Wesley Corpus

2. My design is, freely and plainly to speak whatsvever I have seen or heard among you, in any part of your Church, which seems not agreeable to the Gospel of Christ. And my hope is, that the God whom you serve will give you throughly to weigh what is spoken; and if in any thing “ve have been otherwise minded” than the truth is, “ will reveal even this unto you.” 3. And First, with regard to Christian salvation, even the present salvation which is through faith, I have heard some of you affirm, 1. That it does not imply the proper taking away our sins, the cleansing our souls from all sin, but only the tearing the system of sin in pieces. 2. That it does not imply liberty from sinful thoughts. 4. [have heard some of you affirm, on the other hand, 1. That it does imply liberty from the commandments of God, so that one who is saved through faith, is not obliged or bound:to obey them, does not do any thing as a commandment, or asa duty. To support which they have affirmed, that there is* no command in the New Testament Lut to believe ; that there is no duty required therein, but that of believing; and that to W. What? Does not a believer, while he increases in love, increase equally in holiness ? Z. By no means. The moment he is justified, he is sanctified wholly. From that time, even unto death, he is neither more nor less holy. W. Is not then a father in Christ more holy than a new-born-babe [in Christ] 2 Z. No. Entire sanctification and justification are in the same instant ; and neither is increased or diminished. W. But does not a believer grow daily in the love of God? Is he perfect in love as soon as he is justified ? Z. He is. He never increases in the love of God. He loves entirely in that moment, as he is entirely sanctified. W. What then does the apostle Paul mean by, “ We are renewed day by day ?” Z. I will tell you. Lead, if it be changed into gold, is gold the first day, and the second, and the third. And so it is renewed day by day. “But it is never more gold than on the first day.