Wesley Corpus

To John Mason Date: LONDON, November 21, 1776. Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1776) Author: John Wesley --- MY DEAR BROTHER,--One of Mr. Fletcher's Checks considers at large the Calvinist supposition ' that a natural man is as dead as a stone '; and shows the utter falseness and absurdity of it, seeing no man living is without some preventing grace, and every degree of grace is a degree of life. That, 'by the offence of one, judgement came upon all men' (all born into the world) ' unto condemnation,' is an undoubted truth, and affects every infant as well as every adult person. But it is equally true that, ' by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men' (all born into the world, infant or adult) ‘unto justification.' Therefore no infant ever was or ever will be ' sent to hell for the guilt of Adam's sin,' seeing it is cancelled by the righteousness of Christ as soon as they are sent into the world. Labor on, especially by visiting from house to house, and you will see the fruit of your labor.--I am Your affectionate friend and brother.