9.14.2018 John Wesley's Works, Vol. 7, Sermon #87 The Danger of Riches

*1  'They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful desires, which drown men in destrution and perdition' I Timothy 6.9

1. how innumerable are the ill consequences which have followed from men's not knowing or not considering, this great truth! and how few are there even in the Christian world, that either know or duly consider it! yea, how small is the number of those, even among real Christians, who understand and lay it to heart! most of these too pass it very lightly over, scarce such a construction upon it, as makes it of no manner of effect. 'they that will be rich', say they,  that is, will be rich at all events; who will be rich, right or wrong; that are resolved to carry their point, to compass this end, whatever means they use to attain it;  they 'fall into temptation' and into  all the evils enumerated by the apostle'. but truly if this were all the meaning of the text, it might as well have been out of the Bible.

2. this is so far from being the whole meaning of the text, that it is no part of its meaning. the Apostle does not here speak of gaining riches unjustly, but of quite another thing:  His words are to be taken in their plain obvious sense, without any restriction or qualification whatsoever. St. Paul does not say,  'They that will be rich By Evil Means, by theft, robbery, oppression or extortion; they that will be rich by fraud or dishonest art' but simply, 'They that will be rich'. these,

*2    allowing, supposing the means they use to be ever so innocent, 'fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful desires, which drown men in destruction and perdition'.

3. but who believes that? who receives it as the truth of God? who is deeply convinced of it   who preaches this? who  is deeply convinced of it? who preaches this? great is the company of preachers at this day, regular and irregular;  but who of them all, openly and explicxitly, preaches this strange doctrine? it is the keen observation of a great man,  'The pulpit is the prreacher's stonghold'. but who even in his stronghold ahs the courage to declare so unfashionable a truth? I do not remember that in threescore years I have heard one sermon preached upon this subject. and who author, within the same term, has declared it from  the press? at least in the English tongue?  I do not know one. I have neither seen nor heard of any such author. I have seen 2 or 3 who just touch upon it, but none that treats of it professedly. I have myself frequently touched upon it