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THE

WORKS

OF THE

REV. JOHN WESLEY.

IN TEN VOLUMES.

VOLUME VIII.

CONTAINING,

A PLAIN ACCOUNT OF CHRISTIAN PERFECTION; THE
APPEALS TO MEN OF REASON AND RELIGION;
PRINCIPLES OF THE METHODISTS, &c.

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION.

New-York:

PRINTED AND SOLD BY J. & J. HARPER,

No. 327 PEARL-STREET.

1827.

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MISCELLANEOUS WORKS.

A PLAIN ACCOUNT OF CHRISTIAN PERFECTION;

As believed and taught by John Wesley, A. M. from the year 1725. to the year 1777.

1. WHAT I purpose in the following pages is, to give a plain and distinct account of the steps, by which I was led, during a course of many years, to embrace the doctrine of Christian Perfection. This I owe to the serious part of mankind; those who desire to know all the truth as it is in Jesus. And these are only concerned in questions of this kind. To these I would nakedly declare the thing as it is, endeavouring all along to show, from one period to another, both what I thought, and why I thought so.

2. In the year 1725, being in the 23d year of my age, I met with Bishop Taylor's Rules and Exercises of Holy Living and Dying. In reading several parts of this book, I was exceedingly affected: that part in particular, which relates to purity of intention. stantly I resolved to dedicate all my life to God; all my thoughts, and words, and actions; being thoroughly convinced, there was no medium, but that every part of my life, (not some part only) must either be a sacrifice to God, or to myself; that is, in effect, to the Devil.

Can any serious person doubt of this, or find a medium between serving God, and serving the Devil?

3. In the year 1729, I met with Kempis's Christian Pattern. The nature and extent of inward religion, the religion of the heart, now appeared to me in a stronger light than ever it had done before. saw that giving even all my life to God, (supposing it possible to do this, and go no farther,) would profit me nothing, unless I gave my heart; yea, all my heart, to him. I saw, that "simplicity of intention, and purity of affection," one design in all we speak or do, and one desire ruling all our tempers, are indeed " the wings of the soul," without which she can never ascend the mount of God.

4. A year or two after, Mr. Law's Christian Perfection, and VOL. 8.-B

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