in calm assurance, 'O grave where is thy victory! Thanks be unto God, who giveth me the victory, through my Lord Jesus Christ.'"

"An Earnest Appeal to Men of Reason and Religion"
The Rev. John Wesley - 1744

BLOGGER'S NOTE:
For the entire text of the wonderful volume, "The Works of the Reverend John Wesley, A.M." go to Google Books and search on the title. This 840-page digitized volume from the library of the University of Virginia is in the public domain. I have chosen to focus on those sections of John Wesley's work that have been helpful to me. Some of the dialogue and teaching of the "Earnest Appeal to Men of Reason and Religion" seems more pertinent to the interests and learning style of Wesley's generation. I am transmitting forward through this blog those parts that seem to me to retain their freshness through the centuries to this present day. Punctuation conventions of 1831 and Wesley's manner of expression and habitual pronouns, while dated and obviously at variance with standards of this present day, have been retained and are the responsibility of me and of other readers to understand contextually.