To those who urged that " the preaching of the gospel answers all the ends of the law ," Wesley replied : " This we utterly deny . It does not answer the very first end of the law , namely , the convincing men of sin , the awakening those who are still asleep on the brink of hell ." The apostle Paul declares that " by the law is the knowledge of sin ;" " and not until man is convicted of sin , will he truly feel his need of the atoning blood of Christ . . . . ' They that be whole ,' as our Lord Himself observes , ' need not a physician , but they that are sick .' It is absurd , therefore , to offer a physician to them that are whole , or that at least imagine themselves so to be . You are first to convince them that they are sick ; otherwise they will not thank you for your labour . It is equally absurd to offer Christ to them whose heart is whole , having never yet been broken ." -- Ibid ., sermon 35 .
Thus while preaching the gospel of the grace of God , Wesley , like his Master , sought to " magnify the law , and make it honourable ." Faithfully did he accomplish the work given him of God , and glorious were the results which he was permitted to behold . At the close of his long life of more than fourscore years--above half a century spent in itinerant ministry-his avowed adherents numbered more than half a million souls . But the multitude that through his labours had been lifted from the ruin and degradation of sin to a higher and a purer life , and the number who by his teaching had attained to a deeper and richer experience , will never be known till the whole family of the redeemed shall be gathered into the kingdom of God . His life presents a lesson of priceless worth to every Christian . Would that the faith and humility , the untiring zeal , self-sacrifice , and devotion of this servant of Christ might be reflected in the churches of today !
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