The brink of the pit
If I speak to any one of you more than to another, it is to you who think yourself unconcerned in this exhortation. I have a message from God to you. In his name I warn you to flee from the wrath to come. You unholy soul, see your picture in condemned Peter, lying in the dark dungeon, between the soldiers, bound with two chains, the keepers before the door keeping the prison.
The night is far spent. The morning is at hand, when you are to be brought out for execution. And in these dreadful circumstances you are fast asleep. You are fast asleep in the devil's arms, on the brink of the pit, in the jaws of everlasting destruction.
O may the angel of the Lord come upon you, and the light shine into your prison. And may you feel the stroke of an almighty hand, raising you with these words: Arise up quickly, gird yourself, and bind on your sandals, cast your garments about you, and follow me.
1771 text
3. If I speak to any one of you more than to another, it is to thee, who thinkest thyself unconcerned in this exhortation. I have a message from God unto thee. In his name, I warn thee to flee from the wrath to come. Thou unholy soul, see thy picture in condemn’d Peter, lying in the dark dungeon, between the soldiers, bound with two chains, the keepers before the door keeping the prison. The night is far spent, the morning is at hand, when thou art to be brought forth to execution. And in these dreadful circumstances, thou art fast asleep; thou art fast asleep in the devil’s arms, on the brink of the pit, in the jaws of everlasting destruction.
4. O may the angel of the Lord come upon thee, and the light shine into thy prison! And mayst thou feel the stroke of an almighty hand, raising thee with arise up quickly, gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals, cast thy garments about thee, and follow me.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 3 in the 1771 Works. Charles Wesley preached it at Oxford, 4 April 1742. Ephesians 5:14.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.