Wesley Corpus

But, on the contrary, we believe that the blood shed upon the cross has put away and blotted out all our sins, and that then there was an everlasting righteousness brought in : By believing which, our hearts and consciences are made as perfectly clean as though we had never sinned. In this consists true purity of soul, and not in habitual qualities. And whoso are thus made pure and perfect are delivered from the dominion of sin. They do also bear forth the fruits of righteousness, not in order to become more holy, but because they are perfectly holy, through faith. It is true, we have still the vile, sinful body, which continually disposes the mind to evil. But the blood of Jesus makes us free from sin, and, as it were, destroys the connexion.” Friend.--Of all the accounts I have ever yet heard, this is the most “crude and indigested.” But let us go over it step by step. You first described what you judge a false faith, viz., “A faith that Christ hath died, to ward off” (or appease) “the wrath of God, and to purchase his favour;” (suppose, for me, a lost sinner;) “and as an effect of that,” (of God’s favour bought with the blood of Christ,) “to obtain” for me “certain inherent qualities and dispositions, to make me meet for the kingdom of heaven.” Now, how do you prove this to be a false faith? Ant.--Easily enough : for men “are obliged to support it by frames, feelings, and works.” Friend.--And did not you allow, just now, that whoever has true faith is “holy both in heart and life?” that he has in him “the love of God and of his neighbour; yea, the whole image of God?” Ant.--l did. And what then? Friend.--Why, then you have abundantly confuted your self: For you have allowed, that true faith not only cannot be supported, but cannot exist, no, not for one moment, without “certain inherent qualities and dispositions,” (viz., the love of God and of all mankind,) “which makes us meet for the kingdom of heaven.” You have allowed, that true faith cannot subsist without a holy frame of heart, a continuance in good works, and a feeling sense of God’s love to me, a sinner. Ant.--I hear you. Go on.