Wesley Corpus

In this spirit, my brethren, I have read, and endeavoured to consider, all the books you have published in England, that I might inform myself whetaer, on further consideration, you had retracted the errors which were advanced before. But it does by no means appear that you have retracted any of them: for, waiving the odd and affected phrases therein; the weak, mean, silly, childish expressions; the crude, confused, and indigested notions ; the whims, unsupported either by Scripture or sound reason ; yea, waiving those assertions which, though contrary to Scripture and matter of fact, are, however, of no importance; those three grand errors run through almost all those books, viz. Universal Salvation, Antinomianism, and a kind of new-reformed Quietism. 1. Can Universal Salvation ke more explicitly asserted than it is in these words ?--“ By this his name all can and shall obtain life and salvation.”” (Sixteen Discourses, p. 30.) This must include all men, at least; and may include all devils too. Again, “The name of the wicked will not be so much as mentioned on the great day.” (Seven Discourses, p. 22.) And if they are not so much as mentioned, they cannot be condemned. 2. How can Antinomianism, (N. B. I speak of Antinomian doctrine, abstracted from practice, good or bad,) that is, making void the law through faith, be more expressly taught than it is in these words ?-- “'T’o believe certainly, that Christ suffered death for us: this is the true means to be saved at once: we want no more. For the history of Jesus coming into the world, ‘is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ;’ the bare historical knowledge of this.” (Sixteen Discourses, p. 57.) “There is but one duty, which is that ot believing.” (Ibid. p. 193.) * From any demand of the law, no man is obliged now to go one step, to give away one farthing, to eat or omit one morsel.” (Seven Discourses, p. 11.) “What did our Lord do with the law? He abolished it.” (Ibid. p. 33.) ‘* Here one may think, - ~This is a fine sort of Christianity, where nothing good is commanded, and nothing bad is forbid. But thus it is.” (Ibid. p. 34.) ‘So one ought to speak now. All commands and prohibitions are unfit for our times.” (Ibid.)