Wesley Corpus

2. If he can prevail thus far, if he can damp our joy, he will soon attack our peace also. He will suggest, "Are you fit to see God He is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. How then can you flatter yourself, so as to imagine he beholds you with approbation God is holy: You are unholy. What communion hath light with darkness How is it possible that you, unclean as you are, should be in a state of acceptance with God You see indeed the mark, the prize of your high calling; but do you not see it is afar off How can you presume then to think that all your sins are already blotted out How can this be, until you are brought nearer to God, until you bear more resemblance to him" Thus will he endeavour not only to shake your peace, but even to overturn the very foundation of it; to bring you back, by insensible degrees, to the point from whence you set out first, even to seek for justification by works, or by your own righteousness, -- to make something in you the ground of your acceptance, or at least necessarily previous to it. 3. Or, if we hold fast, "Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, even Jesus Christ;" and, "I am justified freely by God's grace, through the redemption which is in Jesus;" yet he will not cease to urge, "But the tree is known by its fruits: And have you the fruits of justification Is that mind in you which was in Christ Jesus Are you dead unto sin, and alive unto righteousness Are you made conformable to the death of Christ, and do you know the power of his resurrection" And then, comparing the small fruits we feel in our souls with the fullness of the promises, we shall be ready to conclude: "Surely God hath not said that my sins are forgiven me! Surely I have not received the remission of my sins; for what lot have I among them that are sanctified"