Page:The works of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., late fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford (IA worksofrevjohnwe3wesl).pdf/14

 ber of the children of hell? Yea, add all, whatever they be in other respects, whether they have more or less of the form of godliness, who being ignorant of God's righteousness, ''and seeking to establish their own righteousness'', as the ground of their reconcilation to God and acceptance with him, of consequence have ''not submitted themselves unto the righteousness which is of'' God by faith. Now all these things being joined together in one, how terribly true is our Lord's assertion, ''Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat''.

6. Nor does this only concern the vulgar herd, the poor, base, stupid part of mankind. Men of eminence in the world, men who have many fields and yoke of oxen, do not desire to be excused from this. On the contrary, ''many wise men after the flesh'', according to the human methods of judging, many mighty, in power, in courage, in riches, many noble are called: called into the broad way, by the world, the flesh and the devil; and they are not disobedient to that calling. Yea, the higher they are raised in fortune and power, the deeper do they sink into wickedness. The more blessings they have received from God, the more sins do they commit: using their honour or riches, their learning or wisdom, not as means of working out their salvation, but rather of ex