Wesley Corpus

To Several Preachers and Friends Date: DUBLIN, July 10, 1771. Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1771) Author: John Wesley --- DEAR SIR,--You desired my farther thoughts on those propositions which close the Minutes of our last Conference. 'We have leaned too much toward Calvinism.' '1. With regard to man's faithfulness. Our Lord Himself taught us to use the expression; and we ought never to be ashamed of it. We ought steadily to assert it, on His authority, that if a man is not faithful in the unrighteous mammon God will not give him the true riches.' I think nothing farther need be said on this, as it is grounded on the express Word of God. '2. With regard to working for life. This also our Lord has expressly commanded us. " Labour " (literally work) " for the meat that endureth to everlasting life." And, in fact, every believer works for as well as from life.' 'Every believer': of such only the proposition speaks, And who can doubt it '3. We have received it as a maxim that " a man is to do nothing in order to justification." Nothing can be more false. Whoever desires to find favour with God should " cease from evil and learn to do well." Whoever repents should " do works meet for repentance." And if this is not in order to find favour, what does he do them for' And who can deny one line of this if he allows the Bible to be true Thus far, then, here is no ground for this marvellous outcry. Here is no heresy, but the words of truth and soberness. 'Review the whole affair. '1. Who of us is now accepted of God' (I mean, who is now in His favour The question does not refer to the gaining the favour of God, but the being therein, at any given point of time.) 'He that now believes in Christ with a loving and obedient heart.' Well, and who can deny this Who can find any fault either with the sentiment or the expression