A Caution Against Bigotry · §22 · John Wesley

An inward change

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By the power of God attending his word, he brings these sinners to repentance: an entire inward as well as outward change, from all evil to all good. And this is, in a sound sense, to cast out devils out of the souls in which they had until now dwelt. The strong one can no longer keep his house. A stronger than he has come upon him and has cast him out (Luke 11:22), and taken possession for himself, and made it a habitation of God through his Spirit (Ephesians 2:22). Here then the energy of Satan ends, and the Son of God destroys the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). The understanding of the sinner is now enlightened, and his heart sweetly drawn to God. His desires are refined, his affections purified; and being filled with the Holy Spirit, he grows in grace (2 Peter 3:18) till he is not only holy in heart but in all manner of conduct (1 Peter 1:15).

1771 text

By the power of God attending his word, he brings these sinners to repentance: an entire inward as well as outward change, from all evil to all good. And this is, in a sound sense, to cast out devils, out of the souls wherein they had hitherto dwelt. The strong one can no longer keep his house. A stronger than he is come upon him, and hath cast him out, and taken possession for himself, and made it an habitation of God thro’ his Spirit. Here then the energy of Satan ends, and the Son of God destroys the works of the devil. The understanding of the sinner is now enlightned, and his heart sweetly drawn to God. His desires are refined, his affections purified: and being filled with the Holy Ghost, he grows in grace till he is not only holy in heart, but in all manner of conversation.

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