The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-05

Saul of Tarsus, came to him on the road
to Damascus; that which changed the lie
of Wesley came to him in the room IN
London, when he worshipped with deyout
company of believers, feeling, as II wore
in the dark, till he could calmly say II
felt my heart strangely warmed" This
was the light within, chasing awav the
darkness and hesitation of doubt and nm
belief and leaving the soul possessed Of
that sweet and blessed assurance which
is witnessed to every believing heart by a
peace which passeth all understanding. It
was the Pentecost of a soul that had wait
ed for the promise, and now rejoced in
| its fulilment
| Mr. Wesley never wavered or faltered
after this experience. All vacillation dis
appeared from his life He had put to the
test the doctrine which he had hitherto
held as theory verified by the Scriptures.
| that a man is justified by faith alone. He
had demonstrated most clearly by Scrip
ture and reason the essential correctness
OF this theory, but to this time he had
| failed to add to this the evidence of a
blessed experience-the assurance Of his
own inner consciousness that this is true
| Now he knew, as he evidently had not
known before, that "the Spirit Himself
beareth witness with our spirits that we
are the children of God" and could sing,
what we have felt and seen,
With confidence we tell,
And publish to the sons of men
The signs infallible"
Mr. Wesley's reformation was. in a pc
culiar sense, the restoration of life and
power to the forms and teachings of reli-
gion. Martin Luther had led in the res
toration of doctrinal statement Mr.. Wes-
ley now leads in the effort to revitalize
these forms and to show that it is not
only possible to hold the truth without
error, but to have this witnessed to the
heart by the testimony of an intelligent
and sanctified consciousness.
Thus, in the providence of God, John
Wesley became the pioneer Of a movement
in the realm of theological thought which
has led believers into a state of more joy
Gus and satisfying experience. All sys-
TENS of doctrinal teaching have been modi-
fed by it. Rigid forms have yielded to its
touch. Through the Wesleyan teaching
the light Of love and hope has sprung up
amid the sombre scenes of chilling inter-
pretations Of divine truth, and the whole
Christian world moves under this new in
| spiration of life and hope The little
leaven of teaching begun in an obscure
parish of England, amid the corruptions
OF an age that had well nigh forgotten
God, have leavened the whole lump, and
consciously or unconsciously all are pay
ing tribute to the eminent wisdom of this
teacher come from God.
One thing must be noted as a pre-enin-
ent trait in the ministry and teaching of
Mr.. Wesley. While he did not fail to
declare the whole counsel of God and
gave the Law with all of its threstenings,
it's proper place, the gospel he preached
and all his doctrinal statements were ra-
diant with the light of love as wide as
the world and as deep as human degrade.
ton. He did not hide the cross amid the
clouds and darkness of Sinai.
We will do well in this bi-centenary to
restudy the life and teachings of this won
derful man, especially to come to fuller
appreciation of the spirit of the man.
When we have done this we shall find that
nothing contributed more to the success
| of that life than the fact that he had sub
jected, every theory to the test of expert
ence. Methodism will never go astray or
fail in her mission if she is willing to
follow Wesley as he followed Christ.
1.-THE BLUES" are ALWAYS located IN
the stomach EUVITA will Danish the
blues. At all fountains.