Wesley Corpus

12; a proof which all the art of man cannot evade; and Romans iii. 23, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” “But this,” you say, “means only, Jews as well as Gentiles, men of all nations, have sinned.” (Page 97.) Nay, it is most certain, as Dr. Jennings observes, that he “means all men of all nations; or he means nothing to the purpose of his conclusion and his inferences. (Verses 19-22.) The Apostle concludes from the view he had given before of the universal corruption of mankind, that “every mouth must be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God.” (Verse 19.) From whence he draws two inferences: (1) “Therefore by the works of the law there shall no flesh be justified.’ (2.) The only way of justification for all sinners is, “by faith in Jesus Christ. For there is no difference, as to the way of justification; ‘for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.’ And, therefore, whoever they are whom Dr. Taylor excludes from this ‘all,’ (‘all have sinned,’) he must likewise exclude from having any need of justification by Christ.” (Jennings's Vin dication, p. 50, &c.) Be this as it may, it is certain, (1.) That mankind are now in a state of sin and suffering. (2.) That they have been so in all ages, nearly from the time that Adam fell. Now, if his fall did not bring them into that state, I would be glad to know what did. 4. Their Third proposition is, “Sin is any want of con formity to, or transgression of, the law of God, given as a rule to the reasonable creature.” “This,” you say, “has no immediate relation to our present design.” (Taylor's Doctrine, &c., p. 98.) But it had to theirs; which was to illustrate the preceding assertion: “That the fall of Adam brought man kind into a state of sin,” in both these senses of the word. 5.