Wesley on the Scriptures.
THE estimation in which Mr. Wesley held the Scriptures is expressed in the following plaintive and beautiful soliloquy:— “I am a creature of a day, passing through the air, just hovering over the great gulf; till a few moments hence, I am no more seen! I drop into an unchangeable eternity: I want to know one thing: how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came down from Heaven. He hath written it down in a book! O give me that book! At any price give me the book of God! I have it; here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be a man of one book! Here then I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone: only God is here. In his presence I open, I read his book from this end, to find the way to Heaven. Is there a doubt concerning the meaning of what I read? Does anything appear dark or intricate? I lift up my heart to the Father of lights—Lord, is it not thy word, ‘If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God!’ Thou ‘givest liberally and upbraidest not.’ Thou hast said, ‘If any man be willing to do thy will he shall know.’ I am willing to do: let me know thy will. I then search after, and consider parallel passages of scripture, ‘comparing spiritual things with spiritual.’ If any doubts still remain I consult those who are experienced in the things of God, and then the writings of those who being dead yet speak: and what I thus learn, that I teach.”—Preface to Sermons.