Wesley Corpus

a believer there is no commandment at all. 2. That it does imply liberty to conform to the world,* by talking on useless, if not trifling subjects ; by joining in worldly diversions in order to do good; by putting on of gold and costly apparel,t or by continuing in those professions, the gain of which depends on ministering hereto. 3. That it does imply liberty to avoid persecution, by { not reproving even those who sin in your sight; by not letting your light shine before those men who love darkness rather than light; by not using plainness of speech, and a frank, open carriage toallmen. Nay, by a close, dark, reserved conversation, and behaviour, especially toward strangers. And in many of you I have more than once found (what you called, ‘“‘ being wise as serpents”) much subtlety, much evasion and disguise, much guile and dissimulation. You appeared to be what you were not, or not to be what you were. You so studied “ to become all things to all men,” as to take the colour and shape of any that were near you. So that your practice was indeed no proof of your judgment; but only an indication of your design, nulli laedere os ; [to hurt a bone of none ;] and of your conformity to that (not scriptural) maxim, Sinere mundum vadere ut vult: Nam vult vadere, (To let the world go as it will; for it will go.) 5. Secondly, With regard to that faith through which we are saved, I have heard many of you say, “ A man may have justifying faith and not know it.” Others of you, who are now in England, (particularly Mr. Molther,) I have heard affirm,§ that there is no such thing as weak faith; that there are no degrees in faith; that there is no justifying faith, where there is ever any doubt; that there is no justifying faith without the plerophory of faith, the clear, abiding witness of the Spirit; that there is no justifying faith, where there is not, in the full, proper sense, a new or clean heart; and that those who have not these two gifts, are only awakened, not justified.