The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-29
FAITH WORKING BY LOVE.
John Wasley's Views in Regard to
Enthusiasm or FanatiCism.


word enthusiasm, used in the following
quotations, had the same meaning in Mr..
"esley's day that fanaticism does now.
The very desire CT growing in grace
may sometimes be an inlet of enthusi-
asm. AS it continually leads us to seek
new grace, it may lead us unawares to
seeak something else new, besides new lie.
grees of love TO God and man. So it has
led some to seek and fancy they had receiv-
ed gifts of a new kind, after a new heart.
Another ground of these and a thous-
and mistakes is, the not considering
deeply that love is the highest gift of
God-humble, gentle, patient love; that
all visions, revelations, manifestations
whatever are little things compared to
love; and that all the gifts above men.
toned are either the same with, or in
finitely inferior to it,
1T is we'll you should be thoroughly
sensible of this-the heaven CT heavens is
love. There is nothing higher in re-
liSion, - there is, in effect, nothing else If
you look for anything but more love, YOU
are looking wide of the mark-you are
getting out of the royal way.
And when you are asking others,
Have you received this or that blessingy'
if You mean any thing but more love, YOU
mean wrong; you are leading them out of
the way, and putting them upon false
scent Settle it, then, in your heart.
that from the moment God has saved YOU
from all sin, YOU are TO aim ut nothing
more, but more of that love described in
the thirteenth of the Corinthians. You
can 90 no higher than this, till You are
carried into Abrahams bosom.
II say again, Beware of enthusiasm;
such us the imagining YOU have the gift
of prophcsying, or of discerning of spirits,
which do not believe one OF you has;
no, nor ever had yet. Plain Account,
PIP. l4O, 14l.
Il returned to Oxford, and on Wctlnes-
day rode to Bristol. My brother, | found,
was already gone to Wales; so that came
| just in season; and that, indeed on
another account also; for spirit of en-
thusiasm was breaking in upon many,
who charged their own imaginations on
the will of God, and that not written,
but impressed on their hearts. If these
| impressions be received as the rule of nc
ton, instead of the written word, I know
nothing 80 wicked or absurd but we may
fall into, and that without remedy. -
Journal, July, 17l1.
| VI had long conversation with Mr.
! Simpson And of this am fully persuad-
| ed, that whatever he does, is in the up-
ri"htness of his heart But he is led into
II Thousand mistakes by one wrong priu-
| ciple (the same which many either ignor-
antly or wickedly ascrbe to the body of
the people called Mcthodists), the making
inward impressions his rule of action, and
not the written word journal, June,
1142.
II began examining THE society Dris.
tod, and not before it was wanted: for
| the plague was begun. | found many
| crying out, Faith, faithn believe. be.
| lievem but making little account of the
fruits of faith either of holiness or good
works. In II few days they came to them
! selves and had more thorough under
! standing of the truth as it is in Jesus. -
Journal, February, l7.4.
About one, preached mt Seacroft,
and found several who believed God had
saved them from sin. In the evening
talked with twelve or fourteen of these
| particularly; but found not one who
presumed to say that he did not need the
atoning blood. Nor could hear of any
more than two persons that ever spoke in
this manner; and these were soon after
for that reason, expelled out of Otley
! society. "-,iournal, July, 1861.
II heard George Bell once more, and
was convinced he must mot continue OF
pray at the Foundry. The reproach of
Christ am willing to bear; but not the
reproach of enthusiasm, if can help it. -
Journal, Dec, 1862
But dislike several things therein:
/. The singing, or speaking, or praying,
of several at once; ,. The praying to tie
| Son of God only, or more than to the
Father 3. The using improper express
! sons in prayer; sometimes too bold if
not irreverent; sometimes too pompous
and magnificent, extolling yourselves
rather than God, and telling Him what
| you are, not what you want; 4. Using
| poor, fiat, bald hymns:
| Il. Your using pastures or gestures highly
indecent; Z Your screaming, even so as
| to nuke the words unintelligible S. Your
affirming, people will be justified or sane