Page:The works of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., late fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford (IA worksofrevjohnwe3wesl).pdf/319

 face of their souls, and blindness on the eyes of their understanding. The Spirit no longer ''witnesses with their spirits, that they are the children of'' God; neither does he continue, as the Spirit of adoption, crying in their hearts, Abba, Father. They have not now a sure trust in his love, and a liberty of approaching him with holy boldness. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, is no more the language of their heart: but they are shorn of their strength, and become weak and feeble-minded, even as other men.

2. Hence, secondly, proceeds the loss of love, which cannot but rise or fall, at the same time, and in the same proportion, with true, living faith. Accordingly, they that are deprived of their faith, are deprived of the love of God also. They cannot now say, Lord, ''thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee''. They are not now happy in God, as every one is, that truly loves him. They do not delight in him as in time past, and smell the odour of his ointments. Once, all their desire was unto him, ''and to the remembrance of his name''. But now even their desires are cold and dead, if not utterly extinguished. And as their love of God is waxed cold, so is also their love of their neighbour. They have not now that zeal for the souls of men, that longing after their welfare, that fervent, restless, active desire of their being reconciled to God. They do not feel those bowels of mercies for the sheep that are lost, that tender compassion for the igno-*