Treatise Doctrine Of Original Sin
| Author | John Wesley |
|---|---|
| Type | treatise |
| Year | None |
| Passage ID | jw-treatise-doctrine-of-original-sin-146 |
| Words | 385 |
The power of
godliness consists in the love of God and man; this is
heavenly and substantial religion. But no man can possibly
“love his neighbour as himself,” till he loves God; and no
man can possibly love God, till he truly believes in Christ;
and no man truly believes in Christ, till he is deeply con
vinced of his own sinfulness, guiltiness, and helplessness. But this no man ever was, neither can be, who does not
know he has a corrupt nature. This doctrine, therefore, is the “most proper” of all others
“to be instilled into a child:” That it is by nature a “child
of wrath,” under the guilt and under the power of sin; that it
can be saved from wrath only by the merits, and sufferings,
and love of the son of God; that it can be delivered from the
power of sin only by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit; but
that by his grace it may be renewed in the image of God,
perfected in love, and made meet for glory. But “must it not lessen the due love of parents to children,
to believe they are the vilest creatures in the world?” (Pages
262,263.) Far from it; if they know how God loves both them
and theirs, vile and sinful as they are. And it is a certain fact,
that no persons love their children more tenderly, than those
who firmly believe this doctrine; and that none are more careful
to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
But “how can young people “remember’ their “Creator’
without horror, if he has given them life under such de
plorable circumstances?” They can remember him with
pleasure, with earnest thankfulness, when they reflect “out
of ” what a “pit” he hath “brought them up;” and that if
“sin abounded,” both by nature and habit, “grace” did
“much more abound.”
You conclude: “Why should we subject our consciences
to tales and fables, invented by Priests and Monks?” (Page
264.) This fable, as you term it, of original sin, could not
be invented by Romish Priests or Monks, because it is by
many ages older than either; yea, than Christianity itself. I have now weighed, as my leisure would permit, all the
arguments advanced in your Three Parts.