Ngesikhathi lapho uLuther ayevula khona iBhayibhili elalivalelwe abantu baseGermany, uTyndale wafuqwa nguMoya kaNkulunkulu ukuthi ayenze ngokufanayo elizweni laseNgilandi. IBhayibhili likaWycliffe laliphendulelwe elimini lwesikhiwa lisukela elimini lwesiLatin, elalilamaphutha amanengi. Lalingakaze litshicilelwe, njalo intengo yokwenza amanye yayiphezulu kakhulu, okwakusitsho ukuthi abantu abalutshwana abanothileyo yibo kuphela ababesenelisa ukulithola, njalo ngokuba lalingavunyelwa ukubalwa ngenxa yemthetho yebandla, lalingahanjiswanga ebantwini kakhulu. Ngomnyaka ka1516 kusasele umnyaka owodwa ukuthi imbhalo kaLuther inamathiselwe ethempelini, uErasmus wayekhiphe iThestamenti eLitsha ngolimi lwesiLatin njalo lesiGreek. Manje ngokokuqala ilizwi likaNkulunkulu laselikhona ngolimi lwakuqala. Kuleli iBhayibhili amaphutha amanengi aqondiswa, njalo amazwi amanengi abekwa ngokucaca. Lokhu kwabangela ukuthi abantu abanengi ababelemfundo ephezulu babelokuqedisisa okungcono ngeqiniso, njalo kwanika umfutho umsebenzi weMvuselelo. Kodwa umphakathi wawulokhe ungelandlela yokuthola ilizwi likaNkulunkulu. UTyndale wayezaqedelela umsebenzi kaWycliffe ngokunika abantu bakibo iBhayibhili. {GC 245.1} IEP 245.1
Wayengumfundi ozimiseleyo njalo owayefuna ukuthola iqiniso, wayefumane ivangeli phakathi kweThestament Elitsha elaliyenzwe nguErasmus ngolimi lwesiGreek. Waqala ukutshumayela ngesibindi etshela abantu ukuthi imfundiso zonke kwakumele zihlolwe ngeBhayibhili. Nxa wayephendula amazwi kapapa wokuthi ibandla kuphela yilo elalinikwe iBhayibhili njalo yilo kuphela elalisenelisa ukulichaza uTyndale waphendula wathi: “Liyakwazi yini ukuthi ngubani owafundisa ingqunqulu ukuzingela? Ngokunjalo uNkulunkulu ofananayo ufundisa abantwana bakhe abalambileyo indlela yokuthola uBaba wabo elizwini lakhe. Kulokuthi lisinike uMbhalo, yini elisifihlela wona, yini futhi elitshisa labo abafundisa ngawo, njalo ngabe bekusiya ngesifiso senu belizatshisa uMbhalo ngokwawo.”- (D’Aubigne, Hstory of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, b. 18, ch. 4). {GC 245.2} IEP 245.2
Ukutshumayela kukaTyndale kwenza ukuthi abantu abanengi bafise ukwazi iqiniso njalo inengi labo lamukela iqiniso. Kodwa abapristi babengalalanga nxa konke lokhu kwakusenzakala, wathi esuka kule indawo benza imizamo yonke yokubhidliza umsebenzi ayewenzile. Ezikhathini ezinengi babephumelela ukukwenza lokhu. “Kuyini okumele kwenziwe,” wazibuza uTyndale. “Nxa ngihlanyela endaweni eyodwa, isitha siyahlasela insimu yonke engisuka kuyo. Ngeke ngibe sendaweni ezinengi ngesikhathi esifananayo. Oh! Ngabe amaKrestu ebeleBhayibhili ezandleni zabo ngolimi lwakibo, bebezazimela phambi kwabaphathi bebandla. Nxa iBhayibhili lingekho kunzima ukwenza ukuthi abantukazana bagxile eqinisweni.” (Ibid, b. 18, ch.4). {GC 246.1} IEP 246.1
Omunye umcabango wagcwala enqondweni yakhe. “Kwakuselimini lwaseIsrayeli, amahubo ayehlatshelwa ngalo ethempelini likaJehova; kambe akufanelanga ukuthi ivangeli likhulume ulimi lwaseNgilandi phakathi kwethu?... Kambe kufanele ibandla libelokukhanya okuncane emini kulasemadabukakusa na? ...AmaKrestu kumele abale iThestamenti eLitsha elimini lwakibo.” Izifundiswa zebandla lababalisi babephikisana bodwa. Kuphela ngokusebenzisa iBhayibhili abantu babengenelisa ukufinyelela eqinisweni. “Omunye ulandela isifundiswa lesi, lomunye lesiyana...Kodwa bonke laba abalobi bayaphikisana. Sizahlukanisa kanjani phakathi kwalowo oqondileyo lalowo ongaqondanga? Njani?... Kuphela ngelizwi likaNkulunkulu.”- (Ibid, b. 18, ch. 4). {GC 246.2} IEP 246.2
Kwakungekho ngemva kwesikhathi eside lapho omunye wezikhwicamfundo zebandla nxa wayephikisana laye, owathi: “Sasingcono singelamthetho kaNkulunkulu kulaleyi ekapapa.” UTyndale waphendula wathi: “Ngiphikisa upapa lemithetho yakhe yonke; njalo nxa uNkulunkulu evikela umphefumulo wami, eminyakeni ezayo ngizayenza ukuthi umfana obamba ikhuba emasimini abekwazi iBhayibhili okwedlula wena.” — (Anderson, Annals of the English Bible, page 19.) {GC 246.3} IEP 246.3
Injongo leyi ayeseqale ukuyithokozelela, eyokunika abantu bakibo elizweni laseNgilandi iThestamenti eLitsha ngolimi lwakibo yaseyikhulile ngakho waqala umsebenzi wokukwenza lokhu. Ngemva kokusuka emzini wakhe ngenxa yokuhlukunyezwa, wahamba edolobheni laseLondon, kule indawo okwesikhatshana waqhubeka ngomsebenzi wakhe engaphanjaniswanga. Kodwa ngokwesibili udlame lwabathungameli bebandla lwenza ukuthi abaleke njalo. Konke kwasekubonakala sengathi kwasekuvaliwe phambi kwakhe, wakhetha ukuyathola ukuphepha elizweni laseGermany. Lapha yikho aqala khona ukwenza iThestamenti eLitsha ngolimi lwesikhiwa. Umsebenzi wakhe wamiswa kabili, kodwa nxa wayenqatshelwa ukusebenza edolobheni elilodwa, wayedlulela kwelinye. Ekucineni waqala uhambo lokuya edolobheni laseWorms, lapho eminyakeni embalwa eyayedlule, uLuther wayemele ivangeli phambi kwephalamende. Kuleli dolobho elidala kwakulabangane abanengi beMvuselelo, njalo kule indawo uTyndale waqhubeka ngomsebenzi wakhe engaphanjaniswa. AmaBhayibhili azinkulungwane ezintathu aphela, njalo amanye alandela ngomnyaka ofananayo. {GC 246.4} IEP 246.4
Ngokuzimisela okukhulu lokubekezela waqhubeka ngomsebenzi wakhe. Loba kwakusobala ukuthi ababusi baseNgilandi babefake amabutho ukuthi avikele umngcele wabo elwandle, ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lalingeniswa elizweni lithwalelwa eLondon ngendlela ezitshiyeneyo, njalo lalihanjiswa endaweni zonke zelizwe. Abathungameli bebandla bazama ukunyathezela umsebenzi lowu kodwa ngeze. Ubhishopi waseDurham ngelinye ilanga wathenga amaBhayibhili wonke komunye owayewathengisa, efuna ukuthi ayewatshisa wonke, elenjongo yokuthi ngale indlela wayezamisa umsebenzi lowu. Kodwa, lokhu kwabangela ukuthi basebenzise imali leyi ukuthenga amanye, ayengeke abekhona ngabe wayengayenzanga njalo. Ngemva kokubotshwa kwakhe uTyndale wanikwa ithuba lokuthi wayezakhululwa kuphela nxa wayezaveza amabizo abantu ababemsize ukuthi ayenelise ukwenza amaBhayibhili lawa. Waphendula wathi ubhishopi waseDurham wayesize okwedlula wonke umuntu, ngokuthenga amabhuku ayesesele ngentengo enkulu, ngokwenza njalo wayebangele ukuthi aqhubekele phambili ngesibindi. {GC 247.1} IEP 247.1
UTyndale wathengiswa ezandleni zezitha zakhe njalo, wahlala ejele okwenyanga ezimbalwa. Ekucineni wafakazela ukholo lwakhe ngokufa, kodwa izikhali ayezenzile zenza ukuthi amasotsha amanye alwe empini okweminyaka eminengi kuze kuyefika lamhlanje. {GC 247.2} IEP 247.2
ULatimer wabambelela emazwini wokuthi iBhayibhili kwakumele libalwe ngolimi lwabantu enkonzweni. Umbhali weBhayibhili eliNgcwele nguNkulunkulu ngokwakhe,” njalo iBhayibhili leli lithatha amandla womlobi walo. “Akula nkosi, lombusi, lomahluleli ... kodwa bonke kumele balalele...ilizwi lakhe.” “Asizameni ukungathathi ezinye indlela, kodwa asivumeleni ukuthi ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lisihole; asingahambini ngemva...kwabokhokho bethu, kumbe sidinge lokho abakwenzayo, kodwa lokho okwakumele bakwenze.”- (Hugh Latimer, “First Sermon Preached Before King Edward VI.”) {GC 248.1} IEP 248.1
UBarnes loFrith abangane abathembekileyo bakaTyndale, baphakama ukuba bamele iqiniso. Kwalandela uRidleys loCranmer. Abathungameli laba beMvuselelo eNgilandi babengamadoda afundileyo, njalo abanengi babo babengabantu abahlonitshwayo ebandleni leRoma ngenxa yokulunga kwabo. Ukuphikisana kwabo lopapa kwakungenxa yamaphutha ababewafundile ayelethwe ngupapa. Ulwazi lwabo ngezenzo zaseBhabhiloni lwenza ukuthi amazwi wabo abelesisindo ebantwini. {GC 248.2} IEP 248.2
“Manje ngithanda ukubuza umbuzo oyisimanga?” watsho uLatimer, “Ngubani umbhishopi njalo lomeli kapapa ophakeme okwedlula bonke elizweni lonke laseNgilandi? ... Ngiyabona ukuthi lilalele njalo lifuna ukuthi ngilinike ibizo lakhe...Ngizalitshela: nguSathane...uhlala ekhona ethempelini lakhe, umbize nxa uthanda, uhlala ekhona ekhaya;... uhlala ebambe ikhuba lakhe... awungeke umthole ehleli nje engenzi lutho, ngiyalithembisa... Lapho uSathane ahlala khona,... endaweni leyi kumele amabhuku wonke asuswe kodwa kufakwe amakhandlela, amaBhayibhili lawo kumele asuswe, kodwa kubuye amangqongqo, kususwe ukukhanya kwevangeli, kodwa kubuye ukukhanya kwamakhandlela, lasemini libalele ...phansi ngesiphambano sikaKrestu, phezulu ngeziphambano zokugqizwa; ... phansi ngokwembathisa abaswelayo, phezulu ngokucecisa izithombe lamatshe; phezulu ngokuphakamisa amasiko omuntu lemithetho yakhe, phansi ngemithetho kaNkulunkulu njalo lelizwi lakhe eliNgcwele... Sengathi abaphathi bebandla bengakhuthalela ukuhlanyela inhlanyelo elungileyo ngendlela uSathane akhuthalele ngayo ukuhlanyela inhlanyelo embi!” (Ibid, “Sermon of the Plough.” {GC 248.3} IEP 248.3
Imfundiso enkulu edlula zonke eyaphakanyiswa ngaBavuseleli laba, efanana laleyi eyayifundiswa ngamaWaldensi, loWycliffe, loJohn Huss, loLuther, loZwingle, njalo labanye abahlanganyela labo, yayingeyokuphakamisa ilizwi likaNkulunkulu njengensika yokukholwa njalo lokuphila. Baphika imithetho kapapa, lemihlangano yelizwe, labokhokho, lamakhosi, eyayibunjelwe ukuthungamela umzwangedwa endabeni zokukholwa. IBhayibhili kuphela yilo elayiyinsika, ngemfundiso yalo bahlola yonke imfundiso eyayikhona. Ukukholwa kuNkulunkulu lelizwi lakhe kwalondoloza amadoda lawa angcwele nxa babenikela impilo zabo emlilweni. “Duduzeka,” watsho uLatimer nxa wayetshela omunye wabangane bakhe owayesemlilweni etshiswa, “sizakhanyisa isibani esifananayo ngomusa kaNkulunkulu, elizweni laseEngland, engilethemba lokuthi alisoke licitshwe.”- (Works of Hugh Latimer. Vol. 1, p. xiii). {GC 249.1} IEP 249.1
Elizweni laseScotland intanga zeqiniso ezazihlanyelwe nguColumba, labanye ababesebenza laye zazingakabhujiswa zaphela. Okweminyaka engamakhulu amanengi ngemva kokuthi amabandla aseEngland ayesekhothamele inkolo yeRoma, abantu baseScotland baqhubeka bebambelele enkolweni yabo. Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi inkolo yeRoma yaqala ukujula kule indawo, njalo yakhula okwedlula ezinye indawo. Kwakungekho eyinye indawo okwakulobunyama obudlala eScotland. Loba kwakunjalo kwangena insaba zokukhanya ezaqala ukususa ubunyama zaletha ithemba lokuthi ilanga laselizaphuma. Abantu bohlanga lwamaLollards, ababevele eNgilandi bethwele iBhayibhili lemfundiso zikaWycliffe, benza imizamo emikhulu eyokugcina ulwazi lwevangeli, njalo eminyakeni yonke eyalandelayo babelabafakazi balo njalo labanye abafela iqiniso. {GC 249.2} IEP 249.2
Ngemva kokuvuleka kweMvuselelo enkulu, kwabuya imbhalo kaLuther, njalo kwalandela iThestamenti eLitsha elalibhalwe nguTyndale. Bengananzelelwa ngabaphathi, abavangeli laba baqala ukusebenza ezintabeni, bekhanyisa isibane seqiniso esasesicitsha elizweni leScotland, njalo basusa umsebenzi weRoma owawulethe ubunyama okweminyaka engamakhulu amane. {GC 249.3} IEP 249.3
Igazi lenceku zikaNkulunkulu lenza ukuthi umsebenzi lowu ube lomfutho. Abathungameli bebandla, ngemva kokunanzelela ingozi eyayiphambi kwabo, baqala ukuletha emlilweni abanye bamadodana ayelungile elizweni laseScotland. Izenzo zabo zenza ukuthi kubengathi babebeka isiduli sokutshumayela, lapho amazwi abafakazi laba ababesifa ayelalelwa ngumuntu wonke endaweni zonke, njalo ayevuselela ebantwini isifiso sokususa uchuku lweRoma elizweni lakibo. {GC 249.4} IEP 249.4
UHamilton loWishart, amadodana ayelesimo sesikhosini ngokuzalwa, babelabalandeli abanengi ababebatshumayezile, labo banikela impilo zabo emlilweni. Kodwa ekutshisweni kwabo kwavuka omunye owayengasoke athuliswe ngamalangabi, omunye owayezasetshenziswa nguNkulunkulu ukubethela isikhonkwane sokucina phezu kombuso kapapa, elizweni laseScotland. {GC 250.1} IEP 250.1
UJohn Knox wayefulathele amasiko webandla, kanye lemfundiso ezazingekho eBhayibhilini, ngoba wayefuna ukuqedisisa amaqiniso welizwi likaNkulunkulu, njalo imfundiso kaWilshart yayenze ukuthi aqinise isinqumo sakhe sokuquma ubudlelwane bakhe lebandla leRoma, njalo azihlanganise labaVuseleli ababehlukunyezwa. {GC 250.2} IEP 250.2
Ngemva kokuthi abangane bakhe bamcebise ukuthi athathe isikhundla sokuba ngumtshumayeli, waqhaqhazela esesaba ukwetheswa isikhundla esiphezulu kangaka, njalo kwaze kwaba ngemva kokuzivalela lokulwisana lemicabango, lapho amukela khona umsebenzi lowu. Kodwa ngemva kokwamukela umsebenzi lowu, waqhubekela phambili ngokuzimisela njalo lokumela iqiniso ekuphileni kwakhe. UMvuseleli lowu owayelenhliziyo eqotho wayengesabi loba ngobubodwa ubuso bomuntu. Amalangabi wokutshiswa kwenceku ezithembekileyo, athatha indawo yokwengeza umfutho wokuhambisa ivangeli ayelawo. Loba nje ihloka lababulali lalime phezu kwekhanda lakhe, waqhubeka ngokulwela ukuba zonke imfundiso zokukhonza izithixo zisuswe ebandleni. {GC 250.3} IEP 250.3
Nxa wayeselethwe phambi kwendlovukazi yaseScotland, lapho abathungameli abanengi beMvuselelo ababefike baqhaqhazela khona, uJohn Knox wamela iqiniso ngesibindi. Wayengasomuntu onqotshwa ngamazwi amahle, njalo wayengasuye owesaba amazwi wokwethuselwa. Indlovukazi yambeka icala lokufundisa amanga. Wayefundise abantu ukuthi bamukele imfundiso eyayingavunyelwa elizweni, wamtshela njalo, ukuthi ngokwenza njalo wayephule umthetho kaNkulunkulu ofundisa abantu ukuthi kumele bahloniphe amakhosi. UKnox waphendula ngamazwi alukhuni wathi: {GC 250.4} IEP 250.4
“Njengoba imfundiso eqotho ingatholanga amandla kumbe umbuso kubabusi bomhlaba, kodwa yawathola kuNkulunkulu kuphela, ngokunjalo abalandeli bayo akumelanga bakhethe inkolo yabo ngokulandela imicabango yababusi. Ngoba esikhathini esinengi kuvamile ukuthi ababusi yibo abangaqedisisiyo okwedlula bonke abantu inkolo kaNkulunkulu eqotho...Ngabe bonke abenzalo kaAbrahama babelandela inkolo kaFaro, umbusi ababengaphansi kwakhe okweminyaka eminengi, ngiyakubuza mama ohloniphekayo, yiphi inkolo ebizabakhona emhlabeni na? Kumbe ngabe abantu bonke ngensuku zabafundi babelandele inkolo yababusi beRoma, yiphi inkolo ebizaba khona emhlabeni lamhlanje na?... Ngakhoke ndlovukazi, lawe sungananzelela ukuthi abantu akumelanga balandele inkolo yababusi kodwa baxwayiswe ngokucaca ukuthi kumele bebahloniphe.” {GC 250.5} IEP 250.5
UMarry wamphendula wathi: “Lina lichaza ilizwi likaNkulunkulu ngeyinye indlela, njalo labathungameli bebandla leRoma balichaza ngeyinye indlela, ngubani okumele ngimlalele, njalo ngubani okumele ahlulele?” {GC 251.1} IEP 251.1
UMvuseleli wamphendula wathi: “Kumele ukholwe uNkulunkulu, onguye okhuluma ilizwi lakhe ngokucaca, njalo ngaphandle kwalokho ilizwi elikufundisa khona akumelanga ulalele muntu. Ilizwi likaNkulunkulu licacile ngokwalo; njalo nxa kubonakala sengathi kukhona okungazwisisekiyo kweyinye indawo, uMoya oyiNgcwele, ongakaze uziphikise, uyachaza into efananayo kwezinye indawo, ukwenzela ukuthi kungabikhona ukuthandabuza kulabo abangaqedisisiyo.”- (David Laing, The collected Works of John Knox, vol. 2, pp.281, 284.) {GC 251.2} IEP 251.2
Lawa kwakungamanye wamaqiniso ayekhulunywa nguJohn Knox, loba nje wayefaka impilo yakhe engozini, nxa wayekhuluma phambi kwamakhosi. Ngesibindi esifananayo, waqhubeka ngomsebenzi wakhe, ethandaza njalo esilwa izimpi zikaJehova, ilizwe laseScotland laze lathola ukukhululwa emandleni kapapa. {GC 251.3} IEP 251.3
Elizweni laseNgilandi ukubekwa kwenkolo yeMvuselelo njengenkolo yelizwe kwehla, kodwa akuzange kubangele ukuthi ukuhlukunyezwa kuphele. Loba nje imfundiso ezinengi zebandla leRoma zasezikhitshiwe, ezinye imfundiso zabo zasala. Amandla kapapa aphikwa njalo asuswa elizweni, kodwa endaweni yakhe inkosi yelizwe yafakwa njengomthungameli webandla. Enkonzweni zebandla kwakulokhe kulebanga elide phakathi kwalo lokuhlambuluka kwevangeli. Iqiniso elimqoka lokukhululeka kwezenkolo lalingakazwisiseki. Loba nje izenzo zochuku ezazisenziwa libandla leRoma zokuhlukumeza labo ababephikisana lemfundiso yebandla zasezingasayenziwa ngababusi abasebekhethe ukwamukela imfundiso yeMvuselelo, kodwa amalungelo abantu okuzikhethela inkolo yabo ayelokhe enyathezelwe. Bonke abantu babebanjwa ngamandla ukuthi bamukele imfundiso zebandla njalo lendlela zokukhonza ezazisekelwa lilizwe. Bonke abantu ababephikisa umthetho lowu babehlukunyezwa ngendlela ezehlukeneyo, kwabanye kwakulukhuni kwabanye njalo kubuthakathaka okweminyaka engamakhulu amanengi. {GC 251.4} IEP 251.4
Ngaphansi kweminyaka leyi abafundisi abanengi baxotshwa ezikhundleni zabo. Abantu bonke babevinjelwa ukukhetha amabandla wokukhonza ahlukene laleli elalibekwe libandla lesizwe, abanye babesamukela isigwebo sokuhlawuliswa njalo abanye babegwetshelwa ukuvalelwa emajele. Wonke amalunga athembekileyo ayekhethe ukuthi akhonze uNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka, acina ebona kufanele ukuthi bayehlanganyela ezihotsheni lasezintabeni phakathi kobusuku, kwezinye izikhathi phakathi kwezixuku, ezazibonakala njengethempeli eladalwa nguNkulunkulu ngokwakhe. Abantwana bakaNkulunkulu ababehlakazekile njalo behlukumezekile babehlangana bethululela inhliziyo zabo kuye ngemikhuleko langokudumisa. Kodwa loba nje babesebenzisa ukunanzelela okukhulu, inengi labo lahlukunyezwa ngenxa yokholo lwabo. Amajele agcwala aze aphuphuma. Imuli lazo zaqanyulwa phakathi. Abantu abanengi bathola ukuphephela emazweni akhatshana. Loba konke lokhu kwakusenzakala uNkulunkulu wayelokhe ethungamela abantu bakhe, njalo ukuhlukunyezwa kwakungeke kubelamandla wokuthulisa ubufakazi babo. Inengi labo lachapha ulwandle baya endaweni yaseAmerica lapho abafika khona babeka isisekelo sokukhululeka ekukholweni njalo lasekubusweni kwelizwe okuyinsika yelizwe leli eliphakemeyo kuze kube lakathesi. {GC 252.1} IEP 252.1
Ngokunjalo njengasensukwini zabafundi, ukuhlukunyezwa kwabalandeli bakaNkulunkulu kwabangela ukuthi ivangeli lihanjiswe phambili. Phakathi kwemigodi emajele eyayigcwele abantu, omunye wabo okwakuthiwa nguJohn Banyan wayephefumula umoya wasezulwini, njalo endaweni leyi wabhala inganekwane yohambo lwamakholwa besuka endaweni zokuhlupheka besiya elizweni elikhethekileyo. Sekwedlule iminyaka engamakhulu amabili, kodwa ilizwi lakhe elaliphuma entolongweni yaseBedford, lilokhe likhuluma ngamandla amakhulu enhliziyweni zabantu. Ugwalo lwakhe olulesihloko esithi Pilgrims Progress njalo lelinye elithi Grace Abounding to The Chief Sinners asethungamele inyawo ezinengi endleleni yokuphila. {GC 252.2} IEP 252.2
Amadoda afanana labo Baxter, labo Flavel, njalo loAlleine, lamanye amadoda ayelezipho, lemfundo njalo lokholo olujulileyo, aphakama amela ukholo olwaphiwa abangcwele endulo. Umsebenzi owafezwa ngamadoda lawa ngeke utshabalaliswe yimizamo lemithetho efakwa ngababusi. Ugwalo lukaFlavel olubizwa ngokuthi Fountain of Life njalo loluthi Method of Grace selufundise inkulungwane zabantu ukuthi zigcinise njani imphefumulo yabo kuMelusi onguKrestu. Ugwalo lukaBaxter olulesihloko esithi Reformed Pastor selubonise ukuthi luyisibusiso ebantwini abanengi abalesifiso sokuvuselela umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, njalo logwalo lwakhe olulesihloko esithi Saints’ Everlasting Rest selufeze umsebenzi walo wokuthungamela imphefumulo ekuphumuleni okubekelwe abantu bakaNkulunkulu. {GC 252.3} IEP 252.3
Ngemva kweminyaka elikhulu eyalandelayo, ngosuku lapho okwakulobunyama obukhulu kwezenkolo uWhitefield loWesleys baqhamuka njengezibane zikaNkulunkulu. Ngaphansi kombuso webandla elalifakwe ngumbuso welizwe laseNgilandi, abantu belizwe leli basebamukele inkolo elulaza iqiniso eyayisibangela ukuthi kubenzima ukwehlukanisa inkolo yabo lenkolo yokukhonzwa kwezithombe. Ukukhonzwa kwemvelo kwaba yisifundo esasithakazelelwa ngabathungameli bebandla njalo lokhu kwaba yinsika yemfundiso yabo. Izikhulu nxa zazikhuluma phakathi kwabantu zazichothoza ukuzehlisa njalo babeziphakamisa ngokuthi bona babephezu kwalokho ababekubiza ngokuthi yikuthathela izinto phezulu. Labo ababesezingeni eliphansi ngokwezigaba zempilo batshiywa besebunyameni njalo batshiywa ebubini ababephila phakathi kwabo, ngesikhathi esifananayo ibandla lalingaselaso isibindi kumbe ukukholwa okwakufanele ukuxhasa iqiniso elaselilahlelwe phansi. {GC 253.1} IEP 253.1
Imfundiso enkulu yokwamukelwa phambi kaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokukholwa, eyafundiswa ngokucaca nguLuther yayisifiphele ebantwini abanengi, njalo imfundiso yebandla leRoma eyokukholelwa emisebenzini yenyama njengendlela yokuthola usindiso, yaseyithethe indawo yayo. UWhitefield labanye abemuli yakoWesley ababengamalunga webandla elalithunganyelwa ngumbusi welizwe, babengabantu ababedinga uthando lukaNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo zabo zonke njalo babefundiswe ukuthi babezaluthola kuphela ngokusebenzisa imisebenzi yenyama njalo lokulandela imikhuba yebandla. {GC 253.2} IEP 253.2
Ngolunye usuku nxa uCharles wayesehlaselwe ngumkhuhlane njalo nxa wayekholwa ukuthi ukufa kwasekusondele, wabuzwa ukuthi ithemba lakhe wayelibeke ngaphi mayelana lokuphila impilo enaphakade. Waphendula wathi: “Ngenze imizamo yami yonke ukudumisa uNkulunkulu! Nxa umngane wakhe owayembuzile wayebonakala sengathi wayengasuthisekanga ngempendulo yakhe uWesley wacabanga ukuthi: “Kanjani! Kambe imisebenzi yami ayisiyo imizamo efaneleyo eyokuthi ngibe lethemba na? Engangiqila ngemisebenzi engiyenzileyo na? Angilakho okunye engingathembela kikho.” — (John Whitehead, Life of the Rev. Charles Wesley, page 102.) Babunjalo ubunyama obasebehlele ibandla obasebufihle isenzo sokubuyisana, batshontshela uKrestu ubukhosi bakhe, njalo obasebuphambule ingqondo zabantu ethembeni labo elilodwa, eliligazi loMsindisi owabethelwayo. {GC 253.3} IEP 253.3
UWesley labanye bakhe bathunganyelwa ukuthi bananzelele ukuthi inkolo yeqiniso ihlala enhliziyweni njalo lokuthi umthetho kaNkulunkulu uyaqhela ufinyelele emcabangweni lasemazwini njalo lasezezweni. Ngemva kokwamukela iqiniso lokuthi inhliziyo kwakumele ibengcwele, njalo lokuthi ukuziphatha okubonakala ngaphandle kwakumele kubemsulwa, bazimisela ukusungula impilo entsha. Ngokwenza imizamo yokukhuleka ngokuzidela, benza konke okwakusemandleni wabo ukuthi bathambise inkanuko zenhliziyo yenyama. Baqala ukuphila impilo yokuzidela, leyothando, leyokuzehlisa, besenza zonke izinto ngamandla wonke ababecabanga ukuthi zazingabasiza ukuthola lokhu ababekufisa kakhulu, okuyibungcwele lobu obulamandla wokuthola umusa kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa abazange benelise ukuthola lokhu ababekudinga. Imizamo yabo yabayize eyokuzama ukuzikhulula esigwebeni sesono njalo lokunqoba amandla waso. Kwakuyimpi efana laleyi uLuther ayedlule kiyo entolongweni ayekuyo edolobheni laseErfurt. Kwakungumbuzo ofananayo owawuhlukumeze umphefumulo wakhe. “Kwenzeka njani ukuthi umuntu atholakale elungile phambi kaNkulunkulu?” (Jobe 9:12). {GC 254.1} IEP 254.1
Amalangabi emililo yeqiniso likaNkulunkulu, ayesephosa ukucitsha ezidulini zenkolo yeMvuselelo, ayezakhwezelwa ngesikhuni sasendulo esasiqhutshelwane phakathi kwamaKrestu aselizweni laseBohemia. Ngemva kweMvuselelo, inkolo yamabandla ayesungulwe ngabaVuseleli elizweni laseBohemia yaseyivoxwe yaqedwa yimfundiso yeRoma. Bonke ababekhethe ukumela iqiniso babanjwa ngamandla ukuthi babaleke. Abanye babo ngemva kokuthola indawo yokuphepha edolobheni laseSaxony, bafika baqinisa inkolo yabo yasendulo. Kwakungenxa yezizukulwane zamaKrestu lawa okwenza ukuthi ukukhanya kufinyelele uWesley labanye ayesebenzisana labo. {GC 254.2} IEP 254.2
UJohn lo Charles Wesley ngemva kokugcotshwa kwabo emsebenzini wokuba ngabafundisi ebandleni, bathunyelwa elizweni laseAmerica ukuba bayetshumayela ivangeli. Phakathi komkhumbi kwakulabantu bohlanga lwamaMoravian. Endleleni yabo bahlangana leziphepho ezesabekayo, kwathi uJohn Wesley esebona ukuthi wayesekhangelane lokufa mangqamu, wezwa emoyeni wakhe ukuthi wayengela siqiniseko sokuthula phakathi kwakhe loNkulunkulu. Abantu laba ababedabuka elizweni laseGermany ngakolunye uhlangothi babebonisa ukuthula njalo lokwethemba ayekangakujwayelanga. {GC 254.3} IEP 254.3
“Ngangike ngabona ngaphambilini indlela ababeziphatha ngayo. Babehleli bebonisa ubufakazi bokuzehlisa kwabo ngokwenzela ezinye izihambi imisebenzi, eyayingeke yenziwe ngabantu baseNgilandi, njalo babebonisa ukuthi bayeyijabulela futhi babengafuni imbhadalo, ngoba babesithi lokhu kwakulungele inhliziyo zabo ezilokuziphakamisa, njalo ngenxa yokuthi uMsindisi wabo olothando wayebayenzele okwedlula lokhu. Insuku zonke zazibanike amathuba wokubonisa ukulunga okwakungeke kususwe laloba yikuphi ukulimala. Nxa babefuqwa, betshaywa, kumbe bephoselwa ngapha langapha, babephakama bazihambele, kodwa akuzange kuphume lelilodwa ilizwi lokukhonona emlonyeni yabo. Kwasekulithuba manje lokuhlolisisa ukuthi basebehlengiwe yini emoyeni wokwesaba, lowokuziphakamisa, lowenzondo, njalo lowokuphindisela. Phakathi kwengoma ababeyisebenzisa ukuqala inkonzo zabo, ulwandle lwaqubuka, isiphepho saqamula iseyili yomkhumbi, amanzi aqala ukugcwala phakathi kwawo, kwazekwangathi amagagasi ayesesiginyile. Ukukhala okwesabekayo kwaphuma ehlangothini lwabantu ababevela elizweni laseNgilandi. Kodwa abantu laba abohlanga lwamaGelimana baqhubeka behlabela. Ngabuza omunye wabo ngemva kwesehlakalo lesi ngathi, ‘Ubungesabi yini?’ Waphendula wathi, “Ngibonga uNkulunkulu, kodwa hatshi bengingesabi.’ Ngabuza njalo, “kodwa omama labantwana abaphakathi kwenu bebengasabi yini?’ Waphendula ngelizwi elincane wathi, ‘Hatshi omama abaphakathi kwethu labantwana abakwesabi ukufa.’” — (Whitehead, Life of the Rev. John Wesley, page 10.) {GC 255.1} IEP 255.1
Wathi efika endaweni yaseSavannah, uWesley okwesikhatshana, wahlala labantu bohlanga lwamaMoravians, njalo wathathekiswa yibuKrestu babo. Nxa wayebhala ngeyinye yenkonzo zabo eqathanisa lendlela ibandla leNgilandi elaliqhuba ngayo inkonzo wathi: “Ukucaca lokuzehlisa njalo lokucoleka kwezinto zonke kwabangela ukuthi ngikhohlwe iminyaka eyinkulungwane lamakhulu ayisikhombisa eyaseyedlule, njalo ngazibona ngiphakathi kwenkonzo lezi ezazingela kuzenzisa, kodwa lapho uPhawuli owayengumakhi wamatende, kumbe uPetro umgoli wenhlanzi, kodwa ababekwenza beholwa nguMoya njalo lamandla.”- (Ibid, pages 11,12). {GC 255.2} IEP 255.2
Ekubuyeleni kwakhe elizweni laseNgilandi, uWesley ngokucebiswa kwakhe ngomunye wabatshumayeli beMoravia, wafinyelela esigabeni lapho ayesezwisisa khona ngokucaca ukukholwa kweBhayibhili. Wananzelela ukuthi kwakumele alahle konke ukuthembela emsebenzini yakhe yenyama nxa wayefuna ukusindiswa njalo kwakumele athembele ngokupheleleyo “eWundlwini likaNkulunkulu, elisusa izono zomhlaba wonke.” Phakathi komhlangano wabantu bohlanga lwamaMoravian edolobheni laseLondon kwabalwa umugca owawubhalwe nguLuther, owawuchaza umehluko olethwa nguMoya kaNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yalowo okholwayo. Nxa uWesley wayelalele, ukukholwa kwavuka emoyeni wakhe. “Ngezwa inhliziyo yami ikhudumala ngendlela engajwayelekanga, ngezwa sengathi ngasengithemba uKrestu, uKrestu kuphela, ukuthi ngisindiswe; njalo ngathola isiqiniseko, sokuthi wayesesuse zonke izono, lezami futhi, njalo wangihlenga emthethweni wesono njalo lowokufa.” — (Ibid, page 52.) {GC 255.3} IEP 255.3
Eminyakeni emide yokusebenza nzima njalo lokuzihlukumeza okwakungela kuthula, lokuzidela okubuhlungu, lokuyangeka, uWesley wayeqhubeke ngendlela yakhe yokuzenzela eyokudinga uNkulunkulu. Khathesi wayesemtholile; njalo wathola ukuthi umusa ayezithwalise nzima ukuthi awuthole ngemithandazo langokuzila ukudla, ngemisebenzi emihle lokuhlukumeza umzimba wakhe, wawuyisipho esingelambadalo njalo lentengo.” {GC 256.1} IEP 256.1
Wathi esegxile ngokuphelela ekholweni lukaKrestu, umoya wakhe wonke watshiseka ngesifiso sokuhambisa indawo yonke ulwazi lwevangeli eliligugu lomusa kaNkulunkulu ongathengiswayo. “Ngibona umhlaba wonke njengensimu yami, loba kuyiphi indawo engikuyo, ngibona kufanele, njalo kulungile, kungumsebenzi wami ukuthi ngitshele bonke abathanda ukuzwa, indaba ezimnandi zosindiso.”- (Ibid., page 74.) {GC 256.2} IEP 256.2
Waqhubeka ngempilo yakhe yokuzidela, hatshi manje njengensika, kodwa njengomphumela wokukholwa, hatshi impande, kodwa isithelo sobungcwele. Umusa kaNkulunkulu okuKrestu uyinsika wethemba lamaKrestu, njalo umusa lowu uzabonakala ekulandeleni imilayo. Impilo kaWesley yayinikelwe ekutshumayeleni kwamaqiniso lawa amakhulu ayesehlangene lawo, ukukhululwa ngokukholwa egazini likaKrestu elihlanzayo, njalo lokuvuselela kwamandla kaMoya oyiNgcwele enhliziyweni, okuletha izithelo empilweni efana lesibonelo sikaKrestu. {GC 256.3} IEP 256.3
UWhitefield loWesley babelungiselwe umsebenzi wabo ngokudlula phakathi kokunanzelela okwesikhathi eside ukuba babelahlekile, njalo lukuthi babezakwenelisa ukudlula ebunzimeni njengamasotsha alungileyo kaKrestu, basebedlule ebunzimeni obukhulu bokuhlambazwa, lokuphikiswa, njalo lokuhlukunyezwa, esikolo ababephume kiso lasemsebenzini wabo nxa babeqala ukusebenzela iNkosi. Bona labanye ababevumelana labo babizwa ngokuthi ngamaWisili ngabanye abafundi babo ababengasiwo amaKrestu, ibizo eliphakanyiswayo lamuhla ngelinye lamabandla amakhulu elizweni laseNgilandi njalo laseAmerica. {GC 256.4} IEP 256.4
Njengamalunga ebandla laseNgilandi babengene bajula endleleni inkonzo ezaziqhutshwa ngayo, kodwa iNkosi yayisibeke phambi kwabo elizwini lakhe umgomo ophakemeyo. UMoya oyiNgcwele wabafuqa ukuthi batshumayele uKrestu njalo yena ebethelwe. Amandla ezulu asingatha umsebenzi wabo. Inkulungwane zathinteka njalo zaphenduka ngokweqiniso. Kwakudingeka ukuthi izimvu lezi zivikelwe phambi kwamaganyana. UWesley wayengelawo umcabango wokusungula ibandla elitsha, kodwa wabaqoqa ngaphansi kwebizo elalingelokuthi Methodist Connection. {GC 257.1} IEP 257.1
Ukuphikiswa okwatholwa ngabatshumayeli laba kwabanzima kakhulu okwakuvela ebandleni elikhulu; loba kwakunjalo uNkulunkulu, ekukhalipheni kwakhe, wayevumele ukuthi kubelezehlakalo ezabangela ukuthi imvuselelo iqale phakathi kwebandla ngokwalo. Ngabe kwakuphume ngaphandle, kwakungeke imvuselelo yenelise ukufinyelela lapho eyayidingakala khona kakhulu. Kodwa njengoba abatshumayeli bemvuselelo babengamalunga ebandla ngokwawo, njalo lokuthi babesebenzela phakathi kwebandla lapho ababethola khona amathuba, iqiniso lenelisa ukungena lapho amasango ayengabe evalwe khona. Abanye babathungameli bebandla bavuswa ekungazini kwabo njalo baphenduka babangabatshumayeli abaqotho emabandleni wabo. Amabandla ayesefile ngenxa yokulandela imfundiso zabantu amukela ukuphila. {GC 257.2} IEP 257.2
Ngezinsuku zikaWesley, njengasembalini yebandla kusukela endulo, amadoda ayeleziphiwo ezehlukeneyo enza imisebenzi ababeyinikiwe. Abazange bavumelane kuyo yonke imigca yemfundiso, kodwa bonke babefuqwa nguMoya kaNkulunkulu, njalo babambana enjongweni eyodwa yokuholela imphefumulo kuKrestu. Umehluko phakathi kukaWhitefield loWesley ngesinye isikhathi wenza ukuthi kuphose kube lokwehlukana phakathi; kodwa nxa babefunda ukuzehlisa esikolo sikaKrestu, ukubambana lothando kwababuyisa. Babengelaso isikhathi sokuphikisana, ngesikhathi lapho imfundiso zamanga lobubi babusanda endaweni zonke, njalo lezoni zazisiya ekulahlweni. {GC 257.3} IEP 257.3
Inceku zikaNkulunkulu zahamba endleleni elukhuni. Izikhwicamfundo zelizwe zasebenzisa amandla wazo wonke ukubaphikisa. Ngemva kwesikhathi abathungameli abanengi babonisa ukuzimisela okukhulu ekubaphikiseni, njalo amasango ebandla avalelwa ukukholwa kweqiniso njalo lalabo ababetshumayela iqiniso. Isenzo sabathungameli bebandla esokwenqabela ukuthi bame phambi kwebandla saletha ubunyama, lokungaqedisisi, njalo lobubi. Imihla ngemihla uJohn Wesley waphunyuka ekufeni ngenxa yesimanga samandla kaNkulunkulu. Nxa ulaka lwesixuku sabantu lwaseluvuselwe phezu kwakhe, njalo nxa kwakubonakala sengathi kwakungelandlela yokuphunyuka ingilosi eyathatha isimo somuntu yeza ukuzomsiza, ixuku lahlehlela emuva, inceku kaKrestu yadlula ngokuphepha engozini leyi. {GC 258.1} IEP 258.1
Nxa wayechaza ukuphepha kwakhe kolunye usuku phakathi kolaka lwexuku elalimzungezile uWesley wathi: “Abanengi bazama ukungiphosela phansi nxa sasisehla eqaqeni endleleni eyayitshelela, kusobala ukuthi nxa ngangifika phansi ngangingasoke ngivuke futhi. Kodwa angizange ngiwe, kumbe ngitshelele, ngaze ngaphuma ezandleni zabo...loba nje abanengi balalamela ukuthi babambe ihlombe lami kumbe izigqoko zami, ukuthi bangidonsele phansi, behluleka ukubamba ; oyedwa kuphela wenelisa ukubamba umphetho wejazi lami, elasala ezandleni zakhe, njalo elinye ilembu lesikhwama lapho okwakulemali khona, ladabuka ingxenye yalo...Omunye wamadoda owayelesifiso sokucitsha umphefumulo wami wangitshaya ngogodo kanengi eqolo, okungangokuthi ngabe wayengitshaye kanye esiphundu, kwakuzabangela ukuthi angabi lomsebenzi omkhulu ayesebelawo. Kodwa ngasosonke isikhathi kazange enelise ukungifinyelela, angikwazi lokhu kwenzeka njani, ngoba ngangingenelisi ukutshedela eceleni kwesokudla lasokwenxele isandla...Omunye wabuya egijima, ephakamisa isandla sakhe ukuthi angitshaye, ngokuphangisa wasehlisa, waqoqoda ikhanda lami kuphela, esithi “Ulenwele ezibuthakathaka!’... Abantu bakuqala abaguquka inhliziyo zabo babengamaqhawe wedolobho, abathungameli bendawo zokulwa ezikhathini ezinengi, omunye wabo wayeyintshantshu yokulwa.... {GC 258.2} IEP 258.2
“UNkulunkulu usebenzisa amandla angakanani ukusiletha entandweni yakhe! Eminyakeni emibili edlulileyo, isiqephu selitshe sagudla ihlombe lami. Ngemva komnyaka lokhu kwenzakele ilitshe langitshaya phakathi laphakathi kwamehlo. Kunyanga ephelileyo ngatshaywa kanye, njalo lamuhla ntambama ngitshaywe kabili, okokuqala singakangeni edolobheni, okwesibili sesiphuma khona, kodwa konke kokubili bekungathi abangenzanga lutho ngoba loba nje omunye engitshaye esifubeni ngamandla wakhe wonke, njalo omunye emlonyeni ngamandla amakhulu okubangele ukuthi igazi limpompoze, angizwanga buhlungu kukho konke lokhu ukutshaywa, kubengathi bangithinte ngotshani nje.”- (John Wesley, Works, vol. 3, pp. 297, 298.) {GC 259.1} IEP 259.1
Abantu beWisili bensuku zakuqala, njalo labatshumayeli bakhona bamelana lokuzondwa njalo lokuhlukunyezwa, okwakuvela emalungeni ebandla lakulabo ababengakhonzi lutho ababefunqwa ngamanga ayekhulunywa ngabo. Badonselwa phambi kwemthethwandaba, eyayingenzi lokhu ekubekelweyo, ngoba ukulunga lokulandelwa komthetho kwakungekho emthethwandabeni yakulezo nsuku. Esikhathini esinengi babethola uchuku ezitheni zabo. Amaxuku abahlukumezi ayengena imizi ngemizi, bebulala impahla, bethumba konke ababekufuna, njalo besenza uchuku phezu kwamadoda, labesifazane, kanye labantwana. Kwezinye izikhathi, kwakubhalwa amaphepha, kucelwa bonke ababethanda ukuphatheka emsebenzini wokubulala amawindi ezindlu zamaWisili njalo lokubatshontshela, kwakubekwa ukuthi bahlangane endaweni ethile njalo ngesikhathi esithile. Izenzo lezi zokunyathezela amalungelo abantu ezazisenziwa egcekeni zayekelwa kwangabi lesigwebo kulabo ababezenza. Kwabakhona ukuhlukunyezwa okwakuhleliwe phezu kwabantu ababelecala lokususa inyawo zezoni endleni yokufa bebasa endleni yobungcwele. {GC 259.2} IEP 259.2
UJohn Wesley wathi, nxa wayekhuluma ngamacala ababewabeke phezu kwabo wathi: “Abanye bathi imfundiso yamadoda lawa ingamanga, njalo balomfutho, lokuthi intsha njalo ayikaze ibekhona kuze kubelakathesi; njalo lokuthi bathathela izinto phezulu njalo bafuna ukuhambisa imfundiso kapapa. Amazwi wabo lawa awamanga, asequtshuliwe kusukela empandeni yawo, ngoba sekubonisiwe ukuthi ingatsha zonke zemfundiso leyi ecacileyo ziphuma eBhayibhilini ezichazwe lalibandla lethu. Ngakho ngeke ibengamanga kumbe ibelamaphutha, nxa sikholwa ukuthi iBhayibhili liqinisekile.” “Abanye bathi, ‘Imfundiso yabo ilukhuni kakhulu, benza ukuthi indlela eya ezulwini ibencani kakhulu.’ Njalo lokhu eqinisweni kungamazwi wabo wokuqala, (ngoba kwakuyiwo wodwa amazwi wokuphikisa ekuqaleni,) njalo ensitha ayinsika yamanye ayinkulungwane, aphuma ngezimo ezihlukeneyo. Kodwa benza indlela yokuya ezulwini ibencane okwedlula iNkosi labafundi bayo na? Kambe imfundiso yabo ilukhuni okwedlula leyo eyeBhayibhili? Nanzelela amavesi amalutshwana eBhayibhilini: “Uzathanda iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho ngenhliziyo yakho yonke, njalo ngengqondo yakho yonke, langomphefumulo wakho wonke, njalo lamandla wakho wonke.’ ‘Ngoba wonke amazwi ayize abawakhulumayo abantu, bazakuziphendulela ngawo ngosuku lokuthonisisa.’ ‘Ngabe lisidla, kumbe linatha, loba yini eliyenzayo, likwenze konke ukuba lilethe udumo kuNkulunkulu.’ {GC 259.3} IEP 259.3
“Nxa imfundiso yabo ilukhuni okwedlula lapha, balecala, kodwa liyazi enhliziyweni zenu ukuthi akukho njalo. Njalo ngubani ongasusa umugca owodwa wokungabi lukhuni engaphambanisanga uMbhalo na? Kambe kungenzeka ukuthi inceku yemfihlo kaNkulunkulu itholakale ithembekile nxa ingaguqula umugca owodwa phakathi kwalo na? Hatshi. Ngeke asuse lutho, ngeke enze loba okukodwa kubebuthakathaka; kufanele akhulume konke phambi kwabantu, ‘ngeke ngilethe uMbhalo phansi ufinyelele ekuthandeni kwakho. Kumele uphakame ufike ezingeni lawo, kumbe ulahlwe kokuphela. Yiyo inziki yamazwi akhuluywa ngabantu wokuthi “amadoda lawa awalathando.’ Abalathando kanjani? Ngayiphi indlela? Kabananzi abalambileyo njalo abagqokisi abangelazembatho na? ‘Hatshi lokhu ayisikho isiqokoqela sendaba: abasileli kulokhu; kodwa abalathando ekwahluleleni! Bacabanga ukuthi akukho ongasindiswa ngaphandle kwalabo abalandela indlela yabo.”‘ (Ibid., vol. 3, pp. 152, 153.) {GC 260.1} IEP 260.1
Ukuwa kwenkolo okwakusekubonakala elizweni laseNgilande ngaphambi kwensuku zikaWesley kwakubangelwe yimfundiso yokuthi abantu bakhululwa ngumusa akudingeki ukuthi balandele imilayo kaNkulunkulu. Abantu abanengi bafundisa ukuthi uKrestu wayesuse imithetho elitshumi njalo lokuthi amaKrestu ayengakhangelelwanga ukuthi ayigcine ngcwele, besithi amakholwa wonke “akhululiwe ebugqilini bokwenza imisebenzi emihle.’ Abanye loba babevuma ukuthi umthetho wawulokhe ukhona, bafundisa ukuthi kwakungaqakathekanga ukuthi abafundisi batshele abantu ukuthi balandele amazwi wawo, njengoba labo uNkulunkulu ayebakhethele ukuthi basindiswe, “ngamandla angaphikisekiyo omusa ongcwele, babezaholelwa ukuthi benze imisebenzi emihle,” kuthi labo ababekhethelwe ukufa “babengalawo amandla wokulandela umthetho ongcwele.” {GC 260.2} IEP 260.2
Abanye njalo babebambelele emfundisweni eyayisithi “abangcwele babengeke bawe emuseni kumbe balahlekelwe luthando lwezulu,’ bafika esifinqweni esesabekayo sokuthi “izenzo ezimbi ababezenza zazingasozono, njalo lokuthi kwakungamelanga zibonakale sengathi kwakuyikwephula umthetho, njalo lokuthi ngalokho, babengelasizatho sokuvuma izono zabo kumbe ukuma ukwenza izenzo lezi ngokuzivuma.” (McClintock and Strong, Cyclopedia, art. “Antinomians.”). Ngakhoke bafundisa ukuthi loba esinye sezono ezimbi kakhulu, “esasithathwa njengokwephula umthetho ongcwele emhlabeni wonke, kwakungasosono phambi kaNkulunkulu,” nxa senziwa ngomunye wabakhethekileyo, “ngoba kungolunye lophawu njalo lomahluko wabakhethekileyo, lokuthi babengeke benelise ukwenza lutho oluyisinengiso phambi kaNkulunkulu kumbe okungavunyelwa ngumthetho wakhe.” {GC 261.1} IEP 261.1
Imfundiso lezi ezimbi ziyafana xathu lalezi ezafundiswa yizikhwicamfundo ezalandelayo njalo labafundisi abaphakemeyo, ezokuthi akukho umthetho ongaguqukiyo ongumgomo wokwenza okuhle, kodwa bafundisa ukuthi umgomo wokuziphatha ufakwa ngumphakathi, njalo kuyenzeka ukuthi uhlale uguquka. Imicabango yonke leyi iholwa ngumoya ofanayo, ngulowo owathi ephakathi kwezidalwa ezimsulwa ezulwini, owasungula umsebenzi wakhe wokwephula imigoqo elungileyo yomthetho kaNkulunkulu. {GC 261.2} IEP 261.2
Imfundiso yokubekwa kwemithetho, eyayifakelwa ukulawula inhliziyo zabantu, yayisibangele ukuthi abantu abanengi bephule umthetho kaNkulunkulu. UWesley wema isibindi waphikisana labafundisi bemfundiso leyi eyamanga njalo wabonisa ukuthi imfundiso leyi eyayibangela ukuthi abantu bakholwe ukuthi umusa kaNkulunkulu ubaholela ukuthi bephule umthetho wawuphambene leBhayibhili. “Umusa kaNkulunkulu oletha usindiso usubonakele ebantwini bonke.” “Lokhu kuhle njalo kwamukelekile phambi kukaNkulunkulu loMsindisi wethu; ozakwenza ukuthi bonke abantu basindiswe, njalo bafinyelele ekwazini iqiniso. Ngoba kuloNkulunkulu oyedwa, njalo lomeli oyedwa phakathi kukaNkulunkulu labantu, indoda enguJesu Krestu; owazinikela ukuthi abengumnikelo wabantu bonke.” (Titosi 2:11, 1 Thimothi 2:3-6) UMoya kaNkulunkulu unikwe wonke umuntu ukuba sonke senelise ukufinyelela indlela yosindiso. Ngakho uKrestu “oyikukhanya kweqiniso” “ukhanyisela wonke umuntu ozalwa emhlabeni.” (Johane 1: 9). Abantu bahluleka ukusindiswa ngenxa yokukhetha kwabo ukwala ukwamukela isipho sempilo. {GC 261.3} IEP 261.3
Nxa wayephendula amazwi wokuthi ekufeni kukaKrestu imithetho elitshumi yayisitshabalisiwe ndawonye lemithetho yeminikelo, uWesley wathi: “Imithetho elitshumi, eyagcizelelwa ngabaprofethi, kayisusanga. Kwakungasiyo njongo yokuza kwakhe ukuthi atshabalalise lowodwa wayo. Lowu kungumthetho ongephukiyo, ohlala “umile njengofakazi othembekileyo ezulwini.’ ...Lokhu kwakusukela ekudalweni komhlaba, owawubhaliwe, “hatshi ematsheni,’ kodwa enhliziyweni zabantwana babantu, nxa babephuma ezandleni zoMdali. Njalo loba kunjalo amabala lawa abhalwa ngeminwe kaNkulunkulu khathesi asengcoliswe yisono, kodwa ngeke asulwe aphele, nxa siseselomzangedwa osenza siqedisise phakathi kobuhle lobubi. Ingxenye zonke zomthetho lowu kumele zihlale zilamandla phezu kwezizwe zonke, ezikhathini zonke; hatshi ngokuba weyame esikhathini kumbe endaweni ethile, kumbe kwezinye izehlakalo eziguqukayo, kodwa weyame esimeni sikaNkulunkulu, lesimeni sabantu, njalo lasebudlelwaneni babo obungaguqukiyo. {GC 262.1} IEP 262.1
“Angizanga ukuzobhidliza kodwa ukuzogcwalisa.” ...Kungekho umbuzo, umutsho wakhe kule indawo (ovumelana lalokho akutsho kuqala lalokho okwalandelayo) yikuthi ngize ukuzowumisa ngokuphelela kwawo, kungakhathalekile lokho okwenziwe ngabantu: ngize ukuzocacisa konke obesekusithele kumbe okusebunyameni: ngize ukuzochaza ukuqiniseka lokuphelela kwengxenye zawo, ukubonisa ububanzi lokujula, lokugcwala ngokuphelela kwemithetho yonke emumethwe lapha, njalo lobude lokutshona, lokuhlanzeka njalo lobungcwele bengatsha zawo zonke.” (Wesley, sermon 25.) {GC 262.2} IEP 262.2
UWesley wabonisa ubudlelwano obuphakathi komthetho levangeli. “Kukhona ngokunjalo, ubudlelwano obukhulu esingabuqedisisa, phakathi komthetho levangeli. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, umthetho uqhubeka uvulela indlela, njalo usiqondisa evangelini, ngakolunye uhlangothi ivangeli liqhubeka lisiholela ekugcwalisweni komthetho. Umthetho usifundisa ukuthi sithande uNkulunkulu, lokuthi sithande omakhelwane bethu, lokuthi sibelokulunga, sizehlise, njalo sibengcwele. Sizizwa sengathi asizifanelanga lezi izinto; ngokuba ‘ngamandla enyama zonke lezi izinto ngeke ziyenzeke,’ kodwa siyabona isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sokusinika loluthando, njalo lokusenza sibelokuzehlisa, lokuzithiba, njalo lokuba sibengcwele: sibambelela evangelini leli, endabeni lezi ezimnandi; lokhu kwenzelwe thina njengokukholwa kwethu; njalo ‘ubungcwele bomthetho buyagcwaliseka kithi,’ ngokukholwa okutholakala kuKrestu uJesu... {GC 263.1} IEP 263.1
“Ezingeni eliphezulu lezitha zevangeli likaKrestu,” watsho uWesley, ” kukhona labo abahlulela umthetho ngokwawo, njalo abakhuluma amazwi amabi ngomthetho, abafundisa abantu ukuthi bephule umthetho, hatshi kuphela owodwa, kumbe omkhulu loba omncane, kodwa yonke ngokuphelela kwayo imithetho...Isehlakalo esimangalisayo esihamba lokudukiswa lokhu, yikuthi labo abakholelwa kuleyi imfundiso, bakholwa ukuthi baphakamisa uKrestu ngokulahla umthetho wakhe, njalo lokuthi baphakamisa umbuso wakhe nxa bebhidliza imfundiso yakhe! Kuliqiniso ukuthi bayamkhonza ngendlela efanayo eyenziwa nguJudas nxa wayesithi,’ Bayethe, Nkosi, njalo wamanga.’ Njalo sengathi kubo bonke, ‘Uthengisa iNdodana yomuntu ngokumanga na?’ Kuyafanana xathu lokumthengisa ngokumanga, ukukhuluma ngegazi lakhe, njalo lokuthatha umqhele wakhe, lokululaza omunye wemithetho yakhe, ngaphansi kwesizatho sokuhambisa ivangeli lakhe. Akulamuntu ongabalekela isigwebo lesi, otshumayela ivangeli ngendlela efanayo esazi loba engazi ofuna ukubeka eceleni indingeko yokulandela umthetho: otshumayela uKrestu ejonge ukunyathezela, omunye wemilayo kaNkulunkulu.”- ((Wesley, sermon 25.) {GC 263.2} IEP 263.2
Kulabo ababefundisa ukuthi “ukutshumayelwa kwevangeli kuphendula ukuphelela komthetho,” uWesley waphendula wathi: “Lokhu siyakwala. Akuphenduli isiphetho sakuqala somthetho, esibizwa ngokuthi yikubonisa abantu izono zabo, lokuvusa labo abalokhe belele emngceleni wokulahlwa.” Umpostoli uPhawuli uyatsho ukuthi “umthetho usilethela ulwazi lwesono;” “njalo ngaphandle kokuba umuntu ebesazi isono sakhe, kulapho azabona khona ukuthi udinga igazi likaKrestu elihlanzayo ...’Labo abapheleleyo,’ njengoba iNkosi yethu yananzelela, ‘abadingi udokotela, kodwa labo abagulayo.’ Akulangqondo ke, ukubizela udokotela labo abangaguliyo, kumbe labo abazibona bephilile. Kumele uqale ubabonise ukuthi abaphilanga; ngoba ngeke bakubonge ngomsebenzi oyabe ubenzele wona. Akwenzingqondo ngokufanayo ukunika abantu uKrestu bona belenhliziyo ezipheleleyo, bengakaze bephulwe.” (Ibid., sermon 25). {GC 264.1} IEP 264.1
Ngokunjalo nxa uWesley wayetshumayela ivangeli ngomusa kaNkulunkulu, njengeNkosi yakhe laye, wazama “ukuphakamisa umthetho, awenze uphakame.” Ngokwethembeka wafeza umsebenzi wakhe owayewunikwe nguNkulunkulu, njalo umphumela wakhona abalethuba lokuwubona ngawakhe amehlo wawuligugu. Emaphethelweni wempilo yakhe ende eyedlula amatshumi ayisitshiya galo mbili, amatshumi amahlanu wempilo leyi wayewachithe emsebenzini wokutshumayela, abalandeli bakhe babedlula izinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amahlanu. Kodwa inani labantu elasuswa ekufeni lafinyelela impilo ephakemeyo ngenxa yokusebenza kwakhe, ngeke yazakale lapha emhlabeni izavela nxa abahlengiweyo bezabuthana ezulwini phambi kaBaba. Impilo yakhe iveza isifundo esiphakemeyo kumaKrestu wonke. Sengathi ukholo olufanayo, lokuzehlisa, lokukhuthalela umsebenzi kaJehova, lokuzidela kanye lokuzimisela kwenceku leyi ekaJesu kungabonakala emabandleni alamuhla! {GC 264.2} IEP 264.2