Wesley Corpus

but on such terms as he has appointed : now where has he promised to reward such a half piety as we have described ? Has he any where bound himself to accept it ? A sacrifice without a heart ! hath he ever capitulated with us to receive any service which falls short of all that lies in our power ? a power imparted by his divine grace to perform. Hath he purchased the dominion over us by the Son of his love upon condition that the empire should be di vided between him and his creatures ? No, the promises are made to those alone who not only seek, but strive to enter into the kingdom of heaven. It is a holy violence preached in the Gospel as essentially necessary to introduce us into the peaceable possession of the kingdom of God ; and it is this which distinguishes every real Christian, and proves him to be a disciple of Christ : after the utmost care and diligence we are but unprofitable servants, nor are our most strenuous endeavours the cause of our salvation, which is the meritorious death of our blessed Saviour; but they are the. con ditions of it which he himself has laid down ; or, in other words, faith which works by love,