The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 197

The European Union in Prophecy
religion. When Charles Wesley at one time fell ill, and anticipated that death was
approaching, he was asked upon what he rested his hope of eternal life. His answer
was: "I have used my best endeavours to serve God." As the friend who had put the
question seemed not to be fully satisfied with his answer, Wesley thought: "What! are
not my endeavours a sufficient ground of hope? Would he rob me of my endeavours? I
have nothing else to trust to."--John Whitehead, Life of the Rev. Charles Wesley, page
102. Such was the dense darkness that had settled down on the church, hiding the
atonement, robbing Christ of His glory, and turning the minds of men from their only
hope of salvation--the blood of the crucified Redeemer.
Wesley and his associates were led to see that true religion is seated in the heart,
and that God's law extends to the thoughts as well as to the words and actions.
Convinced of the necessity of holiness of heart, as well as correctness of outward
deportment, they set out in earnest upon a new life. By the most diligent and prayerful
efforts they endeavoured to subdue the evils of the natural heart. They lived a life of
self-denial, charity, and humiliation, observing with great rigor and exactness every
measure which they thought could be helpful to them in obtaining what they most
desired--that holiness which could secure the favor of God. But they did not obtain the
object which they sought. In vain were their endeavours to free themselves from the
condemnation of sin or to break its power. It was the same struggle which Luther had
experienced in his cell at Erfurt. It was the same question which had tortured his
soul--"How should man be just before God?" Job. 9:2.
The fires of divine truth, well-nigh extinguished upon the altars of
Protestantism, were to be rekindled from the ancient torch handed down the ages by
the Bohemian Christians. After the Reformation, Protestantism in Bohemia had been
trampled out by the hordes of Rome. All who refused to renounce the truth were forced
to flee. Some of these, finding refuge in Saxony, there maintained the ancient faith. It
was from the descendants of these Christians that light came to Wesley and his
associates.
John and Charles Wesley, after being ordained to the ministry, were sent on a
mission to America. On board the ship was a company of Moravians. Violent storms
were encountered on the passage, and John Wesley, brought face to face with death,
felt that he had not the assurance of peace with God. The Germans, on the contrary,
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