Wesley Corpus

W. I feared that there was error in their doctrine,--1!. Concerning the end of our faith in this life, to wit, Christian perfection. 2. Concerning the means of grace, so called by our Church. Z. I acknowledge no inherent perfection in this life. This is the error of errors. I pursue it through the world with fire and sword ;--I trample it under foot ;--I exterminate it. Christ is our only perfection. Whoever follows after inherent perfection, denies Christ. W. But I believe, that the Spirit of Christ works perfection in true Christians. Z. Not at all. All our perfection is in Christ. All Christian perfection is, faith in the blood of Christ. The whole of Christian perfection is imputed, not inherent. We are perfect in Christ ;--in ourselves, never. W. We contend, I think, about words. Is not every true believer holy 2 Z. Certainly. Bur. he is holy in Christ, not in himself. W. But does he not live holily ? Z. Yes, he lives holily in all things. W. Has he not also a holy heart ? Z. Most certainly. W. Is he not, consequently, holy in himself? Z. No, no. In Christ only. He is not holy in himself. In himself he has no holiness at all. W. Has he not the love of God and his neighbour in his heart? Yea, eve: .he whole image of God ? Z. He has. But these constitute legal, not evangelical holiness. Evangelical holiness is,--faith. W. The dispute is altogether about words. You grant taat the whole heart and the whole life of a believer, are holy: that he loves God with all his heart, and serves him with all his strength. I ask nothing more. I mean nothing else by Christian perfection or holiness, Z. But this is not his holiness. He is not more holy, if he loves more; nor less holy, if he loves less. Journal I.--15 (? ee Saat aC oe 8/4 222 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [Sept. 1741. whatsoever you are, I beseech you to weigh the following words; if haply God, “ who sendeth by whom he will send,” may give you light thereby: although “‘the mist of darkness,” (as one ‘of you affirms) should be reserved for me for ever.