JOHN LENNON AND JOHN WESLEY

For the same reason, except he be born again, none can be


 happy even in this world. For it is not possible, in the nature


 of things, that a man should be happy who is not holy. 


Even the poor, ungodly poet could tell us, Nemo malus felix: 


“no wicked man is happy.” The reason is plain: All unholy 


tempers are uneasy tempers: Not only malice, hatred, envy 


jealousy, revenge, create a present hell in the breast; but 


even the softer passions, if not kept within due bounds, give 


a thousand times more pain than pleasure. Even “hope,” 


when “deferred,” (and how often must this be the case!) 


“maketh the heart sick;” and every desire which is not 


according to the will of God is liable to “pierce” us “through 


with many sorrows:” And all those general sources of sin — 


pride, self-will, and idolatry — are, in the same proportion as 


they prevail, general sources of misery. Therefore, as long 


as these reign in any soul, happiness has no place there. 


But they must reign till the bent of our nature is changed, 


that is, till we are born again; consequently, the new birth is 


absolutely necessary in order to happiness in this world, as 


well as in the world to come.
                                            – John Wesley