Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse IV · §44 · John Wesley

Contemplation is one way

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But if so, then contemplation is only one way of worshipping God in spirit and in truth. Therefore to give ourselves up entirely to this would be to destroy many branches of spiritual worship, all equally acceptable to God and equally profitable, not hurtful, to the soul. For it is a great mistake to suppose that an attention to those outward things to which the providence of God has called us is any clog to a Christian, or any hindrance at all to his always seeing him who is invisible (Hebrews 11:27). It does not at all damp the ardor of his thought. It does not burden or distract his mind. It gives him no uneasy or hurtful care, who does it all as to the Lord, who has learned, whatever he does in word or deed, to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17), having only one eye of the soul, which moves around on outward things, and one immovably fixed on God. Learn what this means (Matthew 9:13), you poor recluses, so that you may clearly see your own littleness of faith. Yes, so that you may no longer judge others by yourselves, go and learn what this means (Matthew 9:13).

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5. But if so, then contemplation is only one way of worshipping God in spirit and in truth. Therefore to give ourselves up entirely to this, would be to destroy many branches of spiritual worship, all equally acceptable to God, and equally profitable, not hurtful to the soul. For it is a great mistake to suppose, That an attention to those outward things, whereto the providence of God hath called us, is any clog to a Christian, or any hindrance at all to his always seeing him that is invisible. It does not at all damp the ardor of his thought, it does not incumber or distract his mind; it gives him no uneasy or hurtful care, who does it all as unto the Lord: who hath learned, whatsoever he doth in word or deed, to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus: having only one eye of the soul, which moves round on outward things, and one immoveably fixt on God. Learn what this meaneth, ye poor recluses, that you may clearly discern your own littleness of faith. Yea, that you may no longer judge others by yourselves, go and learn what that meaneth: