Joy promotes holiness

Click or tap any sentence to jump there. The side buttons skip a paragraph.

The manner in which he attempts this may partly appear from what has been already observed. For first, by striking at our joy in the Lord, he strikes likewise at our holiness, seeing joy in the Holy Spirit is a precious means of promoting every holy temper, a choice instrument of God by which he carries on much of his work in a believing soul. And it is a considerable help not only to inward but also to outward holiness. It strengthens our hands to go on in the work of faith and in the labor of love (1 Thessalonians 1:3), manfully to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay hold on eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12). It is peculiarly designed by God to be a balance both against inward and outward sufferings, to lift up the hands that hang down and confirm the feeble knees (Hebrews 12:12). Consequently, whatever damps our joy in the Lord proportionally obstructs our holiness. And therefore, so far as Satan shakes our joy, he hinders our holiness also.

1771 text

6. *The manner wherein he attempts this, may partly appear from what has been already observed. For, first, By striking at our joy in the Lord, he strikes likewise at our holiness: seeing joy in the Holy Ghost is a precious means of promoting every holy temper; a choice instrument of God whereby he carries on much of his work in a believing soul. And it is a considerable help not only to inward, but also to outward holiness. It strengthens our hands to go on in the work of faith and in the labour of love: manfully to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay hold on eternal life. It is peculiarly designed of God to be a balance both against inward and outward sufferings: to lift up the hands that hang down and confirm the feeble knees. Consequently, whatever damps our joy in the Lord, proportionally obstructs our holiness. And therefore so far as Satan shakes our joy, he hinders our holiness also.

Report a mistake in this passage

About this text

On 2 Corinthians 2:11: how Satan tries to damp the joy and peace of believers pressing on to holiness, and how to resist him.

EditionPrinted in Wesley's 1771 Works, which do not say when he preached it

Wesley's own sermon in updated English wording. The 1771 panel is the text of the Works Wesley himself had printed in 1771. It is public domain.

Reference

Sermon 42 in the 1771 Works. Second Corinthians 2:11.

We have not yet re-checked this work against its source. We put this English text into updated wording with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open the 1771 text under any part to compare.

Report a mistake