14—Abahlaziyi Basengilane Bexesha Lamva

Ngeli xesha uLutere wayevula iBhayibhile evaliweyo kubantu baseJamani, uTyndale wayesetyenziswa nguMoya kaThixo ukuba enze kwaloo msebenzi eNgilane. IBhayibhile kaWycliffe yayiguqulwe kwiLatin, eyayineempazamo ezininzi. Yayingazange yashicilelwa, laza laphezulu ixabiso leekopi ezibhaliweyo, kangangokuba yayifikelelwa kuphela ngabantu abazizityebi nababekekileyo; kwaza, ngenxa yoko, kuba yagoqwa ngqongqo libandla, ayajikeleza kakhulu phakathi kwabantu. Ngowe-1516, unyaka owawuphambi kokuvela kukaLutere nezimangalo zakhe, uErasmus wayepapashe iTestamente eNtsha yesiGrike neLatin. Ngoku, kwakukokuqala ilizwi likaThixo lishicilelwe ngolwimi lwemveli. Kulo msebenzi iimpazamo ezininzi zomsebenzi wokuqala zazilungisiwe, nomcimbi ubekwe ngokucace ngakumbi. Oku kwakhokelela ukuba abaninzi phakathi kwamaqela afundileyo abe nolwazi olungcono lwenyaniso, kwanika impembelelo entsha emsebenzini wohlaziyo. Bona abantu abangumndilili, ubukhulu becala, babenqandwa elizwini likaThixo. UTyndale wayeza kugqibezela umsebenzi kaWycliffe wokunika abantu bakubo iBhayibhile. IE18 222.1

Umfundi owayesisiquququ, nesasinenzondelelo yokuyifuna inyaniso, wayifumana igospile kwiTestamente eNtsha kaErasmus. Wayishumayela ngokungoyiki into awakholelwa kuyo, ekhuthaza ukuba zonke iimfundiso mazihlolwe ngeziBhalo. Kwibango lobupopi, lokubaibandlalalinikwe iBhayibhile, uTyndale waphendula ngelithi: “Niyamazi owafundisa iinkozi ukufumana amaxhoba azo? Ngoko ke, kwaloo Thixo, uyabafundisa abantwana baKhe abalambileyo ukuba bamfumane uYise elizwini laKhe. Kude kakhulu ekusinikeni iziBhalo, nina nisuke nazifihla kuthi; nisuke nabatshisa abo bazifundisayo, kanti ukuba beninako, beniya kutshisa neziBhalo ezo ngokwazo.”--D'Aubigne, History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, b. 18, ch. 4.IE18 222.2

Ukushumayela kukaTyndale kwavusa umdla omkhulu; bababaninzi abayamkelayo inyaniso. Bona ababingeleli babesoloko belindile, kwathi ngako nje ukuba ayishiye indawo, ngokoyikisa nokuthetha ngobuxoki ngaye, bakhawuleza bazama ukuwubhangisa umsebenzi wakhe. Amaxesha amaninzi babephumelela. “Kufuneka kwenziwe ntoni? Wakhuza. “Ngexesha ndihlwayela kwenye indawo, utshaba luyidlavula kwangoko intsimi endiyishiyayo. Owu! akwaba amaKristu ebeneziBhalo Ezingcwele ezingolwimi lwawo, ebeya kukwazi ukumelana nezi ngxoxo. Ngaphandle kweBhayibhile, akwenzeki ukuba luzinziswe uluntu enyanisweni.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 18, ch. 4. IE18 223.1

Wafikelwa yinjongo entsha engqondweni yakhe. “Kwakungolwimi lukaIsrayeli,” watsho, “ekwakuvunywa ngalo iindumiso etempileni kaYehova; ayimele na ke ngoko igospile ukuthetha ulwimi lwaseNgilane phakathi kwethu? . . . Ingaba ibandla kufuneka libe nokukhanya okuncinane emini emaqanda kunasekuseni? AmaKristu kufuneka ayifunde iTestamente eNtsha ngolwimi lwawo lwenkobe.” Oogqirha neetitshala bebandla babengavumelani phakathi kwabo. KwakungeBhayibhile kuphela ababe nokuthi abantu bafikelele enyanisweni. “Omnye ubamba lo ugqirha, omnye lowa. . . . Ngoku, ngamnye kwaba babhali uphikisa omnye. Singamahlula njani ke othetha okulungileyo kulowo uthetha okungalunganga? . . . Njani? . . . Ngokwenene, ngelizwi likaThixo.”-- D'Aubigne, b. 18, ch. 4.IE18 223.2

Kwathi kungekudala emva koko, sathi isifundiswa esingugqirha womKatolika, ephikisana naye, wadanduluka ngelithi: “Bekulunge kanye singabinayo imithetho kaThixo kunokuba singabi nekaPopi.” UTyndale waphendula: “Ndimsingela phantsi uPopi nayo yonke imithetho yakhe; kanti ukuba uThixo uthe wabugcina ubomi bam, kungadlulanga minyaka mininzi, ndiya kwenza ukuba intwana ebambe ikhuba yazi ngaphezulu ngesiBhalo kunokuba wena usazi.”--Anderson, Annals of the English Bible, page 19.IE18 223.3

Injongo awaqala ukuba nayo, yokubanika abantu iziBhalo zeTestamente eNtsha ngolwabo ulwimi, yaqinisekiswa ngoku, waza ngokukhawuleza wazinikela kulo msebenzi. Ngokugxothwa ekhayeni lakhe yintshutshiso, waya eLondon, apho wathabatha ixesha esukela umsebenzi wakhe engaphazanyiswa nto. Laphinda kodwa udushe lwabobupopi lwamnyanzela ukuba abaleke. INgilane yonke yayingathi ivaliwe kuye, waza wagqiba ukuba afune igwiba eJamani. Apha, waqala ukushicilela iTestamente eNtsha yesiNgesi. Wamiswa kabini lo msebenzi; kodwa wayesithi akwalelwa ukuba ashicilele kwesi isixeko, aye kwesinye. Ekugqibeleni, wayakufika eWorms, apho, kwiminyaka embalwa eyadlulayo, uLutere wakhusela khona igospile phambi kweNtlanganiso. Kweso sixeko sidala, babekho abahlobo boHlaziyo, waza uTyndale wawenzela khona umsebenzi wakhe engaphazanyiswa. Amawaka amathathu eekopi zeTestamente eNtsha agqitywa ngokukhawuleza, lwaza olunye uhlelo lwalandela kwangawo loo mnyaka.IE18 223.4

Wawuqhuba umsebenzi wakhe ngenzondelelo enkulu nokuzingisa okukhulu. Nangona amagunya asemaNgesini ayewajonge ngokuphaphama okungqongqo amazibuko awo, ilizwi likaThixo, ngeendlela ezithile ezifihlakeleyo, lakwazi ukuya kufika eLondon laza ukusuka apho lasiwa kwilizwe lonke. Abobupopi bazama ukuyicinezela inyaniso, kodwa ngelize. Ubhishophu waseDurham, ngelinye ixesha wathenga kwivenkile ethengisa iincwadi yomhlobo kaTyndale zonke iiBhayibhile awayenazo, ngenjongo yokuzitshabalalisa, ecinga ukuba oku kuya kuwuthibaza kakhulu umsebenzi. Ngokuchaseneyo nale njongo, imali eyazuzwa apho ngolo hlobo, yathenga izixhobo zohlelo olutsha nolungcono, olwaluya kuthi, ukuba bekungengaso esi senzo, lungabinako ukushicilelwa. Kwathi emva koko, akuba uTyndale evalelwe entolongweni, kwathiwa, inkululeko uya kuyinikwa phantsi komqathango wokuba aveze amagama abo bamncedayo ukuba amelane neendleko zokushicilela iiBhayibhile zakhe. Waphendula ngelithi, ubhishophu waseDurham wenza ngaphezu kwakhe nawuphi umntu; kuba, ngokuhlawula ixabiso eliphezulu ngeencwadi ezazikho ngelo xesha, wenza ukuba akwazi ukubheka phambili ngesibindi esihle.IE18 224.1

UTyndale wathengiswa ezandleni zeentshaba zakhe, wathi ngelinye ixesha wavalelwa iinyanga ezininzi. Ekugqibeleni, walungqinela ukholo lwakhe ngokufelukholo; kodwa izixhobo awazilungisayo zakwazi ukwenza amanye amasoldati ukuba alwe kuzo zonke iinkulungwane ukuza kweli lethu ixesha.IE18 224.2

ULatimer wayesitsho esepulpitini ukuthi, iBhayibhile imelwe ukuba ifundwa ngolwimi lwabantu. UMbhali weziBhalo Ezingcwele, wathi, “nguThixo ngokwaKhe;” saye esi siBhalo sinamandla nonaphakade woMbhali waso. “Akukho kumkani, mphathi, mgwebi namlawuli, . . . onganyanzelekanga ukuba alithobele . . . ilizwi laKhe elingcwele.” “Masingathabathi iindlela ezilidlulayo, kodwa ilizwi likaThixo malisikhokele: masingalandeli . . . oobawomkhulu bethu, singakufuni noko bakwenzayo, kodwa masifune oko babemelwe ukuba bakwenzile.”--Hugh Latimer, “First Sermon Preached Before King Edward VI.”IE18 224.3

UBarnes noFrith, abahlobo abathembekileyo bakaTyndale, baphakama ukuba bayikhusele inyaniso. URidleys noCranmer balandela. Ezi nkokeli zoHlaziyo lwaseNgilane yayingamadoda afundileyo, aye amaninzi kuwo ayehlonitshwa ngenzondelelo okanye ukoyika uThixo phakathi kobuRoma. Inkcaso yabo yobupopi yayisisiphumo solwazi lwabo ngeziphoso zikaPopi. Ukuqhelana kwawo neemfihlelo zeBhabheli kwawanika igunya elithe kratya kubungqina bokuyichasa.IE18 225.1

“Ngoku ndiza kubuza umbuzo oxakayo,” watsho uLatimer. “Ngubani oyena bhishophu nommeli kaPopi okhutheleyo kuyo yonke iNgilane? . . . Ndiyabona ukuba niphulaphule ukuba nindive ndimxela. . . . Ndiza kunixelela: ngongendawo. . . . Akaze asishiye isithili sakhe; mbizeni xa nifuna, uhleli ekho ekhaya; . . . uhlala elibambile ikhuba lakhe. . . . Anisokuze nimfumane engenzi nto, ndiyaniqinisekisa. . . . Apho ahlala khona ongendawo, . . . mazisuke iincwadi apho, makuphakame amakhandlela; mayisuke iBhayibhile, makuphakame amaso; makusuke ukukhanya kwegospile, makuphakame ukukhanya kwamakhandlela, ewe, emini emaqanda; . . . phantsi ngomnqamlezo kaKristu, phezulu ngendawo yentuthumbo . . . makusuke ukwambesa abaze, abangamahlwempu, nabangenamandla, phezulu ngokuhonjiswa kwemifanekiso nobuqheleqhele beentolongo namatye; phezulu ngezithethe zomntu nemithetho yakhe, phantsi ngezithethe zikaThixo nelizwi lakhe elingcwele kakhulu. . . .Akwaba abameli bakaPopi bethu bebengakukhuthalela ukuhlwayela umbona wemfundiso elungileyo, njengoko uSathana enjalo ukuhlwayela imbuya notyuthu. Hugh Latimer, “Sermon of the Plough.”IE18 225.2

Umthetho-siseko omkhulu owagcinwa ngaba baHlaziyi—okwangulowo wawubanjwe ngamaWaldensi, nguWycliffe, nguJohn Huss, nguLutere, Zwingli, nabo babezihlanganise nabo—yayikukungabi nakuphazama kweziBhalo Ezingcwele njengomgaqo wokholo nokwenza. Babelilandula ilungelo leePopi, amaqumrhu, ooBawo, nookumkani, lokulawula isazela kwimiba yenkolo. IBhayibhile yayiligunya labo, kuthi ngemfundiso yayo zonke ezinye iimfundiso zivavanywe nawo onke amabango azo. Ukholo kuThixo nelizwi laKhe lwawaxhasa amadoda angcwele ngexesha enikela ubomi bawo emlilweni. “Thuthuzeleka,” watsho uLatimer kumhlobo ofelukholo ngexesha amalangatye ayeza kulithulisa ilizwi lakhe, “ngale mini, siza kukhanyisa ikhandlela, ngobabalo lukaThixo, kwiNgilane, endithembayo ukuba alisayi kuba nakucinywa.”-- Works of Hugh Latimer, vol. 1, p. xiii.IE18 225.3

EScotland imbewu yenyaniso eyahlwayelwa nguColumba nasebenza nabo ayizange itshatyalaliswe ngokupheleleyo. Kwaba ngamakhulu eminyaka emva kokuba amabandla eNgilane ayezinikele kwiRoma, awaseScotland wona ayigcina inkululeko yawo. Kwathi kodwa ngenkulungwane yeshumi elinambini ubupopi bamiselwa apha, akwaze kodwa kubekho ilizwe apho balawula ngokupheleleyo. Akukho apho ubumnyama baba nzulu kakhulu khona. Yayisabakho imitha yokukhanya eyayigqobhoza ubumnyama inike ithemba lemini ezayo. AbakwaLollards, ababevela eNgilane, beza neBhayibhile neemfundiso zikaWycliffe, benza okukhulu ukulugcina ulwazi lwegospile, yathi inkulungwane nganye yanamangqina ayo nabafelukholo bayo. IE18 226.1

Ukuqala koHlaziyo oluKhulu kweza neencwadi zikaLutere, emva koko kwayiTestamente eNtsha yesiNgesi kaTyndale. Bengaqatshelwanga ngababephethe, aba bathunywa, ngokuzolileyo, balityhutyha elentaba neentili, bekhanyisa kubomi obutsha isibane senyaniso esaphantsa sacima eScotland, bechitha umsebenzi owenziwa yiRoma iinkulungwane ezine zengcinezelo.IE18 226.2

Ngelo xesha igazi labafelukholo lanika umfutho omtsha kwintshukumo.Iinkokelizobupopi, zakhawulezazayiphaphamelaingozi eyayizela umsebenzi wazo, zatshisa esibondeniabanye babonababekeke nabahlonipheke kakhulu koonyana baseScotland. Sekunjalo, eyona nto yenzekayo kukwakhiwa kwamaqonga ekwakuvakala kuwo amazwi ala mangqina ayesifa kuyo yonke indawo, ivusa imiphefumlo yabantu ngenjongo engafiyo yokuthi xibilili imixokelelwane yeRoma.IE18 226.3

UHamilton noWishart, ababenesimilo sobukhosi kwanje ngokuzalwa kwabo, bephuma kumnombo wabafundi abathobekileyo, bazinikela ekutshisweni. Kwathi kodwa kwinqumba etshayo kaWishart kwaphuma omnye awathi amalangatye akakwazi ukumthulisa, owayeza kuthi, phantsi kukaThixo, abethelele isikhonkwane sokugqibela sokuphela kobupopi eScotland.IE18 226.4

UJohn Knox wayezishiyile izithethe neenkolo zebandla, wazondla ngeenyaniso zelizwi likaThixo; yaza imfundiso kaWishart yakubethelela ukuzimisela ukulushiya ulwalamano neRoma azihlanganise nabaHlaziyi ababetshutshiswa. IE18 226.5

Nangona wayekhuthazwa ngamaqabane akhe ukuba athabathe umsebenzi wobushumayeli, waza wahlehla kuwo ngokoyika umthwalo wawo, kwaba semva kwemihla yokuba ethe gu bucala wayedwa kunye nokulwa nesiqu sakhe apho waya wavuma. Wathi ngako nje ukuba asamkele isikhundla eso, wabheka phambili ngokuzimisela engagungqi nesibindi esingenaloyiko lo gama esaphila. Lo mHlaziyi wenene wayengoyiki buso bamntu. Imililo yokufelukholo, ivutha macal’ onke ngakuye, yayisebenza ukukhulisa inzondelelo yakhe ukuba iqine ngakumbi. Lathi izembe lombulali lilengalenga phezu kwentloko yakhe, wema kwinkolo yakhe, egalela izithonga ezinamandla kwisandla sasekunene nangasekhohlo ukuba achithe unqulo lwezithixo.IE18 226.6

Wathi akugagana nokumkanikazi waseScotland, eyayidamba inzondelelo yeenkokeli ezininzi zamaProtestanti phambi kwakhe, uJohn Knox wabumela engagungqi ubungqina benyaniso. Wayengazi kuzuzwa ngokuphululwa; wayengankwantyi phambi kwezothuso. Ukumkanikazi wamtyhola ngokulahlekisa. Wayebafundise abantu ukuba bamkele inkolo eyayisalelwa sisizwe, watsho, waba ngaloo ndlela ugqitha umthetho kaThixo oyalela ukuba abaphethweyo balulamele abaphathi babo. UKnox waphendula ngokuqinileyo:IE18 227.1

“Njengoko inkolo yenyaniso ingafumananga mandla nagunya kubaphathi basemhlabeni, kodwa kuThixo ongunaphakade kuphela, ngokunjalo nabaphethweyo abamelweukuba bayimiseinkolo yabo ngokokuthanda kwabaphathi babo. Kaloku kukholisa ngokuba abaphathi babe ngabona bangazi nto kunabo bonke abanye ngenkolo kaThixo eyinyaniso. . . . Ukuba yonke imbewu ka-Abraham yayiyeyenkolo kaFaro, ababephethwe nguye ixesha elide, ndicela ukwazi kuwe, nkosikazi ehloniphekileyo, yeyiphi inkolo ebiya kubakho emhlabeni? Okanye, ukuba bonke abantu ngemihla yabapostile babengabenkolo yookumkani baseRoma, yeyiphi inkolo eyayiya kubakho phezu kobuso bomhlaba? . . . Ngoko ke, nkosikazi ehloniphekileyo, unokubona ukuba abaphethweyo ababophelelekanga kwinkolo yabaphathi babo, nangona beyalelwe ukuba babathobele.”IE18 227.2

Wathi uMary: “Wena uzichaza iziBhalo ngenye indlela, babe bona [iititshala zeBandla laseRoma] zizichaza ngenye; ndikholelwe bani, ingubani oya kugweba?”IE18 227.3

“Uya kukholelwa uThixo, othetha ngokucacileyo elizwini laKhe,” waphendula umHlaziyi; “kokungaphaya kokuba ilizwi likufundisa, akufuneki ukholelwe kuko [okufundiswayo] nakulowo [ukufundisayo]. Ilizwi likaThixo licacile lona; ukuba kukho indawo ebonakala isithele, uMoya Oyingcwele, ongaze uziphikise, uchaza oko ngokucacileyo kwezinye iindawo, ukuze kuhlale kungekho kuthandabuza ngaphandle kwakubo abo bathi ngenkani bathande ukuhlala bengazi.”--David Laing, The Collected Works of John Knox, vol. 2, pp. 281, 284.IE18 227.4

Zaba ziinyaniso ezinjalo awathi, ngokungoyiki, umHlaziyi, ebeke ubomi bakhe esichengeni, wazithetha endlebeni yasebukhosini. Kwangeso sibindi sinye singenaloyiko, wahlala kwinjongo yakhe, ethandaza esilwa amadabi kaYehova, yada iScotland yakhululeka kubupopi.IE18 228.1

ENgilane, ukumiselwa kobuProtestanti njengenkolo yesizwe kwaya kuncipha, kodwa akuzange buyigqibe kuphele intshutshiso. Nangona iimfundiso ezininzi zaseRoma zaziyekiwe, azizange zibe mbalwa kwiinkqubo zayo ezagcinwayo. Ukongama kukaPopi kwaliwa, kodwa endaweni yako kwabekwa ukumkani abe yintloko yebandla. Kwinkqubo yasenkonzwenikwakusekho ukumka kakhulu kubunyulu nobulula begospile. Umthetho-siseko omkhulu wenkululeko yenkolo waye ungekaqondwa. Nangona iinkohlakalo ezoyikekayo ezazisetyenziswa yiRoma ukulwa ulahlekiso, kwakungakholisi ukubhenelwa kuzo ziinkokeli zobuProtestanti, lona ilungelo lwakhe wonke umntu lokuba anqule ngokuyalelwa sisazela sakhe kwakungamkelwa. Bonke abantu kwakulindeleke ukuba bamkele iimfundiso bagcine iindlela zonqulo ezamiselwa libandla. Oobholel’ ecaleni babetshutshiswa, nto leyo eyenzeka kwisithuba samakhulu eminyaka.IE18 228.2

Ngenkulungwane yeshumi elinesixhenxe, amawaka abafundisi bagxothwa ezikhundleni zabo. Abantu balelwa, behlawuliswa imali ezinkulu zokuzikhulula, bekwavalelwa ezintolongweni, bade bagxothwe ngokuya kwiintlanganiso zenkolo ngaphandle kwezo zazivunyelwe libandla. Loo miphefumlo ithembekileyo eyayingakwazi ukungayi kwimihlangano yokunqula uThixo, yayinyanzeleka ukuba ihlangane emiwonyweni, iindawo ezisitheleyo, kuthi ngamanye amaxesha kube semahlathini ezinzulwini zobusuku. Kwinkuseleko yenzulu yehlathi, itempile eyakhiwe nguThixo ngokwaKhe, abo bantwana beNkosi babe zintsalu betshutshiswa babehlangana ukuba bathulule imiphefumlo yabo ngokuthandaza nokudumisa. Sebewathabathe onke loo manyathelo, baba baninzi abaphatheka kakubi ngenxa yokholo lwabo. Iintolongo zazizele ntli ngabantu. Iintsapho zazahlukene. Abaninzi bagxothelwa kumazwe angaphandle. Sekunjalo, uThixo wayenabo abantu baKhe, yaye intshutshiso ingakwazi ukubuthulisa ubungqina babo. Abaninzi bagxothwa bawezwa ulwandlekazi ukuya kufika eMelika apho bafika babeka iziseko zenkululeko yolawulo loburhulumente nobenkolo eyaba ludonga nozuko lweli lizwe.IE18 228.3

Kwenzeka kwakhona, njengakwimihla yabapostile, ukuba intshutshiso ijike isebenze ukuqhutyelwa phambili kwegospile. Ekwintolongo engumhadi womgxobhozo eyayizele ngabantu abakhohlakeleyo nezihange, uJohn Bunyan yena wayephefumla kanye umoya wezulu; apho wabhala ibali elingumzekelo omangalisayo wohambo lomhambi ukusuka kumhlaba wentshabalalo ukuya kwisixeko sazezulwini. Kube ngaphezu kwamakhulu amabini eminyaka elo lizwi laliphuma kwintolongo yaseBedford lithetha ngamandla avakala kakhulu kwiintliziyo zabantu. Iincwadi zikaBunyan, uHambo Lomhambi noGrace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, ziye zakhokelela iinyawo ezininzi kwindlela esinga ebomini.IE18 229.1

UBaxter,uFlavel, uAlleine,namanyeamadoda anetalente, imfundo, namava anzulu obuKristu, bayimela ngenkuselo enesibindi inkolo eyanikelwa kwaba kanye kwabangcwele. Umsebenzi owafezwa ngala madoda, owawuzingelwa ungamkelekanga ngokwasemthethweni kubaphathi beli hlabathi, awusokuze utshabalale. Iincwadi uFlavel’s Fountain of Life noMethod of Grace zifundise amawaka ngendlela yokunikela kokugcinwa kwemiphefumlo yabo kuKristu. EkaBaxter, uReformed Pastor, ibe yintsikelelo kwabaninzi abanqwenela imvuselelo yomsebenzi kaThixo, nenye yakhe uSaints’ Everlasting Rest wakhe yawenza umsebenzi wayo wokukhokelela imiphefumlo “kuphumlo” olusalindele abantu bakaThixo.IE18 229.2

Kwiminyaka elikhulu emva koko, kwimini yobumnyama obukhulu basemoyeni, uWhitefield nabakwaWesley bavela bengabathwali kukhanya bakaThixo. Phantsi kolawulo lwebandla elisekiweyo abantu baseNgilane babehlehlele kwimo yokuhla kwasemoyeni ekwakunzima ukuba yahlulwe kubuhedeni. Inkolo yemveli yeyona nto yayithandwa kukufundwa sisifundisi, kwaye yayiquka okuninzi kwabafunda ngoThixo. Iiklasi eziphezulu zazikunyevulela ukoyika uThixo, zizidla ngokuba ngaphezulu koko babesithi kukutshiseka okungapha komgca. Iiklasi ezisezantsi zazikokunzulu ukungazi zaza zayekelwa kwinkohlakalo, lo gama ibandla lalingenaso isibindi okanye ukholo lokuqhubeka nokuxhasa umsebenzi wenyaniso orhuqa phantsi. IE18 229.3

Imfundiso enkulu yokugwetyelwa ngokholo, eyafundiswa ngokucacileyo nguLutere, yayiphantsa ukungabi sabonwa ngokupheleleyo; waye umthetho-siseko weRoma wokuthembela kwimisebenzi elungileyo ukuze kuzuzwe usindiso, uthabathe indawo yawo. UWhitefield nabafundisi bakwaWesley, ababe ngamalungu ebandla elisekiweyo, babengabazingeli abanyanisekileyo bothando lukaThixo, kwaza oku babe kufundisiwe kwakufuneka kuqinisekiswe ngobomi obunokuhle nokugcinwa kweenkonzo zenkolo.IE18 229.4

Kwathi ngelinye ixesha, uCharles Wesley egula, walindela ukuba ukufa kumfikele, wabuzwa ukuba ithemba lakhe lobomi obungunaphakade ulakhele phezu kwantoni. Impendulo yakhe yathi: “Ndenze konke endinako ukukhonza uThixo.” Kwathi kwakubonakala ngokungathi akaneli ngokupheleleyo yimpendulo yakhe loo mhlobo wayebuza, uWesley wacinga: “Intoni! Ingaba imizamo yam ayinguwo umhlaba owaneleyo wethemba? Angandihlutha imizamo yam? Akukho nto yimbi endingathembelakuyo.”—John Whitehead, Life of theRev. Charles Wesley, page 102. Babunjaloubumnyama obabungqingqwa obazinza phezu kwebandla, bufihla ucamagushelo, buhlutha kuKristu uzuko lwaKhe, buzisusa iingqondo zabantu kwithemba labo, elikuphela kwalo abanokusindiswa ngalo--igazi loMhlanguli owaxhonywa emnqamlezweni.IE18 230.1

UWesley namahlakani akhe benziwa babona ukuba inkolo yenyaniso ihleli entliziyweni, nokuba umthetho kaThixo unabele kwiingcinga nasemazwini nakwizenzo. Boyisakele ngokudingeka kobungcwele bentliziyo, nokulunga kokuziphatha kwangaphandle, baphuma bezimisele ukuphila ubomi obutsha. Ngemizamo yokukhuthala nokuthandaza okukhulu bazama ukucinezela ububi bentliziyo yemveli. Baphila ubomi bokuzilandula, bobubele, nokuzithoba, begcine ukusebenza okukhulu nokuba semgceni kulo lonke inyathelo ababecinga ukuba lingaluncedo kubo ekuzuzeni oko babekulangazelela kakhulu--obo bungcwele babunokubazuzela ukuthandwa nguThixo. Noko kunjalo, abazange bakuzuze oko babekufuna. Yaba lilize imizamo yabo yokuzikhulula ekugwetyweni sisono okanye ukwaphula amandla aso. Yayikwanguloo mzamo uLutere awayenawo esiseleni sakhe e-Efurt. Yayikwanguloo mbuzo mnye owawuthuthumbisa umphefumlo wakhe—“Angathini na umntu lo ukuba lilungisa phambi koThixo?” Yobhi 9:2.IE18 230.2

Imililo yenyaniso yezulu, eyaphantsa ukucima kwizibingelelo zobuProtestanti, waphinda yabaswa kwizibane zakudala ezanikelwa kwizizukulwana ngamaKristu aseBohemia. Emva koHlaziyo, ubuProtestanti eBohemia banyhashwa baphela zizihlwele zaseRoma. Bonke abakwalayo ukuyishiya inyaniso banyanzeleka ukuba basabe. Abanye baba, ngokufumana igwiba eSaxony, balugcina ukholo lwakudala. Kwaba kwinzala yala maKristu apho kwaphuma khona ukukhanya okweza kuWesley namahlakani akhe.IE18 230.3

UJohn noCharles Wesley, emva kokuba bethanjiselwe umsebenzi wobufundisi, bathunyelwa kuvangelo eAmerika. Kwinqanawa ababekuyo kwakukho iqela lamaMoriva. Kwaqutyiswana nezaqhwithi ezazivuthuza ngamandla eluhambeni, waza uJohn Wesley, ejongene ubuso ngobuso nokufa, waziva engenayo ingqiniseko yoxolo noThixo. AmaJamani, kwelinye icala, abonakalalisa ukuzola nokuthemba awayengaqhelananga nako yena.IE18 230.4

“Kwakukade ngaphambili,” utsho, “ndikubona ukuzimisela okukhulu kokuziphatha kwabo. Ekuzithobeni kwabo banike ubungqina obuqhubeka njalo, ngokwenzela abanye ababe khwele kunye nabo imisebenzi ephantsi, ekungekho noyedwa kwabaseNgilane owayenokuyenza; ababengafuni nababengayi kuhlawulwa ngayo, esithi, izilungele iintliziyo zabo ezinekratshi, ngokuba umsindisi wabo onothando wabenzela okungaphezulu. Imihla ngemihla, yayinika ithuba lokubonisa ubulali obabungeze bususwe kukukhathazeka. Xa babetyhalwa bebethwa, okanye bephoswa ngapha nangapha, babephakama bahambe; akwafumaneka kukhalaza emlonyeni wabo. Lalikho ngoku ithuba lokuba kubonakale ukuba babesindisiwe nakumoya wokoyika, nokuba nekratshi, umsindo, nempindezelo. Kwathi kuphakathi kwindumiso owawuqala ngayo umsebenzi wabo, ulwandile lwavumbuluka, lwakrazula iseyile enkulu yazizicwili, lwayigubungela inqanawa, lwangena phakathi kwemigangatho lwangathi ulwandle olunzulu selusiginyile. Kwabakho isikhalo esikrakra kwabamaNgesi. AmaJamani aqhubeka nokuvuma ngokuzola. “Emva koko, ndabuza komnye wawo, “Beningoyiki?” Waphendula, ‘Ndiyambulela uThixo, hayi.’ Ndabuza, ‘Abafazi nabantwana benu bebengoyiki?’ waphendula pholileyo, ‘Hayi, abafazi nabantwana bethu abakoyiki ukufa.’”--Whitehead, Life of the Rev. John Wesley, page 10.IE18 231.1

Ekufikeni kwakhe eSavannah, uWesley waba nethutyana ehlala namaMoriva, waza wathabatheka kakhulu kukuziphatha kwabo kobuKristu. Ngenye yeenkonzo zabo, eyayohluke kwaphela nokwenza okungenaludlamko lweBandla laseNgilane [iTshetshi], wabhala wathi: “Ubulula nondiliseko bento yonke baphantsa bandenza ndilibale ishumi elinesixhenxe lamakhulu eminyaka eyadlulayo, ndazibona ndikwenye yeentlanganiso apho ukumila nesizwe zazingekho; kodwa ndinguPawulos, umenzi weentente, okanye uPetros, umlobi weentlanzi, ndisesihlalweni; kodwa kukho ukubonakalaliswa kukaMoya namandla.”-- Whitehead, pages 11, 12.IE18 231.2

Ekubuyeleni kwakhe eNgilane, uWesley, phantsi kwengqeqesho yomshumayeli waseMoriva, wafikelela ekuyiqondeni ngokucace ngaphezuluinkolo yeBhayibhile. Woyisakalaukubakufuneka athembele ngokupheleleyo “[kwi]Mvana kaThixo ethwala isuse isono sehlabathi.” Kwintlanganiso yombutho waseMoriva eLondon, kwafundwa intetho eyayibhalwe nguLutere, echaza ngotshintsho olwenziwa entliziyweni ekholwa nguMoya kaThixo. Xa wayephulaphule uWesley, lwalumekeka ukholo emphefumlweni wakhe. “Ndayiva intliziyo yam ifudumala ngendlela engaqhelekanga,” utsho. “Ndaziva ukuba ndithembele kuKristu, nokuba uzisusile izono zam, ezam, kanye, wandisindisa emthethweni wesono nokufa.”-- Whitehead, page 52.IE18 231.3

Kwiminyaka emide yokuzama okudinisayo nokungenalo ulonwabo—iminyaka yokuxakeka kukuzama ukuzilandula, yokugculelwa nokuthotyelwa phantsi—uWesley wayebambelele ngokuzinzileyo kwinjongo yakhe eyodwa yokufuna uThixo. Ngoku wayemfumene; waza wafumana ukuba, ubabalo awayesebenze nzima ukuluzuza ngokuthandaza nokuzila, nokunika amalizo, nokuzanelisa, lwalusisipho, “ngaphandle kwemali, ngaphandle kwexabiso.” IE18 232.1

Ngako nje ukuba azinze elukholweni lukaKristu, umphefumlo wakhe wonke wavutha lulangazelelo lokusasaza kuyo yonke indawo ulwazi lwegospile enozuko yobabalo lukaThixo olungahlawulelwayo. “Ndawubona wonke umhlaba usisithili sam,” watsho; “nakweyiphi indawo yawo endikuyo, ndiyibona ifanelekile, ilungile, ingumsebenzi wam onyanisekileyo, ukuba ndivakalise kubo bonke abakulungeleyo ukundiphulaphula, iindaba zovuyo zosindiso.”-- Whitehead, page 74.IE18 232.2

Waqhubeka nobomi bakhe bokuzimisela nokuzilandula, kodwa ngoku kungeyiyo indlela yokubuzuza, kodwa busisiphumo salo ukholo; bungeyiyo ingcambu kodwa busisiqhamo sobungcwele. Ubabalo lukaThixo kuKristu lusisiseko sethemba lomKristu, nokuba ubabalo luya kubonakalaliswa ekuthobeleni. Ubomi bukaWesley banikelwa ekushumayeleni iinyaniso ezinkulu awayezifumene—ukugwetyelwa ngokholo kwigazi locamagusho likaKristu, namandla ahlaziyayo kaMoya Oyingcwele entliziyweni, kuveze isiqhamo sobomi obuhambelana nomzekelo kaKristu.IE18 232.3

UWhitefield nabakwaWesley babewulungiselwe umsebenzi wabo kukoyiseka okude nokubukhali bemeko yokulahleka kwabo; nokuba babe nokubunyamezela ubunzima njengamasoldati kaKristu, bafakwa phantsi kokuqhotswa ngumlilo wokugxekwa, ukugculelwa, nokutshutshiswa, eyunivesithi naxa babengena ebufundisini. Bona nabanye abambalwa ababenemfesane ngakubo, babizwa ngendelelo kwathiwa ngabomgaqo [amaMethodi] ngabo babefunda nabo, abangamhloneliyo uThixo—igama ngoku elithatyathwa ngokuba liligama elihloniphekileyo lelinye lawona mahlelo makhulu eNgilane naseMelika. IE18 232.4

Njengamalungu eBandla laseTshetshi, babe bambelele kakhulu kwiindlela zalo zonqulo, iNkosi yayibeke phambi kwabo elizwini laYo umgangatho ophakamileyo. UMoya Oyingcwele wabakhuthaza ukuba bashumayele uKristu naYe ebethelelwe emnqamlezweni. Amandla Osenyangweni aba nemisebenzi yabo. Amawaka oyisakala aza aguquka ngokwenene. Kwakufuneka ukuba ezi zimvu zikhuselwe kwiingcuka eziqwengayo. UWesley wayengenayo ingcinga yokuqala elinye ibandla elitsha, kodwa wabahlanganisa phantsi komhlangano owabizwa ngokuba yiMethodist Connection.IE18 233.1

Yayifihlakele ikwanzima inkcaso abahlangana nayo aba bashumayeli kwibandla esele lisekiwe; kodwa uThixo, ngobulumko baKhe, wazilawula iziganeko ukuze zilwenze uhlaziyo ukuba luqale ngaphakathi kulo ibandla. Ukuba lwaluvele ngaphandle ngokupheleleyo, lwalungayi kugqobhozela apho lwaludingeka khona kakhulu. Kwathi njengoko abashumayeli abachasana nabo bengabantu bebandla, basebenza ngaphakathi kwesibaya sebandla naphina apho babefumana khona ithuba, yaza inyaniso yakwazi ukungena nalapho kwakunokwenzeka ukuba iingcango zihlale zivaliwe. Abanye besifundisi bavuswa kubuthongo babo basemoyeni baba ngabashumayeli abanenzondelelo kwezabo izithili. Amabandla awayenziwe aqina nkqi kukugcina ngqongqo isithethe avuselwa ebomini. IE18 233.2

Ngexesha likaWesley, njengakuwo onke amaxesha embali yebandla, amadoda anezipho ezahlukeneyo ayewenza umsebenzi abekelwe wona. Ayengavumelani kuzo zonke iingongoma zemfundiso, kodwa onke ayeqhutywa nguMoya kaThixo, emanyene ekwamkeleni injongo yokuzuzela imiphefumlo kuKristu. Umahluko phakathi kukaWhitefield nabakwaWesley waka wafuna ukwenza ukungavani ngelinye ixesha; kodwa njengoko babefunde ubulali esikolweni sikaKristu, ukunyamezelana nobubele kwabenza baxolelana. Babengenalo ixesha lokuxabana, lo gama imposiso nobugwenxa bukhula kuyo yonke indawo, naboni besihla ukuya kwantshabalalo.IE18 233.3

Abakhonzi bakaThixo babehamba kwindlela enzima. Emva kwexesha abaninzi kwisifundisi baveza ubundlobongela obuzimiseleyo, zaza iingcango zamabandla zavalwa ngakwinkolo enyulu nakwabo babeyivakalisa. Ikhondo lesifundisi lokubasingela phantsi besepulpitini lavuselela iziqalelo zobumnyama, ukungazi, nobugwenxa. Kwaba kaninzi uJohn Wesley esinda ekufeni ngommangaliso wenceba kaThixo. Yayisithi ingqumbo yesixuku yakuvuka ukuba imchase, kubonakale ingekho indlela yokusinda, ingelosi, ikwimo yomntu yayisiza ecaleni kwakhe, isixuku siwe sihlehle, aze umkhonzi kaKristu adlule ekhuselekile kuloo ndawo yengozi.IE18 233.4

Ethetha ngokuhlangulwa kwakhe kwisixuku esasinengqumbo kwesinye sezi ziganeko, wathi: “Abaninzi bazama ukundilahla phantsi ngexesha sasisihla endulini emtyibilizi sisiya edolophini; bebona kakuhle ukuba, ukuba bendingathi ndiwe phantsi, ndandingayi kube ndivuke. Sekunjalo, andizange ndikhubeke, ndingazange ndityibilike nakancinane, ndada ndaba ndiphume ngokupheleleyo ezandleni zabo. . . . Nangona abaninzi bazama ukundibamba ngekhola okanye ngeempahla, ukuba bandiwise, abazange bakwazi ukuqinisa konke: wabamnye owabamba ilaphu elaliyingxowa yebhatyi yam yangaphantsi, eyasala eyibambile; enye ekwakukho kuyo imali yephepha, yakrazuka kodwa kwasala esinye isigregrana sayo. . . . Enye indoda eyayifuna kakhulu isemva kwam, yandibetha kaliqela ngentonga enkulu yomoki; ekwakunokuthi ukuba indibethe ngayo kwaba kanye apha entloko ngasemva, ibe isinde kuyo yonke enye inkathazo. Ntonje, kwakusithi lonke ixesha igalela, igalelo elo, nam andazi ukuba njani, lisuke liphume ecaleni; kuba ndingenako ukuphuma nokuba kungasekunene okanye ngasekhohlo. . . . Omnye weza engxamile ephuma phakathi kwengxinano, waphakamisa ingalo ukuba abethe, ngequbuliso yasuka yawa, wandiphulula ngesandla kwintloko yam, wathi, ‘Azisathambe nje iinwele zakhe!” . . . Awonamadodaokuqala antliziyo zayo zaguqukayo yayingamakroti edolophu, abaphathi bomxukuxela ngawo wonke amaxesha, enye yawo yayilwela ukuzuza ukuwongwa kwiigadi ezingenanto. . . . IE18 234.1

“Ububele bamanyathelo uThixo asilungiselela ngawo intando yaKhe! Kwiminyaka emibini edlulileyo, ndagruzulwa emagxeni liqhekeza lesitena. Kwakusemva komnyaka emva kokuba ndandibethwe ngelitye embonjeni. Kwinyanga ephelileyo ndiye ndabethwa, kungorhatya kwakabini, kube kanye phambi kokuba ndingene edolophini, kwakhona emva kokuba siphumile; kodwa kokubini kwaba ngathi yinto engekhoyo: kuba, nangona omnye endibetha esifubeni ngamandla wakhe wonke, omnye andibethe emlonyeni ngamandla awenza igazi litsaze kwangoko, andivanga ntlungukuko kokubini oko kubethwa ngokungathi ndibethwe ngomcinga.” John Wesley, Works, vol. 3, pp. 297, 298.IE18 234.2

AmaMethodi aloo mihla yangaphambili—abantu nabashumayeli— banyamezela ukugculelwa nentshutshiso, konke kuvela kumalungu ebandla nakwabaphandle ekungakholweni kwabo ababenziwe umsindo kukungathethi kwabo kakuhle. Babeziswa ezinkundleni zomthetho—ezazizizo nje ngegama, kuba ubulungisa babunqabile kwiinkundla zelo xesha. Iziqhu zazingena kumakhaya ngamakhaya, zitshabalalisa iimpahla zendlu nezinye izinto, zisiba ezo zazizithanda, ziphatha dlakadlaka amadoda, abafazi nabantwana. Kwezinye iindawo kwakuxhonywa izaziso kwiindawo eziphangaleleyo, kubizwa abo babefuna ukwaphula iifestile nokuphanga izindlu zamaMethodi, ukuba bahlangane kwindawo nexesha elimisiweyo. Olu lwaphulo lomthetho lwaluvulekile kubantu nakumthetho kaThixo kwavunyelwa ukuba kwenzeke ngaphandle kokuthethiswa. Intshutshiso enocwangco yenziwa ngakubantu abasiphoso sabo kuphela yayikukufuna ukubuyiswa kweenyawo zaboni kwindlela yentshabalalo ziye kwindlela yobungcwele. IE18 234.3

UJohn Wesley wathi, ethetha ngezityholo yena namahlakani akhe ababe bekwa zona: “Abanye bathi iimfundiso zala madoda zibubuxoki, zineziphoso, kwaye zibaxiwe; nokuba zintsha, azizanga zaviwa kude kube ngoku; nokuba zinobuQuaker [ilungu loMbutho wabaHlobo], nokubaxwa, nobupopi. Konke oku kuzenzisa sele kuncothulwe neengcambu,njengokokuboniswengokubanzi ukuba,lonke isebe lale mfundiso liyimfundiso ecacileyo yesiBhalo echazwe lelethu ibandla. Ngoko ke, ayinako ukuba bubuxoki okanye ibe neempazamo, ngaphandle kokuba kuthiwe isiBhalo sinyanisile.” “Abanye bathi, ‘Imfundiso yabo inobungqongqo kakhulu; bayenza indlela eya ezulwini ukuba ibe mxinwa kakhulu.’ Ngokwenene, le yeyona nkcaso yokuqala, (njengoko yasondela ekubeni kuphela kwayo ixesha elide,) kwaye, ngokufihlakeleyo ikumazantsi kokungaphezu kwamawaka ako konke ukuchasa, okuvela ngeendlela ezahlukeneyo. Phofu, ingaba ziyenza indlela eya ezulwini icutheke ngaphezulu kunokuba iNkosi yethu nabafundi baYo bayenzayo? Ingaba imfundiso yabo ingqongqo kunaleyo yeBhayibhile? Qaphela ezi ndima zimbalwa zicacileyo: ‘Uze uyithande iNkosi uThixo wakho ngentliziyo yakho iphela, nangomphefumlo wakho uphela, ngengqondo yakho iphela.’ ‘Onke amazwi angewani abathe bawathetha abantu, baya kuphendula ngawo ngomhla womgwebo.’ ‘Nokuba niyadla, nokuba niyasela, nokuba nenza nayiphi na into, zenzeleni uzuko lukaThixo izinto zonke.’ IE18 235.1

“Ukuba imfundiso yabo ingqongqo ukudlula le, bafanele ukugxekwa; kodwa uyazi nawe kwisazela sakho ukuba ayinjalo. Ngubani onokuba nesuntswana lokungabi ngqongqo aze angalonakalisi ilizwi likaThixo? Lingaba linako nokuba leliphi igosa leemfihlelo zikaThixo ukufunyanwa lithembekile xa liguqula nokuba yeyiphi indawo engcwele efakiweyo? Hayi. Akukho nto linokuyithothisa, abakwenza kuthambe nantoni; unyanzelekile ukuba athi kubo bonke abantu, ‘Andikwazi ukusithoba isiBhalo size kwenikuthandayo, kufuneka nina ninyuke nize kuso, okanye nitshabalale ngonaphakade.’ Lo yayingowona mhlaba wesinye isikhalo esithandwayo esasingokungabi nabubele kwala madoda.’ Awanabubele, akunjalo? Ngayiphi indlela? Awabondli abalambileyo abambathise abaze? ‘Hayi; akunjalo: awasileli ngakule ndawo: kodwa awanabubele kakhulu ekugwebeni! Acinga ukuba akukho noyedwa onokusindiswa ngaphandle kwabo bendlela yawo.’”-- John Wesley, vol. 3, pp. 152, 153.IE18 235.2

Ukuhla kwasemoyeni okwakubonakala eNgilane kanye ngaphambi kweli xesha likaWesley, kakhulukazi kwakusisiphumo sokuchaswa kokufundiswa komthetho. AmaKristu amaninzi aqiniselweyo ayewuchithile umthetho wokuhle esithi amaKristu ke ngoko, awanyanzelekanga ukuba awugcine; nokuba, ikholwalikhululwe“kubukhobokabemisebenzielungileyo.” Abanye, nangona bekuvuma ukuma ngonaphakade komthetho, batsho ukuthi akunyanzelekanga ukuba abafundisi babanyanzele abantu ukuba bayithobele imiyalelo yawo, njengoko abo athe uThixo wabanyula ukuba basindiswe, “ngobabalo lwezulu olungenako ukuthintelwa nto, beya kukhokelelwa ekwenzeni okungcwele nokuhle,” lo gama abo bamiselwe intshabalalo engunaphakade, bangazange babe nawo amandla okuwuthobela umthetho ongcwele.IE18 236.1

Abanye, nabo bebambe ukuthi, abakhethiweyo abasokuze basilele elubabalweni, bengasayi kuze balahlekwe kukuthandwa lizulu,” bafikelela kweyona imbi kakhulu ingcamango ethi, “izenzo abazenzayo abakhohlakeleyo azisiso isono ncam, zingenako nokuthatyathwa njengeziganeko abazenza ukwaphula umthetho, nokuthi, ekugqibeleni, akukho nto ithi mabavume izono zabo okanye baziyeke ngokuthi baguquke.” McClintock and Strong, Cyclopedia, art. “Antinomians.” Ngoko ke, batsho besithi, nesona sono sibi kakhulu, esibonwa jikelele sikukwaphulwa okubi kakhulu komthetho wezulu, asisiso emehlweni kaThixo,” ukuba senziwe ngomnye wabanyuliweyo, “kuba silolunye kwiimpawu ezibalulekileyo zabanyulwa, kuba bengenakwenza nanye into engamkholisiyo uThixo okanye eyalelweyo ngumthetho.IE18 236.2

Ezi mfundiso zoyikekayo zifana twatse nemfundiso yamva nje yaba bathandwa kakhulu, abafundisi kunye nabo banolwazi ngoThixo — ethi akukho nto ingumthetho wezulu ongaguqukiyo nongumgangatho wokulungileyo, kodwa umgangatho wokuziphatha uboniswa ngumphakathi ngokwawo, kwaye usoloko uthe rhoqo unokuguquka. Zonke ezi ngcamango okanye iimbono ziyimpefumlelo yomoya omnye olawulayo—ngulowo owathi naphakathi kwabemi abangazange bone ezulwini, wawuqala umsebenzi wakhe wokuzama ukusingela phantsi izithintelo zobulungisa zomthetho kaThixo.IE18 236.3

Imfundiso yemiyalelo engcwele, emilisela isimilo sabantu ngendlela engenako ukuguqulwa, ikhokelele abaninzi ekuwulahleni ngokupheleleyo umthetho kaThixo. UWesley wama waqina ekuchaseni iimposiso zeetishala ezingabachasi-mthetho, wabonisa ukuba le mfundiso, eyathi yakhokelelaekuchaswenikomthetho, yayichasene neziBhalo. “Ubabalo lukaThixo, oluzisa usindiso lubonakele kubantu bonke.” “Kuba oku kuhle, kwamkelekile emehlweni oMsindisi wethu uThixo; onga yena bangasindiswa bonke abantu, bafikelele ekuyazini inyaniso. Kuba mnye uThixo; mnye nomlamli phakathi koThixo nabantu, umntu uKristu Yesu, lowo wazinikelayo ukuba abe yintlawulelo yokukhulula abantu bonke.” Tito 2:11; 1 Timoti 2:3-6. UMoya kaThixo unikwa ngesisa ukuze wonke umntu akwazi ukuyifumana indlela yosindiso. Kungoko uKristu, “yena elukhanyiso oluyinyaniso,” “ebakhanyiselayo abantu bonke [abeza] ehlabathini.” Yohane 1:9. Abantu basilela elusindisweni ngeenkani zabo zokusala isipho sobomi.” IE18 237.1

Ukuphendula kwibango lokuba, ekufeni kukaKristu, imiyalelo yemiThetho eliShumi yabhangiswa kunye nomthetho wamadini, uWesley wathi: “Umthetho wokuhle, owawuqukwe kwimiThetho eliShumi yaza yanyanzeliswa ngabaprofeti, akazange ayisuse [uKristu]. Yayingelilo icebo lokuza kwaKhe ukurhoxisa nayiphi indawo yawo. Lo ngumthetho ongasokuze wophulwe, ‘omi uzinzile ulingqina lezulu.’ . . . Lo wawukho kwasekuqalekeni komhlaba, “ungabhalwanga emacwecweni elitye,’ kodwa ezintliziyweni zabo bonke oonyana babantu, ngexesha yayiphuma ezandleni zomdali. Nokuba ayenjani amagama, ngako nje ukuba abhalwe ngomnwe kaThixo, ngoku athe acimeka ngenxa yesono, ukanti awanako ukucimeka ngokupheleleyo, thina sisenako ukwazi phakathi kokulungileyo nokubi. Yonke indawo yomthetho kufuneka ihlale inyanzelekile kubo bonke abantu, nakuzo zonke izizukulwana; njengoko ingaxhomekanga kwixesha okanye indawo, okanye naziphi iimeko ezinokuguquka, kodwa ngokwendalo kaThixo, nendalo yomntu, nokungabi nakuguquka kolwalamano lwazo, enye nenye.IE18 237.2

“‘Andize kuchitha, ndize kuzalisekisa.’ . . . Ngaphandle kwengxoxo, into ayithethayo kule ndawo ithi (ngokuhambelana nako konke okungaphambili nokulandelayo),--ndize ukuze ndiwumisele ngokuphelela kwawo, sekukho konke ukuwugwengula phezulu kwabantu: ndize ukuze ndibeke ekuhleni ngokupheleleyo nangokucacileyo nokuba ibiyintoni ebimnyama okanye isithele apho kuwo: ndize ukuba ndivakalise ukubaluleka okuyinyaniso nokupheleleyo kwayonayiphi indawoyawo; ukuba ndibonise ubudenobubanzi,nokuphelelakonke, wawo wonke umthetho oqukwe kuyo leyo, nokuphakama nobunzulu, ubunyulu obungenakuqondakala nomoya wawo kuwo wonke amasebe awo.”--Wesley, sermon 25.IE18 238.1

UWesley wayevakalisa ukuhambelana okugqibeleleyo komthetho negospile. “Kukho, ke ngoko, uqhagamshelano olusondelelene kakhulu olunokubonwa, phakathi komthetho negospile. Kwelinye icala, umthetho usoloko uvula indlela, usikhombe kwigospile; kwelinye, igospile, isoloko isikhokelela ekuwuzalisekiseni ngokuthe gingci umthetho. Umthetho, umzekelo, ufuna ukuba sithande uThixo, sithande ummelwane wethu, sibe nobulali, okanye sibe ngcwele. Siziva singazilungelanga ezi zinto; ewe, “kubantu le nto ayinakwenzeka;” kodwa sibona isithembiso sikaThixo sokusinika olo thando, nokusenza ukuba sithobeke, sibe nobulali, sibe ngcwele: sibambelela kule gospile, yezi ndaba zovuyo; senzelwa ngokokholo lwethu; ukuze ‘ibango lomthetho lizaliseke kuthi,’ ngokholo olukuKristu Yesu. . . .IE18 238.2

“Kwelona nqanaba liphezulu leentshaba zegospile kaKristu,” wathi uWesley, “ngabo ‘bagweba umthetho’ ngokwawo, baze ‘bathethe ububi ngomthetho;’ abafundisa abantu ukwaphula (ukuchitha, ukukhulula, ukuqhawula ukunyanzelisa) ungabi mnye kuphela, nokuba ngowona mncinane okanye mkhulu, kodwa yonke imithetho, ngokukrwela nje. . . . Eyona imangalisayo kuzo zonke iimeko ezihamba nolu lahlekiso lukhulu, yinto yokuba, abo bazinikeleyo kulo, ngokwenene, bakholelwa ukuba bazukisa uKristu ngokuwulahla umthetho waKhe, nokuba bayamphakamisa uKristu, lo gama betshabalalisa imfundiso yaKhe! Kunjalo, bamzukisa kanye njengoko wenzayo uYuda [Iskariyoti] xa wayesithi, ‘Aa, Rabhi! Wamanga, nokumanga.’ Kanti ke, [uYesu] wayenokusuka nje athi kubo bonke, ‘Nimngcatsha uNyana woMntu ngokumanga na?’ Asinto yimbi ngaphandle kokumngcatsha ngokumanga ukuthetha ngegazi laKhe, kususwe isithsaba saKhe; ukuyenza ibe yinto elula nayiphi indawo yomthetho waKhe, phantsi kokwenza ngokungathi kuqhutyelwa phambili igospile yaKhe. Kanti ke, ngokwenene, akukho nomnye oya kusinda kwesi simangalo, oshumayela ukholo nangayiphi indlela, mhlawumbi ngokuthe ngqo okanye ngendlela esecaleni eyenza ukuba kubekwe bucala naliphi isebe lentobelo: oshumayela uKristu ukuze acime, okanye atyhafise nangayiphi indlela, nowona mncinane wemithetho kaThixo.” Wesley, sermon 25.IE18 238.3

Kwabo babekhuthaza ukuthi, “ukushumayelwa kwegospile kuphendula zonke iziphelo zomthetho,” uWesley waphendula wathi: “Oku sikukhanyela ngokupheleleyo. Akuphenduli kwaesokuqala isiphelo somthetho, esisesi, ukoyisela abantu ngesono, ukuvuswa kwabo basalele emngciphekweni wesihogo.” Umpostile uPawulos uthi, “ngomthetho kukho ukwaziwa kwesono;” “ade abe umntu woyisakele sisono, uya kuziva elidinga ngokwenene igazi elicamagushayo likaKristu. . . . ‘abo baphilileyo,’ njengoko iNkosi yethu ngokwaYo isitsho, ‘abalidingi igqirha, kodwa ngabo bagulayo [abalidingayo].’ Kulihlazo ke ngoko, ukunika igqirha abo baphilileyo, okanye abo bacinga ukuba baphilile. Kufuneka kuqala uboyisele ukuthi bayagula; kungenjalo, abasayi kukubulela ngokubulaleka kwakho. Kuyimpoxo ekwanjalo ukunikela uKristu kwabo bantliziyo yabo iphilileyo, ingazange yaka yatyumka.” Wesley, sermon 25. IE18 239.1

Ngokunjalo, ngeli xesha wayeshumayela igospile yobabalo lukaThixo, uWesley, njengeNkosi yakhe, wazama ukuwenza mkhulu wona umthetho, nokuwenza uzukiseke.” Ngokuthembeka, wawufeza umsebenzi awayewunikwe nguThixo, zaqaqamba kakhulu iziphumo awavunyelwa ukuba azibone. Ekupheleni kobomi bakhe obude, obabungaphezu kwamashumi asibhozo eminyaka—engaphezu kwesiqingatha senkulungwane yachithelwa emsebenzini wokujikeleza elungiselela—abalandeli bakhe ababezinikele beyimiphefumlo engaphezu kwesiqingatha sesigidi. Sona isihlwele esathingemisebenzi yakhe sakhutshwa kumgxobhozo nokuthotyelwa phantsi sisono samiswa kubomi obuphakamileyo nobunyulu, nabanye abaninzi abathi, ngemfundiso yakhe, bafikelela kumava anzulu natyebileyo, bonke bengasayi kuze baziwe lude lonke usapho lwabahlangulweyo lubuthelane ebukumkanini bukaThixo. Ubomi bakhe bunika isifundo esingenako ukumiselwa ixabiso kuye wonke umKristu. Akwaba ukholo nokuthobeka nenzondelelo engatyhafiyo, ukuzincama, nokuzinikela kwalo mkhonzi kaKristu bekungabonakala emabandleni anamhlanje!IE18 239.2