AND

Sacred POEMS.

Published by
JOHN WESLEY, M. A.
Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford;

AND

ECA

CHARLES WESLEY, M. A,
Student of Chrift-Church, Oxford.

For the Grace of GOD that bringeth Salvation
unto ALL MEN hath appeared; 'Eπiod
γὰρ ἡ χάρις τῇ Θεῖ ἡ σωτήει πᾶσιν
drgámos. Teaching us, that denying Ungod-
linefs and worldly Lufis, we should live foterly,
righteously and godly in this prefent World; look-
ing for that bleffed Hope, and the gloricus Appear-
ing of the great GOD, and our Saviour JESUS
CHRIST ; abo gave Himfelf for us, that he
might redeem us from ALL INIQUITY,
.and purify unto Himfelf a peculiar People, zea-
lous of good Works. Tit. ii. 11, 12, 13, 14-

BRISTOL: Printed and fold by Felix Farley,
in Cafile-Green; J. Wilfon in Wine-freet; and
at the School Room in the Horfe- Fair: In Bath,
by W. Frederick, Bookfeller: And in London,
by T. Harris on the Bridge; alfo, at the Foun
dery in Upper-Moor-Fields. MDCCXLII.

1.9.32

THE

PREFACE.

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ERHAPS the General Prejudice against Christian Perfection (the Subject of Many of the following Verfes) may chiefly arife from a Misapprehenfion of the Nature of it. We willingly allow, and continually declare, there is No fuch Perfection, in this Life, as implies either a Difpenfation from Doing Good and attending all the Ordinances of God; or a Freedom from Ignorance, Mistake, Temptation, and a Thoufand Infirmities neceffarily connected with Flesh and Blood.

I.

2. First, we not only allow, but earnestly contend, (as for the Faith once deliver'd to the Saints) That there is no Perfection in this Life which implies any Difpenfation from attending All the Ordinances of GOD, or from doing Good unto All Men, while we have Time, tho' 'Specially unto the Houshold of Faith.

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Faith. And whofoever they are who have taught otherwife, we are convinced are not taught of God. We dare not receive them, neither bid them GOD fpeed, least we be Partakers of their evil Deeds. We believe that not only the Babes in CHRIST, who have newly found Redemption in His Blood, but those alfo who are grown up unto Perfect Men, unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of CHRIST, are indifpenfably obliged (and that they are obliged thereto, is their Glory and Crown of Rejoicing) as oft as they have Opportunity to eat Bread and drink Wine, in Remembrance of Him; To fearch the Scriptures; By Fafting (as well as Temperance) to keep their Bodies under, and bring them into Subjection; And above all, to pour out their Souls in Prayer, both Secretly and in the Great Congregation.

3. We, Secondly, believe, and therefore speak, and that unto All Men, and with much Affurance, That there is no fuch Perfection in

ས།

The PREFACE.

this Life, as implies an Entire Deliverance, either from Ignorance or Mistake, in Things not effential to Salvation, or from manifold Temptations, or from numberlefs Infirmities, wherewith the Corruptible Body, more or lefs, preffes down the Soul. This is the fame thing which we have fpoken from the beginning, If any teach otherwise, they are not of us. We cannot find any Ground in Scripture to fuppofe, That any Inhabitant of an Houfe of Clay, is wholly exempt either from Bodily: Infirmities, or from Ignorance of many things; or to imagine Any is Incapable of Miftake, or of falling into divers Temptations. No; the Difciple is not above his Mafter, nor the Servant above his LORD. It is enough that every one who is Perfect, fhall be as his Mafter.

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4. But what then, it may be afked, Do you mean by One that is Perfect, or, One that is as his Mafter? We mean, One in whom is the Mind which was in CHRIST, and who fo walketh as He walked; a Man

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that