Wesley Corpus

Our perception of truth cannot be false; our understanding or apprehension of things may. “But understanding must be the same in all beings.” Yes, in the former sense of the word, but not the latter. “There fore, if we understand (apprehend) it is unjust, God under stands it so too.” Nay, verily: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are his thoughts higher than our thoughts.” “What a God must he be, who can curse his innocent creatures before they have a being ! Is this thy God, O Christian?” Bold enough ! So Lord B , “Is Moses's God your God?” He is mine, although he said, “Cursed be Canaan,” including his posterity before they had a being; and although he now permits millions to come into a world which everywhere bears the marks of his displeasure. And he permits human souls to exist in bodies which are (how we know not, but the fact we know) “conceived and born in sin; ” by reason whereof, all men coming into the world are “children of wrath.” But he has provided a Saviour for them all; and this fully acquits both his justice and mercy. 19. “So as we are by nature bond-slaves to Satan: “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive at his will. (2 Tim. ii. 26.)” (Page 152.) But you say, “The Apostle speaks this of the unconverted Gentiles, who were slaves to Satan, not through Adam, but through their own fault.” Both one and the other. But how does it appear, that he speaks this of the Gentiles only? Without offering at any proof of this, you go on : “The clause, ‘Taken captive by him, is spoken, not of the devil, but of ‘the servant of the Lord; for thus the place should be rendered: ‘That they may awake out of the snare of the devil, being revived by him,” that is, the servant of the Lord, ‘to his, that is, God’s, “will.’” (Page 153.) Well, the proof. “The word £oypeo signifies, to revive; and so here, to restore men to life and salvation.” As a proof of this sense of the word, you cite Luke v. 10. But this rather proves the contrary; for there it has nothing to do with reviving.