Wesley Corpus

22. But what need is there (say even some of a milder spirit) of this preaching in fields and ftreets ? Are there not Churches enough to preach in ?*” No, my friend, there are not; not for us to preach in. You forget: we are not suffered to preach there; else we should prefer them to any places whatever. Well, there are Ministers enough without you,” Ministers enough, and Churches enough ; for what? To reclaim all the sinners within the four seas? If there were, they would all be reclaimed. But they are not reclaimed. Therefore it is evident, there are not Churches enough. And one plain reason why, notwithstanding all these Churches, they are no nearer being reclaimed is this: they never come into a Church; perhaps not once in a twelve-month, perhaps not for many years together. Will you say (as I have known fome tender-hearted Christians) © then it is their own fault, let them die and be damned.“ I grant it is their own fault. And so it was my fault and yours, when we went astray, like sheep that were lost. Yet the Shepherd. To Men of Reason and Religion, 265 Shepherd of Souls sought after us, and went after us into the wilderness. And © oughtest not thou to have compassion on thy fellow servants, as he had pity on thee?” Ought not we also to seek, as far as in us lies, and to save that which is lost ? | 85 N HBchold the amazing love of God to the outcasts of ] men! His tender condescension to their folly ! They would regard nothing done in the usual way. All this was lost upon them. The ordinary preaching of the word of God, they would not even deign to hear. So the devil made sure of these careless ones. For who should pluck them out of his hand? Then God was noved to jealousy, and went out of the usual way to a the souls which he had made, Then over and „ 4 9 oo.