The Bible must be the invention either of good men or angels, bad men or devils, or of God. However, it was not written by good men, because good men would not tell lies by saying 'Thus saith the Lord;' it was not written by bad men because they would not write about doing good duty, while condemning sin, and themselves to hell; thus, it must be written by divine inspiration
Interpretation
The quote suggests that the Bible's origin must be attributed to divinity, as it possesses qualities that neither good nor bad men would claim.
Charles Wesley's quote reflects on the nature of the Bible and its authorship, arguing that it cannot be the creation of morally good or evil individuals. Good men wouldn't deceive by claiming divine authority, while bad men wouldn't write about virtues while condemning sin. This line of reasoning leads to the conclusion that the Bible must be a result of divine inspiration, highlighting its significance in moral and spiritual discourse.
In practice
During a discussion on religious texts, one might quote Wesley to emphasize the idea of divine authorship.
Come to earth to taste our sadness, he whose glories knew no end;_x000D_ by his life he brings us gladness, our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend._x000D_ Leaving riches without number, born within a cattle stall;_x000D_ this the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all.
Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, And looks to God alone; Laughs at impossibilities, And cries it shall be done.
O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace!
And all things as they change proclaim _x000D_ The Lord eternally the same.
Expand Thy wings, celestial Dove, brood o'er our nature's night; on our disordered spirits move, and let there now be light.
Keep us little and unknown, prized and loved by God alone.
but ignorance is a kind of insanity in the human animal. People who delight in torturing defenseless children or tiny creatures are in reality insane. The terrible thing is that people who are madmen in private may wear a totally bland and innocent expression in public.
The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.
We must always remember that God is Love. "A fool indeed is he who, living on the banks of the Ganga, seeks to dig a little well for water. A fool indeed is the man who, living near a mine of diamonds, spends his life in searching for beads of glass." God is that mine of diamonds. We are fools indeed to give up God for legends of ghosts or flying hobgoblins. It is a disease, a morbid desire.
I wonder now whether inner coldness and desolation may not be the pre-condition for making the world believe, by a kind of fraudulent showmanship, that one's own wretched heart is still aglow.
A truly religious man does not embrace a religion; and he who embraces one has no religion.
World has things which full fill man needs, but not greeds.
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