Wesley Corpus

To Ann Foard NORWICH, October 12, 1764. Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1764) Author: John Wesley --- MY DEAR SISTER,--That great truth, 'that we are saved by faith,' will never be worn out; and that sanctifying as well as justifying faith is the free gift of God. Now, with God one day is as a thousand years. It plainly follows that the quantity of time is nothing to Him: centuries, years, months, days, hours, and moments are exactly the same. Consequently He can as well sanctify in a day after we are justified as an hundred years. There is no difference at all, unless we suppose Him to be such an one as ourselves. Accordingly we see, in fact, that some of the most unquestionable witnesses of sanctifying grace were sanctified within a few days after they were justified. I have seldom known so devoted a soul as Sister Hooley, [Ann Hooley's conversion as a girl under John Oldham is described in Smith's Methodism in Macclesfield,pp. 70-1. He says she was probably 'the first Methodist child who went from the Macclesfield Society to the Church in heaven.'] at Macclesfield, who was sanctified within nine days after she was convinced of sin. She was then twelve years old, and I believe was never afterwards heard to speak an improper word or known to do an improper thing. Her look struck an awe into all that saw her. She is now in Abraham's bosom. Although, therefore, it usually pleases God to interpose some time between justification and sanctification, yet, as it is expressly observed in the Farther Thoughts, we must not fancy this to be an invariable rule. All who think this must think we are sanctified by works, or (which comes to the same) by sufferings; for, otherwise, what is time necessary for It must be either to do or to suffer. Whereas, if nothing be required but simple faith, a moment is as good as an age.