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to talk of His blood； and take away His crown； to set light by any part of
His law； under pretense of advancing His gospel。 Nor indeed can anyone
escape this charge； who preaches faith in any such a manner as either
directly or indirectly tends to set aside any branch of obedience： who
preaches Christ so as to disannul； or weaken in any wise； the least of the
commandments of God。〃Ibid。
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To those who urged that 〃the preaching of the gospel answers all the ends of
the law；〃 Wesley replied： 〃This we utterly deny。 It does not answer the very
first end of the law； namely； the convincing men of sin； the awakening those
who are still asleep on the brink of hell。〃 The apostle Paul declares that
〃by the law is the knowledge of sin；〃 〃and not until man is convicted of
sin； will he truly feel his need of the atoning blood of Christ。 。 。 。 'They
that be whole；' as our Lord Himself observes； 'need not a physician； but
they that are sick。' It is absurd； therefore； to offer a physician to them
that are whole； or that at least imagine themselves so to be。 You are first
to convince them that they are sick； otherwise they will not thank you for
your labor。 It is equally absurd to offer Christ to them whose heart is
whole； having never yet been broken。〃Ibid。； sermon 35。
Thus while preaching the gospel of the grace of God； Wesley； like his
Master； sought to 〃magnify the law； and make it honorable。〃 Faithfully did
he accomplish the work given him of God； and glorious were the results which
he was permitted to behold。 At the close of his long life of more than
fourscore yearsabove half a century spent in itinerant ministryhis
avowed adherents numbered more than half a million souls。 But the multitude
that through his labors had been lifted from the ruin and degradation of sin
to a higher and a purer life； and the number who by his teaching had
attained to a deeper and richer experience； will never be known till the
whole family of the redeemed shall be gathered into the kingdom of God。 His
life presents a lesson of priceless worth to every Christian。 Would that the
faith and humility； the untiring zeal； self…sacrifice； and devotion of this
servant of Christ might be reflected in the churches of today！
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Chapter 15
The Bible and the French Revolution
In the sixteenth century the Reformation； presenting an open Bible to the
people； had sought admission to all the countries of Europe。 Some nations
welcomed it with gladness； as a messenger of Heaven。 In other lands the
papacy succeeded to a great extent in preventing its entrance； and the light
of Bible knowledge； with its elevating influences； was almost wholly
excluded。 In one country； though the light found entrance； it was not
comprehended by the darkness。 For centuries； truth and error struggled for
the mastery。 At last the evil triumphed； and the truth of Heaven was thrust
out。 〃This is the condemnation； that light is come into the world； and men
loved darkness rather than light。〃 John 3：19。 The nation was left to reap
the results of the course which she had chosen。 The restraint of God's
Spirit was removed from a people that had despised the gift of His grace。
Evil was permitted to come to maturity。 And all the world saw the fruit of
willful rejection of the light。
The war against the Bible； carried forward for so many centuries in France；
culminated in the scenes of the Revolution。 That terrible outbreaking was
but the legitimate result of Rome's suppression of the Scriptures。 （See
Appendix。） It presented the most striking illustration which the world has
ever witnessed of the working out of the papal policy an illustration of
the results to which for more than a thousand
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years the teaching of the Roman Church had been tending。
The suppression of the Scriptures during the period of papal supremacy was
foretold by the prophets； and the Revelator points also to the terrible
results that were to accrue especially to France from the domination of the
〃man of sin。〃
Said the angel of the Lord： 〃The holy city shall they tread underfoot forty
and two months。 And I will give power unto My two witnesses； and they shall
prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days； clothed in sackcloth。 。
。 。 And when they shall have finished their testimony； the beast that
ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them； and shall
overcome them； and kill them。 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street
of the great city； which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt； where also
our Lord was crucified。 。 。 。 And they that dwell upon the earth shall
rejoice over them； and make merry； and shall send gifts one to another；
because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth。 And after
three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them； and
they stood upon their feet； and great fear fell upon them which saw them。〃
Revelation 11：2…11。
The periods here mentioned〃forty and two months；〃 and 〃a thousand two
hundred and threescore days〃are the same； alike representing the time in
which the church of Christ was to suffer oppression from Rome。 The 1260
years of papal supremacy began in A。D。 538； and would therefore terminate in
1798。 （See Appendix note for page 54。） At that time a French army entered
Rome and made the pope a prisoner； and he died in exile。 Though a new pope
was soon afterward elected； the papal hierarchy has never since been able to
wield the power which it before possessed。
The persecution of the church did not continue throughout the entire period
of the 1260 years。 God in mercy to His people cut short the time of their
fiery trial。 In foretelling the
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〃great tribulation〃 to befall the church； the Saviour said： 〃Except those
days should be shortened； there should no flesh be saved： but for the
elect's sake those days shall be shortened。〃 Matthew 24：22。 Through the
influence of the Reformation the persecution was brought to an end prior to
1798。
Concerning the two witnesses the prophet declares further： 〃These are the
two olive trees； and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the
earth。〃 〃Thy word；〃 said the psalmist； 〃is a lamp unto my feet； and a light
unto my path。〃 Revelation 11：4； Psalm 119：105。 The two witnesses represent
the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament。 Both are important
testimonies to the origin and perpetuity of the law of God。 Both are
witnesses also to the plan of salvation。 The types； sacrifices； and
prophecies of the Old Testament point forward to a Saviour to come。 The
Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament tell of a Saviour who has come in
the exact manner foretold by type and prophecy。
〃They shall prophecy a thousand two hundred and three…score days； clothed in
sackcloth。〃 During the greater part of this period； God's witnesses remained
in a state of obscurity。 The papal power sought to hide from the people the
word of truth； and set before them false witnesses to contradict its
testimony。 （See Appendix。） When the Bible was proscribed by religious and
secular authority； when its testimony was perverted； and every effort made
that men and demons could invent to turn the minds of the people from it；
when those who dared proclaim its sacred truths were hunted； betrayed；
tortured； buried in dungeon cells； martyred for their faith； or compelled to
flee to mountain fastnesses； and to dens and caves of the earththen the
faithful witnesses prophesied in sackcloth。 Yet they continued their
testimony throughout the entire period of 1260 years。 In the darkest times
there were faithful men who loved God's word and were jealous for His honor。
To these loyal servants were
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given wisdom； power； and authority to declare His truth during the whole of
this time。
〃And if any man will hurt them； fire proceedeth out of their mouth； and
devoureth their enemies： and if any man will hurt them； he must in this
manner be killed。〃 Revelation 11：5。 Men cannot with impunity trample upon
the word of God。 The meaning of this fearful denunciation is set forth in
the closing chapter of the Revelation： 〃I testify unto every man that
heareth the words of the prophecy of this book； If any man shall add unto
these things； God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this
book： and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this
prophecy； God shall take away his part out of the book of life； and out of
the holy city； and from the things which are written in this book。〃
Revelation 22：18； 19。
Such are the warnings which God has given to guard men against changing in
any manner that which He has revealed or commanded。 These solemn
denunciations apply to all who by their influence lead men to regard lightly
the law of God。 They should cause those to fear and tremble who flippantly
declare it a matter of little consequence whether we obey God's law or not。
All who exalt their own opinions above divine revelation； all who would
change the plain meanin