p. 47 | Giving by John Wesley

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 5, 1864

Giving.

By John Wesley

But why is self-denial in general, so little practiced at present among the Methodists? Why is so exceedingly little of it to be found even in the oldest and largest societies? The more I observe and consider these things, the more clearly it appears what is the cause of this in London, in Bristol, in Dublin, in Cork. The Methodists grow more and more self-indulgent because they grow rich. . . . And it is an observation which admits of a very few exceptions, that nine in ten of these decreased in grace in the same proportion as they increased in wealth. . . . Do you gain all you can, and do you save all you can? Then you must in the nature of things grow rich. Then if you have any desire to escape the damnation of hell, give all you can; otherwise I can have no more hope of your salvation, than that of Judas Iscariot. I call God to record upon my soul, that I advise no more than I, practice. I do, blessed be God, gain, and save, and give, all I can. And so, I trust in God I shall do, while the breath of God is in my nostrils.—JOHN WESLEY.