The Self Deceived by John Wesley

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 27, 1864

The Self Deceived.

By John Wesley

A TRUE lover of God hastens to do his will on earth as it is done in Heaven. But is this the character of the presumptuous pretender to the love of God? Nay, but his love gives him a liberty to disobey, to break, not keep, the commandments of God. Perhaps, when he was in fear of the wrath of God, he did labor to do his will. But now, looking on himself as "not under the law," he thinks he is no longer obliged to observe it. He is therefore less zealous over his tongue. He is less earnest to deny himself, and to take up his cross daily. In a word, the whole form of his life is changed, since he has fancied himself to be at liberty. He is no longer "exercising himself unto godliness;" "wrestling not only with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers," enduring hardships, "agonizing to enter in at the strait gate." No; he has found an easier way to Heaven; a broad, smooth, flowery path; in which he can say to his soul, "Soul, take thy ease; eat, drink, and be merry." It follows with undeniable evidence, that he has not the true

mony of his own spirit. He cannot be conscious of having those marks when he hath not; that lowliness, meekness, and obedience; nor yet can the Spirit of the God of Truth bear witness to a lie; or testify that he is a child of God, when he is manifestly a child of the Devil. Discover thyself, thou poor self-deceiver! thou art confident of being a child of God; thou who sayeth, "I have the witness in myself," and therefore defiest all thy enemies. Thou art weighed in the balance, and found wanting; even in the balance of the sanctuary. The word of the Lord hath tried thy soul, and proved thee to be reprobate silver. Thou art not lowly of heart; therefore thou hast not received the Spirit of Jesus unto this day. Thou art not gentle and meek; therefore thy joy is nothing worth; it is not joy in the Lord. Thou dost not keep his commandments; therefore thou lovest him not, neither art thou partaker of the Holy Ghost. It is consequently as certain and as evident as the oracles of God can make it, his Spirit doth not bear witness with thy spirit that thou art a child of God. Oh cry unto him that the scales may fall off thine eyes; that thou mayest know thyself as thou art known; that thou mayest receive the sentence of death in thyself, till thou hear the voice that raised the dead, saying, "Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven, thy faith hath made thee whole."—John Wesley.