Wesley Corpus

Nature, the world, and the devil, will never be reconciled to Christian perfection. But the great wonder is, that Christians will not be reconciled to it; all, almost every one who call themselves Ministers of Christ, or Preachers of Christ, contend for sin to remain in the heart as long as we live, as though it were the only thing Christ delighted to behold in his members. “I long to have your heart set at full liberty. I know you will then see things in a wonderful different light from what it is possible to see them before.” The day after the first separation, viz., January 26, I wrote him the following note: “FoR many years I, and all the Preachers in connexion with me, have taught that every believer may, and ought to grow in grace. Lately, you have taught, or seemed to teach, the contrary. The effect of this is, when I speak as I have 128 REv. J. wesLEY’s [Feb. 1763. done from the beginning, those who believe what you say will not bear it. Nay, they will renounce connexion with us; as Mr. and Mrs. Coventry did last night. This breach lies wholly upon you. You have contradicted what I taught from the beginning. Hence it is, that many cannot bear it, but when I speak as I always have done, they separate from the society. Is this for your honour, or to the glory of God? “O Tommy, seek counsel, not from man, but God; not from brother B , but Jesus Christ! I am “Your affectionate brother, st J. W.” Things now ripened apace for a farther separation; to prevent which, (if it were possible,) I desired all our Preachers, as they had time, to be present at all meetings, when I could not myself, particularly at the Friday meeting in the chapel at West-Street. At this Mr. M. was highly offended, and wrote to me as follows: “February 5, 1763. “I wroTE to you to ask if those who before met at brother Guilford's might not meet in the chapel.