Wrath, and a call to repent
And shall I not visit for these things, says the Lord? Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? Yes, we do not know how soon he may say to the sword, Sword, go through this land. He has given us a long space to repent. He lets us alone this year also. But he warns us, and awakens us, by thunder.
His judgments are abroad in the earth. And we have every reason to expect the heaviest of all, even that he should come to us quickly and remove our candlestick out of its place, unless we repent and do the first works, unless we return to the principles of the reformation, the truth and simplicity of the gospel. Perhaps we are now resisting the last effort of divine grace to save us. Perhaps we have nearly filled up the measure of our iniquities, by rejecting the counsel of God against ourselves, and calling out his messengers.
O God, in the midst of wrath remember mercy. Be glorified in our reformation, not in our destruction. Let us hear the rod, and him who appointed it. Now that your judgments are abroad in the earth, let the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
My brothers, it is high time for us to awake out of sleep, before the great trumpet of the Lord is blown, and our land becomes a field of blood. O may we soon see the things that make for our peace, before they are hidden from our eyes. Turn us, O good Lord, and let your anger cease from us. O Lord, look down from heaven, behold and visit this vine, and cause us to know the time of our visitation.
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. O deliver us, and be merciful to our sins, for your name's sake. And so we will not go back from you. O let us live, and we shall call upon your name. Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts. Show the light of your countenance, and we shall be whole.
1771 text
13. And shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? Yea, we know not how soon he may say to the sword, Sword, go through this land! He hath given us long space to repent. He lets us alone this year also: but he warns and awakens us by thunder. His judgments are abroad in the earth. And we have all reason to expect that heaviest of all, even that he should come unto us quickly, and remove our candlestick out of its place, except we repent and do the first works: unless we return to the principles of the reformation, the truth and simplicity of the gospel. Perhaps we are now resisting the last effort of divine grace to save us. Perhaps we have well nigh filled up the measure of our iniquities, by rejecting the counsel of God against ourselves, and calling out his messengers.
14. O God, in the midst of wrath remember mercy! Be glorified in our reformation, not in our destruction. Let us hear the rod, and him that appointed it. Now that thy judgments are abroad in the earth, let the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
15. My brethren, it is high time for us, to awake out of sleep; before the great trumpet of the Lord be blown, and our land become a field of blood. O may we speedily see the things that make for our peace, before they are hid from our eyes! Turn thou us, O good Lord, and let thine anger cease from us. O Lord, look down from heaven, behold and visit this vine; and cause us to know the time of our visitation. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; O deliver us, and be merciful to our sins, for thy names sake. And so will we not go back from thee: O let us live, and we shall call upon thy name. Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 3 in the 1771 Works. Charles Wesley preached it at Oxford, 4 April 1742. Ephesians 5:14.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.