Page:The works of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., late fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford (IA worksofrevjohnwe3wesl).pdf/210

 longer proceed out of it. If the tree were corrupt, so would be the fruit; but the tree is good. The fruit therefore is good also. (Matth. xii. 33.) Our Lord himself bearing witness, ''Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, as a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit'', Matt. vii. 17, 18.

23. The same happy privilege of real Christians, St. Paul asserts from his own experience. The weapons of our warfare, saith he, are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds: casting down imaginations (or reasonings rather, for so the word [Greek: logismous] signifies: all the reasonings of pride and unbelief against the declarations, promises or gifts of God) and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God; and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, 2 Cor. x. 5, &c.

24. And as Christians indeed, are freed from evil thoughts, so are they, secondly, from evil tempers. This is evident from the above-mentioned declaration of our Lord himself: The disciple is not above his Master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his Master. He had been delivering just before some of the sublimest doctrines of Christianity, and some of the most grievous to flesh and blood. I say unto you, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you: and unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other. Now these he well knew the world would not