The Great Privilege of Those That Are Born of God · §14 · John Wesley

In the midst of the invisible world

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Hence he has scarce any knowledge of the invisible world, as he has scarce any intercourse with it. Not that it is far off. No. He is in the midst of it. It encompasses him round about. The other world, as we usually call it, is not far from every one of us (Acts 17:27). It is above, and beneath, and on every side. Only the natural man does not discern it (1 Corinthians 2:14). Partly because he has no spiritual senses, by which alone we can discern the things of God. Partly because so thick a veil is interposed that he does not know how to penetrate it.

1771 text

7. Hence he has scarce any knowledge of the invisible world, as he has scarce any intercourse with it. Not that it is afar off. No: he is in the midst of it: it incompasses him round about. The other world, as we usually term it, is not far from every one of us. It is above, and beneath, and on every side. Only the natural man discerneth it not; partly, because he has no spiritual senses, whereby alone we can discern the things of God; partly, because so thick a veil is interposed, as he knows not how to penetrate.

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About this text

On 1 John 3:9: what it means to be born of God, how it differs from being justified, and why whoever is born of God does not commit sin.

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 19 in the 1771 Works. First John 3:9.

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.

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