Wesley Corpus

Journal Vol1 3

AuthorJohn Wesley
Typejournal
YearNone
Passage IDjw-journal-vol1-3-400
Words337
Free Will Justifying Grace Reign of God
In the same state of mind, though weaker and weaker in body, she continued till Tuesday following ; when several of those who had been in her bend being present, she fixed her eyes upon them, and fell into a kind of agonizing prayer, that God would keep them from the evil one. But in the afternoon, when I came, she was quite calm again, and all her words were prayer and praise. The same spirit she breathed when Mr. Maxfield called the next day; and soon after he went, she slept in peace.--‘ A mother in Israel” hast thou been, and «thy works shall-praise thee in the gates !” Sat. Aug. 1.--I had a long conversation with Mr. Ingham. We both agreed, 1. That none shall finally be saved, who have not, as they had opportunity, done all good works; and, 2. That if a justified person does not do good, as he has opportunity, he will lose the grace he has received; and if he “repent” not, “and do the former works,’ will perish eternally. But with regard to the unjustified, (if I understand him,) we wholly disagreed. He believed, it is not the will of God, that they should wait for faith in doing good. I believe, this is the will of God; and that they will never find him, unless they seek him in this way. Sun. 2.--I went, after having been long importuned by Dr. Deleznot, to the chapel in Great Hermitage-street, Wapping. Mr. Meriton (a clergyman from the Isle of Man) read prayers. I then a 218 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [ Aug. 1741 preached on these words in the former lesson, “ Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself? Because he hath humbled himself, I will not bring this evil in his days:” and took occasion thence to exhort all unbelievers, to use the grace God had alrea’y given them ; and in keeping his law, according to the power they now had, to wait for the faith of the Gospel.