Wesley Corpus

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful alfo in much : and he that is unjust in the least is unjust alfo in much. Luke xvi. 10. • Christianity, from its first establishment in the world, has met with strong opposition from two different sorts of people the perse cutor and the scorner. The one has essayed by force of arms and violence to drive it out of the world; the other, by scoffs and insults to render it contemptible in it. By the mercy of God and the constancy of Christians, the former have been disappointed of their purpose, and their cruel intentions have been entirely de feated ; but the latter too often have succeeded, and by their taunts and jeers, their insults and reproaches, have done more injury to Christianity, than bonds and imprisonments, racks and tortures, ever could effect. They have made people ashamed of their profession, brought religion into disrepute, and prevailed upon many of its followers to sacrifice their piety to preserve their reputation. One of the arts by which these scorners have been able most effectually to serve their master, the devil, has been to represent the several duties of the gospel as too mean for the Most High God to impose, or for man (his most excellent work) to be solicitous about. For instance, profane jesting and loose con versation are expressly forbidden by God him self ; but these enemies of righteousness will boldly venture to deny their obligation to obe dience in such immaterial matters ; that, pro vided a man is honest and performs his duty in the main, he need not extend his care to a jest or a word ; for that the Almighty is too great and too good to take cognizance of such things, or expect that man himself should do so. Another (if he finds you reluctant to spend your time and money in idle diversions and recreations) will ridicule your scrupulosity, and ask you if you suppose that God can deign to