The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 254

the faith which was once delivered to the saints. The work accomplished
by these men, proscribed and outlawed by the rulers of this world, can
never perish. Flavel’s Fountain of Life and Method of Grace have taught
thousands how to commit the keeping of their souls to Christ. Baxter’s
Reformed Pastor has proved a blessing to many who desire a revival of
the work of God, and his Saints’ Everlasting Rest has done its work in
leading souls to the “rest” that remaineth for the people of God.
A hundred years later, in a day of great spiritual darkness, Whitefield
and the Wesleys appeared as light bearers for God. Under the rule of
the established church the people of England had lapsed into a state
of religious declension hardly to be distinguished from heathenism.
Natural religion was the favorite study of the clergy, and included most
of their theology. The higher classes sneered at piety, and prided
themselves on being above what they called its fanaticism. The lower
classes were grossly ignorant and abandoned to vice, while the church
had no courage or faith any longer to support the downfallen cause of
truth.
The great doctrine of justification by faith, so clearly taught by
Luther, had been almost wholly lost sight of; and the Romish principle
of trusting to good works for salvation, had taken its place. Whitefield
and the Wesleys, who were members of the established church, were
sincere seekers for the favor of God, and this they had been taught was
to be secured by a virtuous life and an observance of the ordinances of
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 endeavors 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 endeavors a sufficient
ground of hope? Would he rob me of my endeavors? I have nothing
else to trust to.”—John Whitehead, Life of the Rev. Charles Wesley, page
102. Such was the dense darkness

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